References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1940 January 4 Conrad Weiss German writer/poet (Heart of Words), dies at age 59. [1] January 5 Tina Modotti [Maria del Carmen], Italian/Mexican communist, dies at age 46. [1] January 12 Erich R Jaensch German psychologist (eidetiek), dies at age 56. [1] January 18 Kazimierz P Tetmajer Polish writer/poet (Young Poland), dies at age 74. [1] January 24 Emile van Bosch revue/operetta-artist, dies at age 52. [1] January 31 René "Sascha" Schickele German writer (Erbe am Rhein), dies at age 56. [1] February 7 Francis Ford cricketer (5 Tests for England vs Australia 1894-95), dies. [1] February 11 John Buchan first Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada (1935-40), dies. [1] February 27 Peter Behrens German architect, dies. [1] February 28 Johan C Braakensiek Dutch political cartoonist, dies at age 81. [1] February 29 Edward Frederic Benson novelist, dies. [1] March 1 Josef Swickard actor (Lost City, Tale of Two Cities), dies at age 73. [1] March 10 Louis de Vries Dutch actor (Merchant of Venice), dies at age 68. [1] March 15 Alfred Marr cricketer (Test for Australia 1885, scored 0 and 5), dies. [1] March 16 Selma O Lagerlöf Swedish author (Nils Holgersson, Nobel Prize-09), dies at age 81. [1] March 19 Gustaaf Sap Belgian minister of Economic Affairs, dies at age 54. [1] March 25 Ion Nonna Otescu composer, dies at age 51. [1] April 6 Andres Isasi composer, dies at age 49. [1] April 9 Mrs Patrick Campbell English actress (Outcast Lady, Riptide), dies. [1] April 18 Florrie Forde music hall artist, dies. [1] Herbert Albert Laurens Fisher historian, dies. [1] April 26 Carl Bosch German chemist (BASF, IG Farben, Nobel Prize 1931), dies at age 65. [1] May 10 Euphemia "Phemia" Molkenboer Dutch author/poster artist, dies at age 56. [1] May 14 Eddy [Charles E] du Platform writer/poet, dies. [1] Emma Goldman US anarchists/feminist/author (Living My Life), dies. [1] Jacob van Gelderen economist/sociologist/SDAP-2nd-Chamber, dies at age 49. [1] Menno ter Braak Dutch writer (Forum, New Elite), suicide at age 38. [1] May 15 Joseph Limburg liberal second-Member of parliament (1905-19), dies at age 75. [1] Willem A Bonger Dutch criminologist (Race and Crime), suicide at age 63. [1] May 20 Amar Singh cricketer (of pneumonia Indian pace bowler 1932-36), dies. [1] Joris [Georges] van Severen Flem fascist/Member of parliament, dies. [1] May 23 Andrej N Rimsky-Korssakov Russian musicologist/son of Nikolai, dies. [1] Paul Nizan French journalist/writer (Ce Soir/Aden Arabia), dies at age 35. [1] May 28 Adriaan J Enschedé director (Dutch printers Joh Enschedé), dies at age 50. [1] Randle Ayrton actor (Manx Man), dies at age 70. [1] Theodor Streicher composer, dies at age 65. [1] Walter Connolly actor (It Happened One Night, Good Earth), dies at age 53. [1] May 30 Y de Smit-Rog eldest Dutchman, dies at age 104. [1] July 15 Robert Wadlow world's tallest man (8'11.1"), dies at age 32. [1] July 19 Samuel H Chang American newspaper magnate murdered in Shanghai. [1] August 21 Leon Trotsky dies of wounds inflicted by an assailant the day before. [1] October 12 Tom Mix dies. [5] December 5 Jan Kubelik composer, dies at age 60. [1] December 6 Charlie Hime cricketer (one Test for South Africa 1895), dies. [1] December 9 Maletti Italian general, dies in battle. [1] December 13 Dusty Tapscott cricket (brother of Doodles, 4&1 in only South Africa Test), dies. [1] George Macaulay cricketer (took 24 wickets in 8 Tests, England 22-33), dies. [1] December 16 M Eugène F T Dubois geologist/paleontologist (Wadjakmens), dies. [1] William Wallace composer, dies at age 80. [1] December 21 Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, author (Great Gatsby, Zelda), dies of a heart attack in Hollywood at age 44. [1] [5] December 22 Nathanael West [Weinstein] US writer (Cool Million), dies at age 37. [1] December 25 Agnes Ayres actress (Johnny Belinda, Sheik), dies at age 42. [1] December 