Kyle Larson

# Kyle Larson

## Abstract

Kyle Miyata Larson (born July 31, 1992) is an American professional auto racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro for the same team, and part-time in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet for Arrow McLaren. Before and throughout his stock car racing career, Larson has been highly successful in dirt track racing, with wins in countless prestigious events including the Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also raced in many other forms of racing as an overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race, having won the event with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2015. Larson was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. In 2024, Larson set a NASCAR record at Kansas for the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history.

## Racing career

### Early career

Born on July 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California, Kyle Miyata Larson attended his first race with his parents a week after his birth. He began racing at the age of seven in outlaw karts in Northern California. As a teenager, he raced open-wheel cars, including the United States Auto Club (USAC) midget, Silver Crown and sprint cars, competing for Keith Kunz Motorsports and Hoffman Racing with Toyota backing; During his early career in USAC, a series official gave Larson the nickname "Yung Money" in recognition of his talent. Larson also raced in World of Outlaws sprint cars and his first sprint car race win came at Placerville Speedway where he was one of the youngest drivers to ever compete. He won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, winning in all three types of USAC cars in a single night, only the second driver in history to accomplish the feat. He won two silver crown races that season and was named the 2011 Rookie of the Year. Larson holds the sprint car track record at Ocean Speedway in 2010. In 2012, he won six USAC National Midget races including the Turkey Night Grand Prix. Even during his stock car career, Larson continued racing open-wheel cars for midweek races in addition to going to New Zealand in some off-seasons to race.

### Stock cars

#### NASCAR K&N Pro Series and ARCA

While Larson expressed some interest in IndyCar racing, he was signed for the 2012 racing season by Earnhardt Ganassi Racing (EGR) as part of the team's driver development program. In February 2012, Larson won his first race in a full bodied stock car in the Pete Orr Memorial Orange Blossom 100 at New Smyrna Speedway. A week later, he won again at the speedway during the World Series of Asphalt.

On June 9, 2012, Larson won his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park. He scored his second K&N Pro Series East win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On June 15, Larson finished 13th in his ARCA Racing Series debut at Michigan International Speedway for Eddie Sharp Racing.

On November 3, Larson won the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Championship with 2 wins and 12 top tens in 14 races, overcoming the five wins of Corey LaJoie (son of two-time Busch Series champion Randy). He also earned the K&N Pro Series East Rookie of the Year award. On June 7, 2014, Larson scored his first ARCA win at Pocono Raceway.

#### NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

On June 28, 2012, Larson made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Kentucky Speedway in the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports where he finished 10th.

On April 14, 2013, Larson scored his first Truck Series win at Rockingham Speedway in a close finish with Joey Logano. During the celebration, Larson performed donuts without his steering wheel on, a practice he had acquired when racing go-karts. The celebration prompted NASCAR to request him to keep it attached, regarding safety concerns because Larson would not have much control of the truck without the steering wheel.

In 2016, Larson drove the No. 24 truck for GMS Racing at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 4th. At Eldora Speedway, Larson scored his second career Truck Series win.

On February 28, 2020, Larson announced he would be re-joining GMS Racing to drive the No. 24 truck at Homestead-Miami Speedway to pursue a bounty offered by Kevin Harvick to full-time Cup drivers to beat Kyle Busch. Following his suspension from NASCAR, Larson was released from the team.

On March 17, 2021, it was announced that Larson will drive the No. 44 truck for Niece Motorsports at the inaugural Bristol dirt race. He finished 35th in the race.

In 2023, Larson scored his 3rd career Truck Series win at North Wilkesboro.

#### NASCAR Xfinity Series

In February 2013, it was announced that Larson would compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013, driving the No. 32 Chevrolet for Turner Scott Motorsports. On the last lap in the season opener at Daytona, Larson was involved in a violent crash when his car got caught onto the right side of Brad Keselowski 's car and then hit the outside wall. At the same time, he was hit in the right rear by Brian Scott which sent his car airborne hitting a crossover gate, and piercing the catch fence, completely ripping off the front end of his car. Larson came across the start-finish line in 13th. He was unharmed, but the debris hurt 28 spectators in the grandstands, two of whom were in critical condition. However, there were no deaths. In the season-finale at Homestead, Larson led the most laps but lost the lead to eventual winner Brad Keselowski with 3 laps remaining and finished 2nd. Larson earned the 2013 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first Asian-American and first Drive for Diversity participant to win a Rookie of the Year Award in one of NASCAR's national touring series.

