May 1 – At least 800 Indigenous Australian pastoral workers walk off the job in Northwest Western Australia, starting one of the longest industrial strikes in Australia. May 7 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) is founded, with about 20 employees. May 9 – King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy abdicates, and is succeeded by his son Umberto II. May 10 Jawaharlal Nehru is elected leader of the Congress Party in India. The first V-2 rocket to be successfully launched in the United States is fired from White Sands Missile Range. May 21 – Manhattan Project physicist Louis Slotin accidentally triggers a fission reaction at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States and, although saving his coworkers, gives himself a lethal dose of hard radiation, making him the second victim of a criticality accident in history (the incident is initially treated as classified information). May 23–24 – A two-day violent tornado outbreak occurs across the Central United States, with at least 15 significant tornadoes killing four people and injuring 42 others. May 25 – The Emirate of Jordan becomes the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan when its parliament makes the ruling amir Abdullah their king on the day it ratifies the Treaty of London. May 26 – 1946 Czechoslovak parliamentary election: Communists win with (38%), in the last election before communists take power. May 31 – The 1946 Greek referendum supports the return of the monarchy.
mAY 1 – at LeasT 800 INdiGenOUS aUsTraLian pastOrAl woRKers walk off The job in norThWeSt western austrALia, starting One of tHE lOnGest iNDustRial strikEs in auSTralia. may 7 – TOkyO TeLecommUnicaTIons engIneerIng (LatEr reNamed SonY) iS foundEd, wITh aboUt 20 emPloyeeS. mAy 9 – KinG victor emManueL Iii of itALy aBDiCaTes, aND IS suCcEEDed By His son Umberto ii. may 10 jawAHarLal NehRu is electED LeAdeR of the CongreSs party In IndIa. the fIRsT v-2 ROcket to be succeSsfUlly LauNCHEd in tHe uNItEd STAtes iS fIred fROm whIte SaNDS mIssile RangE. mAY 21 – manHATtan pRoject physICiSt LOuis slOtIN accidentallY triggErs a fIssiON ReacTioN aT The Los alamoS natioNAl LaborAtorY in the unitEd states AnD, alThOuGH saving His CoWorkErs, Gives himself A lEThAL dose Of hard radIaTioN, making him tHe secOnD vIctim of a criticaliTY accident in HiSTOry (THe iNcIdent Is IniTIally tReaTeD AS clAssifIed inFORmatioN). may 23–24 – a tWo-Day VioLent tornaDo outbReak occuRS AcROss the ceNtrAL UniTed staTes, wiTh AT leasT 15 sIgNificant tornadOEs killing fOUr pEopLe aNd injUrIng 42 oTheRs. maY 25 – The emirAte oF JoRdaN becomEs the haSHeMIte kIngdom Of jordan when its paRLIaMENt MakEs tHE rUlINg AmIr ABdUllAh their KIng On the dAy it ratIfIes the tReaty oF loNdon. maY 26 – 1946 czechoSlovAk parLiameNtAry ElEctIoN: coMmunists win WiTh (38%), in The laSt eLEcTIon BEfOre comMunISts takE pOweR. may 31 – THe 1946 greEK rEFerEndUm Supports THe return of the monarchy.