Chronicle of historical events occurring in early May

Historical records from May 4 to May 7 highlight significant global milestones. Notable political events include the 1945 surrender of German forces in Reims, the 1955 sovereignty of West Germany, and the 2008 inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev. Tragic incidents occurred such as the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania with 1,198 deaths, the 1937 Hindenburg disaster killing 36, and the 2008 Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, which resulted in over 130,000 fatalities. Domestic political shifts were marked by the 2007 French presidential election of Nicolas Sarkozy and the 2002 assassination of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn. Significant cultural and social markers include the 1994 opening of the Channel Tunnel and the 2001 space tourism voyage of Dennis Tito. Financial records were set at auction houses, notably the 2004 sale of a Picasso painting for over $104 million. Finally, these days witnessed deaths of prominent figures like King Edward VII, Marlene Dietrich, and Josip Broz Tito.