Larson drove the No. 42 car on a part-time basis in 2014. On March 22, Larson scored his first career Nationwide Series win at Auto Club Speedway after a hard battle with Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch. Larson once again celebrated by doing burnouts in the infield without a steering wheel. In victory lane, Larson stated, "Those last 11, 12 laps were the longest laps of my life. I've been so close to winning so many times, but the fashion we did it in was extra special." At Charlotte Motor Speedway, he scored his second career Nationwide Series win.

In 2015, Larson ran part-time again for HScott Motorsports. He scored his 3rd career Xfinity Series win at Homestead and the first win for HScott Motorsports.

In 2016, Larson continued to drive the No. 42 car part-time for Chip Ganassi Racing. He scored 2 wins at Pocono and Texas.

In 2022, Larson drove the No. 17 car for Hendrick Motorsports at Road America where he finished 2nd to Ty Gibbs. On August 20, Larson scored his 13th career Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen in the No. 88 car for JR Motorsports.

In 2023, Larson scored a win at Darlington after a dramatic finish with John Hunter Nemechek.

In 2024, Larson won at the Circuit of the Americas after overtaking a dueling Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill on the final lap.

#### 2013

On August 27, 2013, The Charlotte Observer reported that Larson will drive the No. 42 car for Chip Ganassi Racing starting in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and would compete for the Rookie of the Year honors. The deal was officially announced on August 30. On October 1, it was announced that Larson would make his Sprint Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the No. 51 car for Phoenix Racing to prepare for his rookie season. In his Cup Series debut, Larson started 21st and finished 37th after an engine failure on lap 247.

#### 2014: Rookie Season

In his Daytona 500 debut, Larson got into the wall twice and came down pit road in the early laps of the race. Despite the car being fixed, Larson spun out on lap 22. Later in the night race, he got wrecked by another rookie contender Austin Dillon who triggered a 7-car wreck on lap 163 and finished 38th. At Auto Club Speedway, Larson finished 2nd to Kyle Busch, his career best finish in the Cup Series.

At Richmond Raceway, Larson recorded a speed of 126.880 miles per hour (204.194 km/h). After qualifying was rained out, he earned the pole based on being the fastest in practice. On the first lap, Larson got spun out by Clint Bowyer while going into turn 1 and later finished in 16th.

At Michigan, Larson spun out on lap 7 while coming off at turn 2. Later in the race, he made a block on one of his strong supporters Tony Stewart while trying to go for the lead and the block damaged Stewart's grille. In response, Stewart tried to retaliate during a yellow-flag period. When told that Stewart was mad at him for the block, Larson shrugged it off replying "Tony being Tony, I guess. I was pretty tight on whoever was inside of me on the restart and I was looking in my mirror and saw him juke to the right so I juked to the right and he hit me and I don't know, he was just trying to teach me a lesson, I'm guessing." Before the Sonoma race, Stewart warned Larson, angrily saying "He'll learn not to block me anytime soon."

Larson earned his first Cup Series pole for the 2014 Gobowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway where he set the track record with a lap speed of 183.438 mph (295.215 km/h). He finished 11th in the race. Following the 2014 Cup Series season, Larson earned the Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award with 8 top fives and 16 top tens. His statistics being higher than other rookie seasons in history, such as those of Richard Petty and Jeff Gordon.

#### 2015

Larson began the season with a DNF at the 2015 Daytona 500. During an autograph session at Martinsville Speedway, Larson fainted and was hospitalized. He was replaced by Regan Smith. Two days later, Larson was released from the hospital with a diagnosis of dehydration as being the cause of the faint. After a disappointing season, he finished 19th in the points standings.

#### 2016

Larson began the season with a seventh-place finish at the 2016 Daytona 500, his first top 10 and first non-DNF. On May 21, 2016, Larson won the Sprint Showdown after edging out rookie contender Chase Elliott to earn a spot in the All-Star Race for the first time. At the 2016 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, Larson took the lead on the final restart, but was caught by Joey Logano and hit the wall with two laps to go and finished 16th.

On August 28, Larson scored his first ever Sprint Cup Series win at Michigan. Larson's victory qualified him into the Chase for the first time in his career. In his first Chase appearance, Larson finished 18th at Chicagoland and followed up with a 10th-place finish at New Hampshire. Larson was eliminated from the Round of 16 at Dover where he finished 25th.