30 Fritz Volbach composer, dies at age 79. [1] 1941 January 2 Mischa Levitzki composer, dies at age 42. [1] January 4 Henri Bergson French philosopher (Le Rire, Nobel Prize 1928), dies at age 81. [1] January 6 Franz Hessel writer, dies at age 60. [1] January 8 Lord Robert Baden-Powell founder of the Boy Scout movement, dies at age 83. [1] January 9 Ko Boezeman Dutch resistance fighter, dies. [1] January 10 Frank Bridge English violinist/composer (Sea), dies at age 61. [1] Joseph Schmidlin German church historian, murdered at age 67. [1] January 13 James Joyce novelist (Ulysses), dies in Zürich Switzerland, at age 58. [1] January 17 José Leite de Vasconcelos Portuguese scholar (Etnografia), dies at age 82. [1] January 23 Dobri Khristov composer, dies at age 65. [1] January 27 Iver Paul Fredrik Holter composer, dies at age 90. [1] January 29 Greek Prime Minister General Ioannis Metaxas dies unexpectedly. The new Greek prime minister invites British forces in for protection against Germany and Italy. [1] [10] February 2 Johannes Schlaf writer, dies at age 78. [1] February 4 Johann Peter Kirsch Luxembourg church historian, dies at age 79. [1] February 6 Maximilien Luce French painter, dies at age 82. [1] February 11 Rudolf Hilferding German economist/Minister of Finance (SPD), suicide at age 63. [1] February 13 Naomi Uemura Japanese mountain climber, dies on Mount McKinley. [1] February 19 Alexander Josiah Webbe English cricket keeper (v Australia 1879), dies. [1] Hamilton Hamilton Harty composer/conductor, dies at age 61. [1] February 24 Oskar Loerke German director (Longest Day-1926), dies at age 56. [1] February 26 Jan Keizer Zaanse February striker, shot to death. [1] February 28 Alfonso XIII de Borbón King of Spain (1902-31), dies. [1] March 3 Constant W L Scheurleer archaeologist/banker/art expert, dies at age 59. [1] Ernst Cahn owner of Amsterdam Koco ice cream parlor, executed. [1] March 4 Edoardo Mascheroni composer, dies at age 81. [1] March 5 Ludwig Quidde German historian/politician (Nobel Prize 1927), dies at age 82. [1] March 6 John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum sculptor (Mount Rushmore), dies at age 73. [1] Leen Schijvenschuurder Dutch February strike leader, executed. [1] March 7 Arnold Schering German musicologist, dies at age 63. [1] Günther Prien German commandant (U-47), dies in battle. [1] March 8 Jose Serrano Simeon composer, dies at age 67. [1] Sherwood Anderson US writer/publisher (Winesburg Ohio), dies at age 64. [1] March 9 Carlos Pedrell composer, dies at age 62. [1] March 11 Walford Davies British organist/composer, dies at age 71. [1] March 12 Charles Sanford Skilton composer, dies at age 72. [1] March 13 A Coenradi Dutch resistance fighter, executed. [1] Bernard Ijzerdraat Dutch resistance fighter, executed. [1] E Hellendoorn Dutch resistance fighter, executed. [1] Isaak E Babel Russian writer (Zakat, Marija), executed at age 46. [1] J Eyl Dutch resistance fighter, executed. [1] March 16 John Murray Canada oceanographer (Challenger), dies at age 73. [1] March 17 Isaak Emmanuilovich Babel Russian writer (Crvena Konjica), executed at age 46. [1] Joachim Schepke German commandant (U-100), dies in battle. [1] March 20 D A van den Bosch anti-Nazi clergyman (Amersfoort Camp), dies. [1] March 21 Robert Liefmann German economist (Kartelle und Trusts), dies at age 67. [1] March 28 Virginia [Adeline] Woolf-Stephen; author (To Lighthouse), commits suicide at age 59. [1] [5] April 1 Hippolyte Delehaye Flemish historian, dies at age 81. [1] April 2 Paul Teleki premier Hungary, dies. [1] April 3 André Michelin French tire manufacturer, dies at age 88. [1] Pal Teleki-von Szek Prime Minister Hungary (1920-21, 39-41), suicide at age 61. [1] April 4 Max Frisch writer, dies at age 29. [1] April 8 Eugène-Marcel Prévost novelist, dies. [1] April 13 Annie Jump Cannon US astronomer (Henry Draper catalogues), dies at age 77. [1] April 14 Jack Edmonson Australian corporal in Tobruk (Victoria