Historical Events of May 23: Cigarette Smoke and Notable Anniversaries
Today in History: May 23, cigarette smoke linked to lung disease in non-smokers

Image: Boulder Daily Camera
On May 23, significant historical events occurred, including the 1984 report by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop linking cigarette smoke to lung disease in non-smokers. Other notable events include Italy's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary in 1915 and the deaths of infamous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde in 1934.
- 01Surgeon General C. Everett Koop's 1984 report provided 'very solid' evidence of cigarette smoke's link to lung disease in non-smokers.
- 02Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 23, 1915, joining the Triple Entente.
- 03Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed in a police ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, on May 23, 1934.
- 04The USS Squalus submarine sank during a test dive on this day in 1939, resulting in 22 fatalities.
- 05Heinrich Himmler, a high-ranking Nazi official, committed suicide in British custody on May 23, 1945.
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May 23 marks several significant historical events. In 1984, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop released a pivotal report indicating 'very solid' evidence linking cigarette smoke to lung disease in non-smokers, highlighting the health risks associated with secondhand smoke. On this day in 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, aligning itself with the Triple Entente during World War I. The infamous bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were shot dead by police in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1934, marking a dramatic end to their crime spree. In 1939, the USS Squalus, a diesel-electric submarine, tragically sank during a test dive off the coast of New Hampshire, resulting in the death of 22 crew members, although 33 were rescued in a remarkable operation. Additionally, in 1945, Nazi official Heinrich Himmler took his own life while in British custody in Lüneburg, Germany. These events reflect a range of societal changes and tragedies that have shaped history.
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