#### 2017

Larson began the season with a 12th-place finish at the 2017 Daytona 500 and followed up with 3 consecutive second-place finishes at Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix that moved him up to 1st in the points standings. On March 26, Larson scored his second career Cup Series win at Auto Club Speedway. At Michigan, Larson scored his second win of the season.

At Kentucky, Larson started at the rear of the field after he was unable to set a qualifying time as he was stuck in an inspection. He finished second to eventual winner Martin Truex Jr. but lost his points lead in the standings when he was penalized 35 points for an improper rear brake cooling assembly. Crew chief Chad Johnston was suspended for three races and Tony Lunders took his place.

A week later, Larson won the pole for the Loudon's Overton's 301, but was forced to surrender it to Truex after failing post-qualifying inspection for an unapproved rear deck fin lid. He finished second in the race after starting 39th. On the final restart at the 2017 Pure Michigan 400, Larson restarted 4th and made a four-wide pass for the lead with 2 laps to go and went on to score his third straight Michigan win. He scored his fourth win of the season at Richmond (and his first win that is not a two-mile track) in the final race of the regular season.

Larson made it to the Round of 12 after he scored top 5 finishes at Chicagoland, New Hampshire, and Dover. At Kansas, Larson's championship hopes have dashed after an engine blew up on lap 72 that resulted in a 39th-place finish. After being eliminated from the playoffs, Larson finished 37th at Martinsville and Texas both due to crashes and a last-place finish at Phoenix from an expired engine.

#### 2018

Despite being winless throughout the 2018 season, Larson made it to the Playoffs by staying consistent with five second-place finishes, eight top 5's, and 13 top 10's. At Charlotte Roval, Larson led 47 laps and was in contention for the win until he was involved in a multi-car wreck on a late restart that also included playoff contenders Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch. Despite the car being heavily damaged as a result of the wreck, Larson was still able to advance to the Round of 12 after finishing 25th.

Larson experienced further bad luck at Talladega when a right front tire blew and spun out on lap 105 and finished 11th. 3 days later, the No. 42 team was docked 10 driver and 10 owner points after the team violated the damaged vehicle policy by using metal tabs instead of fasteners and/or tape to repair the torn right front fender. Larson was eliminated in the Round of 12 after he finished 3rd at Kansas fall race. He finished the season ninth in the points standings, the highest of the winless drivers in 2018 along with a third consecutive top 10 points finish.

#### 2019

Before the start of the 2019 season, Larson lost his primary sponsor DC Solar, whose headquarters had been raided by the FBI on December 18, 2018. Larson started the season with a 7th-place finish at the 2019 Daytona 500. At Atlanta, Larson led over 100 laps before he was penalized for speeding on pit road which sent him to the back of the field and finished 12th.

On February 26, 2019, Larson sparked controversy on the NBC Sports segment Splash & Go! with host Rick Allen when he jokingly implied that Hendrick Motorsports starts "cheating and finding some speed" a couple of months into the start of a season. Larson later apologized to Rick Hendrick for his comments. On the final lap at the Talladega spring race, Larson was involved in a major accident when his car went airborne and rolled over multiple times. He was uninjured.

On May 18, Larson won the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race. Following the Darlington race, Larson clinched his spot in the playoffs for the fourth straight year despite no wins.

On October 6, Larson ended his 75-race winless streak at Dover. The win secured him into the Round of 8. During the Talladega fall race, Larson was involved in a multi-car wreck on lap 108 that left him with a fractured lower rib. Despite a 4th-place finish at Phoenix, Larson failed to make the Championship 4. He finished the season sixth in the points standings, his career-best to date.

#### 2020 and suspension

Larson began the season with a tenth-place finish at the 2020 Daytona 500. During the Auto Club 400, Larson got turned into the turn 1 wall by Denny Hamlin, relegating him to a 21st-place finish. When the season was placed on hold after four races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Larson was seventh in the points standings with 2 top 10's and 1 top 5 finish.