Cross), dies. [1] April 16 Josiah Charles Stamp first baron/statisician, dies. [1] April 18 Alexander Korysis Prime Minister of Greece, commits suicide. [1] April 19 Johanna Muller-Hermann composer, dies at age 63. [1] April 20 Barend ter Haar Dutch lawyer, dies in Buchenwald at age 49. [1] April 22 Arthur Briscoe cricketer (South African batsman in two Tests), dies. [1] April 26 Jean Demoor Belgian physician/physiologist/educationalist, dies at age 74. [1] May 1 John R Locksmith de Brown vicar/CHU-politician, dies at age 71. [1] May 7 David Wijnkoop revolutionary socialist, dies. [1] May 8 Heinrich Zollner composer, dies at age 86. [1] May 19 Werner Sombart Marxist economist (Händler und Heroes), dies at age 78. [1] May 23 Lord Herbert Austin motor manufacturer, dies. [1] Slavko Osterc composer, dies at age 45. [1] May 24 Lancelot Holland British Vice-Admiral ((WWII/Hood), dies in battle. [1] May 27 AH Borgesius tutor/experimentator/amateur astronomer, dies at age 76. [1] Günther Lütjens German Admiral (Bismarck), dies. [1] June 2 Lou Gehrig, Mew York Yankees great, dies at age 37 of ALS in Riverdale New York. [1] June 10 Marcus Garvey dies at age 52 in London England. [1] June 29 Ignace Paderewski Polish statesman pianist, dies in New York at age 80. [1] July 10 Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton pioneer jazz pianist, dies at age 56 in Louisiana. [1] July 26 Marx Dormoy French socialist, killed by a time bomb. [1] October 5 Louis D Brandeis first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, dies at age 84. [1] November 13 (1538 hours) In the Mediterranean, German submarine U-81 fires three torpedoes at British aircraft carrier Ark Royal. One hits the ship below the superstructure, cutting off all communication from the bridge. One crewman dies in the blast. [10] November 21 Juanita Spellini first woman executed in California. [1] December 1 Horace Chapman cricketer (two Tests for South Africa, 39 runs, one wicket), dies. [1] December 3 Johann Christian August Sinding composer, dies at age 85. [1] December 6 Anthony G Kröller entrepreneur/government advisor, dies. [1] December 7 Cecil Forsyth composer, dies at age 71. [1] Iida Japanese pilot/lieutenant, dies in battle at age 28. [1] December 9 Leonard "Leo" Polak Dutch philosopher, dies in Sachsenhausen at age 61. [1] December 19 L M Dovator Russian general, dies in battle. [1] December 22 Leopoldo Mugnone composer, dies at age 83. [1] December 31 Sigwart Aspestrand composer, dies at age 85. [1] 1942 January 1 Jaroslav Jezek composer, dies at age 35. [1] January 3 Pauline Beersmans [PLJM van Cuyck], Flemish actress, dies at age 70. [1] January 4 Leon Jessel composer, dies at age 70. [1] January 5 Yves Paringaux French chief of staff, murdered. [1] January 7 Henry Count of Baillet-Latour, president of International Olympic Committee (1925-42), dies at age 63. [1] January 8 Arvo Hannikainen composer, dies at age 44. [1] January 12 George Francis cricketer (West Indies Test fast-bowler, 23 wickets in 10), dies. [1] January 15 Melvin Winfield Sheppard runner (Olympics-gold-08, 12), dies at age 58. [1] January 16 Barbara Lynn [Ozen], US singer (You'll Lose a Good Thing), dies. [1] Carole Lombard actress, (Bolero), killed in plane crash (along with her mother and 20 others) at age 32. [1] January 17 Frederick Jerome Work composer, dies at age 61. [1] January 21 Henryk Opienski Polish composer/musicologist/conductor, dies at age 72. [1] January 22 Reimond Tollenaere leader Flemish National Front, dies at age 81. [1] Walter Richard Sickert British painter (Free House!), dies at age 81. [1] January 25 Eugene Samuel-Holeman composer, dies at age 78. [1] January 26 Gerard L F Philips Dutch manufacturer (Philips), dies at age 83. [1] January 28 Pablo Luna y Carne composer, dies at age 61. [1] January 29 Ladislao Joseph Philip Paul Zavrtal composer, dies at age 92. [1] January 30 Vasily Pavovlich Kalafati composer, dies at age 72. [1] February 6 