On April 13, 2020, Larson was indefinitely suspended by Chip Ganassi Racing without pay after he used a racial slur during an iRacing event the day before. Shortly after Ganassi's announcement, NASCAR also suspended Larson indefinitely and ordered him to complete sensitivity training before he is allowed to race again. Larson would also be suspended by the World of Outlaws, but his suspension had lifted prior to their return to racing. Multiple corporations such as McDonald's, Credit One Bank, and Chevrolet also terminated their sponsorship of Larson. The following day, CGR fired Larson. Matt Kenseth took over the No. 42 car for the rest of the 2020 season.

In October 2020, after months of inactivity on social media, Larson posted an essay on his website, apologizing for using the slur and denying that it was representative of who he was. In the statement, Larson said that when racing overseas, he encountered people who used the word regularly. He accepted accountability for his actions, including his suspension and dismissal from CGR, and said that although he finished the sensitivity training, he did more than what was required of him to change his behavior; for instance, he went to Minnesota after George Floyd was murdered and participated in a variety of classes to learn more on the African-American community.

The statement also said that some of the people in his career, including Ganassi, kept in touch with him during his rehabilitation which convinced him to have hope in saving his career. Larson also said that he hopes his setback "was a lesson for everyone," and was in the process of seeking reinstatement to the Cup Series. In mid-October, it was reported that Larson officially applied for reinstatement. On the same month, it was announced that NASCAR had reinstated Larson's competition privileges effective on January 1, 2021.

#### 2021: First Cup Series Championship

On October 28, 2020, it was announced that Hendrick Motorsports signed Larson to a multi-year deal to drive the No. 5 car beginning in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. At the time of the announcement, it was also announced that the No. 5 car was not sponsored yet, though Hendrick announced that he would self-sponsor the car through his HendrickCars.com and NationsGuard companies until they found long-term sponsors. It was also announced later on that, although Hendrick normally did not allow their drivers to race anywhere other than their NASCAR team, the team negotiated a clause in the contract allowing Larson to continue racing dirt races, provided that he focused primarily on the Cup program.

Larson began his 2021 season with a 10th-place finish at the 2021 Daytona 500. At Las Vegas, Larson scored his first win with HMS after he led 103 of 267 laps. He had finished second nine times on 1.5-mile tracks prior to his victory.

On May 30, Larson won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Larson's victory was also the 269th career Cup victory for Hendrick Motorsports, surpassing Petty Enterprises for the most Cup victories as a race team in NASCAR history. One week later, Larson scored his first road course win at Sonoma. On June 13, Larson won the 2021 NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas, becoming the 9th driver to win the All-Star Race more than once. He also became the 8th driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the Coca-Cola 600 and the All-Star race in the same season. At Nashville, Larson scored his third consecutive win (All-Star races, as they are not points-paying, are not included).

On the final lap at Pocono doubleheader race 1, Larson was on the verge of a 4th consecutive win until the left front tire went down that caused his car to hit the turn 3 wall and his teammate Alex Bowman won the race while Larson finished 9th. The next day, despite resorting to a backup car as a result of the incident, Larson rebounded to finish 2nd to eventual winner Kyle Busch after a fuel gamble.

At Watkins Glen, Larson scored his 5th victory of the 2021 season, a career-high. After the Watkins Glen race, Larson and Denny Hamlin were tied for the points lead in the regular season standings. Following the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Larson clinched the regular season championship.

In the first round of the playoffs, Larson finished 2nd to Hamlin at Darlington and followed up with a 6th-place finish at Richmond. At Bristol night race, Larson won his 6th race of the season over Kevin Harvick. His win would somewhat be overshadowed by an altercation between Harvick and Chase Elliott after the race due to an on-track incident.

At Charlotte Roval, Larson scored his 7th win of the season after overcoming electrical issues. He became the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win three different road courses in the same season and also became the first driver since Kasey Kahne in 2006 to sweep both Charlotte races.

In the third round of the playoffs, Larson scored his 8th win of the season at Texas to secure a spot into the Championship 4. A week later at Kansas, he scored his 9th win of the season and became the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win three straight races twice in the same season.

In the Championship 4 at Phoenix, Larson started on the pole and led 107 laps en route to his 10th win of the season and his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. He became the first driver to have 10 wins and a championship in the same season since Jimmie Johnson did it in 2007 season. Larson ended his 2021 championship season with 10 wins, 18 stage wins, 20 top fives, 26 top tens, 2,581 laps led, and an average finish of 9.1.

#### 2022

Larson began the season by starting on the pole at the 2022 Daytona 500 and finished in 32nd after he was involved in a crash at the frontstretch on lap 192. A week later, Larson rebounded with a win at Auto Club Speedway. At Sonoma, Larson's No. 5 car lost a wheel on lap 84. As a result, crew chief Cliff Daniels was suspended for four races. Kevin Meendering, who served as a crew chief for Jimmie Johnson during the 2019 season, filled in for Cliff.

At Watkins Glen, Larson took the lead away from his teammate Chase Elliott on the final restart and scored his second consecutive Watkins Glen win over A. J. Allmendinger. On September 16, 2022, HMS announced that Larson had signed a multi-year contract extension to remain with the team through 2026. Larson was eliminated following the Round of 12 after he finished 35th at Charlotte Roval.

On lap 94 at Las Vegas, Larson got wrecked by Bubba Wallace down the frontstretch after Wallace got into the wall and Christopher Bell was also involved in the crash. During the caution, Wallace confronted Larson in a shoving match. As a result, Wallace was suspended for one race. At Homestead, Larson scored his 3rd win of the season. He finished the 2022 season seventh in the points standings.

#### 2023

Larson began the season with a DNF at the 2023 Daytona 500. On March 15, 2023, the No. 5 was served an L2 penalty after an unapproved hood louver was found installed on the car during a pre-race inspection at Phoenix. As a result, the team was docked 100 driver and owner points and 10 playoff points. In addition, crew chief Cliff Daniels was suspended for four races and fined US$ 100,000. On March 29, the National Motorsports Appeals Panel amended the penalty, upholding the fine and Daniels' suspension, but the No. 5 team has restored the owner, driver, and playoff points.

Larson scored his 20th career Cup Series win at Richmond. Two weeks later, he won at Martinsville and it was also the first win for the No. 5 car at that track since 1984. Larson won the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race, tied Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon as a three-time All-Star winner and the only driver to win the All-Star race on 3 different race tracks (Charlotte, Texas & North Wilkesboro).

Larson won the Southern 500 at Darlington to clinch a spot into the Round of 12. It is also the 500th overall win by Hendrick Motorsports' engine department. At Las Vegas, Larson scored his 4th win of the season to make the Championship 4. Following the season finale at Phoenix, he finished the 2023 season second in the points standings.

#### 2024

Larson started the 2024 season with an 11th-place finish at the 2024 Daytona 500. Two weeks later, Larson scored his first win of the season at Las Vegas At the Kansas spring race, Larson won by 0.001 seconds over Chris Buescher, the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. On May 26, Larson attempted to run both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, but due to the rain that delayed the Indy 500, he was unable to make the Charlotte race and was substituted by Justin Allgaier who finished 13th. Despite missing the Coke 600 race, Larson was granted a waiver to maintain his playoff eligibility.

At Sonoma, Larson scored his 26th career win that tied him with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Fred Lorenzen on the all-time wins record list in the Cup Series. The victory also made Larson the 10th driver in NASCAR Cup history to win five road course races. On July 21, Larson won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.

### Open-wheel career

#### Dirt car racing

Larson owned a World of Outlaws sprint car team named Kyle Larson Racing that fielded a car for Carson Macedo. He acquired full ownership of the team, formerly named Larson Marks Racing, after the 2017 season. The team closed following the 2020 season due to COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. He drives for his own team (midgets) and Paul Silva (winged sprint car) on a limited schedule.

On January 18, 2020, Larson won his first Chili Bowl after he held off 3-time winner Christopher Bell. On May 5, It was announced that Larson will compete in the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway beginning in the spring after a suspension and subsequent reinstatement to the series. At Knoxville, Larson finished 10th. Two weeks later at Federated Auto Parts Raceway, Larson set a qualifying lap time of 9.995 seconds, the first sub-ten-second time in track history. After finishing second to brother-in-law Brad Sweet in the friday feature, Larson held off Brent Marks and Sweet in the saturday event to score his first World of Outlaws victory since suspension.

Larson joined the USAC series for the 2020 Indiana Midget Week in June. He won all six races in the Hoosier state, as well as the championship. Larson continued to win in nine straight sprint car features. On June 25, 2020, Larson competed in the full Pennsylvania Speedweek for 410 Sprint cars. Larson won at Grandview Speedway after he made a pass on Freddie Rahmer with two laps remaining. Larson picked up his second win that same week, leading the led the entire race at Hagerstown.