Wobbe de Vries Dutch linguist, dies at age 78. [1] February 7 Dorando di Desiderio Pietri marathoner (Olympics-gold-1908), dies at age 56. [1] February 8 Fritz Todt German Reichs minister (Organization Todt), dies at age 50. [1] February 12 Grant Wood US painter (American Gothic), dies at age 49. [1] February 15 Guido Adler Austrian musicologist, dies at age 91. [1] Stanislav Binicki composer, dies at age 69. [1] February 20 Guido Gasperini composer, dies at age 76. [1] February 23 Stefan Zweig Austrian writer (Die Welt von Gestern), dies at age 60. [1] February 25 Leo Ascher composer, dies at age 61. [1] February 27 Karel WFM Doorman Dutch Rear Admiral (Java Sea), KIA at age 52. [1] March 3 Amedeo Duke of Aosta, viceroy (Ethiopia), dies at age 43. [1] March 4 Yuliya Lazarevna Veysberg composer, dies at age 62. [1] March 8 José R Capablanca Cuban chess player (world champion 1927), dies at age 53. [1] March 12 Enrique Morera composer, dies at age 76. [1] March 15 Alexander van Zemlinsky Austrian/US composer (African Dance), dies at age 70. [1] March 16 Alexander van Zemlinsky Austrian composer (African Dance), dies at age 69. [1] March 20 Theodoro Valcarcel composer, dies at age 41. [1] March 21 Captain Morávec Czechoslovakian resistance fighter, commit suicide. [1] March 28 Herman A van Karnebeek Dutch foreign minister (1918-27), dies at age 67. [1] Miguel Hernadez Gilabert Spanish poet (Viento del Pueblo), dies at age 31. [1] March 30 Alfred Coville French historian (Lesson premier Valois), dies at age 81. [1] April 3 Albert Siklos composer, dies at age 63. [1] Paul Gilson composer, dies at age 76. [1] April 8 Alfred Mombert writer, dies. [1] April 12 Johannes E Akkeringa Dutch painter/etcher, dies at age 80. [1] April 13 Henk Sneevliet leader of Dutch RSAP/Spartacus, executed at age 58. [1] April 15 Robert Musil Austrian writer (Mann ohne Eigenschaften), dies at age 61. [1] April 23 Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear President of Argentina (1922-28), dies at age 73. [1] April 25 Paul Kornfeld writer, dies at age 52. [1] April 30 Catherine Murphy Urner composer, dies at age 51. [1] J van Hoddis writer, dies at age 54. [1] May 3 Johan H Westerveld Lieutenant-Colonel/leader Order Service, executed. [1] May 7 Felix Paul von Weingartner Austria conductor/composer, dies at age 79. [1] May 10 Joseph M Weber comedian/singer (Weber and Lewis Fields), dies at age 74. [1] May 13 Hyam Greenbaum composer, dies at age 41. [1] May 16 Bronislaw Kasper Malinowski anthropologist, dies. [1] May 19 [Nicoline] Magdalene Anchor-Roll Norwegian author (Enken), dies at age 69. [1] May 28 Jean F van Royen German secretary PTT (Camp Amersfoort), dies. [1] May 29 John Barrymore US actor (Beloved Rogue, Dinner at 8), dies at age 60. [1] June 4 Reinhard Heydrich dies of his wounds from an assassination attempt. Adolf Hitler appoints Karl Herman Frank as new protectorate of Czechoslovakia, and demands the execution of 10,000 Czechs. [10] August 8 Six convicted Nazi saboteurs who landed in US executed in Washington DC. [1] December 3 Wilhelm Peterson-Berger composer, dies at age 75. [1] December 13 Eleanor Everest Freer composer, dies at age 78. [1] December 14 Eduard C "Edo" Fimmen Dutch trade union leader, dies at age 61. [1] December 18 Charlie Walker cricketer (Australian tourist to England 1930, 1938), dies. [1] December 20 Jean Gilbert [Max Winterfield] German composer, dies at age 63. [1] December 21 Leendert Round sculptor (Giraffen, Blijdorp), dies at age 63. [1] December 24 French Admiral Jean Darlan is assassinated in Algiers. [10] Friedrich Klose composer, dies at age 80. [1] Jean Darlan French admiral, murdered by gaullists. [1] Konstantin Dmitrieyevich Balmont Russian poet, dies at age 75. [1] December 25 Vojislav Vuckovic composer, dies at age 32. [1] December 26 Bosinier de la Chapelle French murderer of Admiral Darlan, executed at age 24. [1] December 29 Frank D Adams Canadian geologist, dies at age 83. [1]