On July 3, Larson won the Mitch Smith Memorial at Williams Grove Speedway. The following night, he won again in the final event at Port Royal Speedway. Larson won the Pennsylvania Speedweek title with four wins and three podiums. Larson competed in the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars at Knoxville Raceway where he set a series record and scored his seventh consecutive win. Following the 2020 season, Larson was named the 410 Sprint Car Driver of the Year.

After a test at Cherokee Speedway in August 2020, Larson announced he would be making his debut in a dirt late model at Port Royal Speedway in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series for owner Kevin Rumley. After finishing 5th in the first night of the event, Larson led flag-to-flag in the second night's race to win in his second dirt late model start.

On October 18, Larson won the USAC Silver Crown Series finale at the Springfield Mile to take his 42nd feature win of the season. On October 27, it was announced that Larson would make his World of Outlaws Late Model Series debut at Charlotte. He competed the final two races of the season on The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway where he set a new track record in qualifying and finished 8th.

Following his reinstatement by NASCAR and signing with Hendrick Motorsports in October 2020, Larson noted in an interview with The Dale Jr. Download that he would be permitted to continue dirt racing, in addition to the Cup Series, provided the latter be his primary commitment.

On January 16, 2021, Larson won his second consecutive Chili Bowl Nationals. A week later, Larson raced in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series' Winternationals for dirt late models where he won the season-opener at All-Tech Raceway. Larson won the third annual BC39 race against 74 USAC National Midgets on the dirt track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson won the Knoxville Nationals three times in 2021, 2023, and 2024, becoming the eighth multi-time winner as well as the eighth back-to-back winner of the event.

#### Indy car racing

On January 12, 2023, it was announced that Larson would attempt to qualify for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports. After a rain-delayed start of the race, Larson started fifth and ran among the leading cars until he was caught penalized for speeding on pit lane and finished in 18th. The rain delay impacted Larson's tight schedule, causing him to miss the start of the Coca-Cola 600. Larson was named the 2024 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

### Other racing

On January 4, 2014, Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Larson would enter the 24 Hours of Daytona in the No. 02 car alongside Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan and Marino Franchitti. During the press conference, Larson stated, "You grow up watching the NASCAR guys then you're like, ‘wow’ when you meet them. And then watching the guys in different series there's a 'wow' factor to meeting them and working with them." In his Rolex 24 debut, Larson's car stalled and received a speeding penalty, but finished his stint with a fifth-place finish.

Larson returned in the No. 02 Ford Daytona Prototype for the 2015 event along with Chip Ganassi Racing teammates from IndyCar Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan and NASCAR Jamie McMurray. The team ultimately won the race.

In 2016, Larson once again returned for the 24 Hours of Daytona in the Ford EcoBoost Daytona Prototype for Chip Ganassi Racing. The team consisted of the same drivers from the 2015 winning car but ran into issues with brake failures plaguing the team throughout the race.

## In popular media

Larson made a cameo appearance as a limo driver in the 2017 film Logan Lucky.

## Personal life

Larson's mother is Japanese American and her parents spent time in a Japanese internment camp. Larson's wife is Katelyn Sweet, the sister of former World Of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver and NASCAR driver Brad Sweet. Larson announced on June 13, 2014, that he and his girlfriend were expecting their first child. On July 16, Larson announced that the baby was a boy. Owen Miyata Larson was born on December 22, 2014. On November 8, 2017, Larson announced on social media that he and Katelyn were expecting a second child, due in May 2018. Audrey Layne Larson was born in 2018. On December 22, 2017, Larson and Sweet became engaged, and they were married on September 26, 2018. On December 31, 2022, Larson and Katelyn’s third child Cooper Donald Larson was born.

## Motorsports career results

### NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

#### Cup Series

#### Craftsman Truck Series

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points

### ARCA Racing Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

#### CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

### Complete WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

### American open-wheel results

#### IndyCar Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)


Nicholas Bianco

# Nicholas Bianco

## Abstract

Nicholas " Nicky " Bianco (March 21, 1932 – November 14, 1994) was an American mobster who became an influential member of the Patriarca crime family of New England.

## Biography

Bianco was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. In later years, he lived with his wife and children in Barrington, Rhode Island. He sent his children to private schools and one of his sons later became a lawyer.

As a young man, Bianco moved to Brooklyn, New York to work for the Colombo crime family. In the early 1960s, the Colombo family was being torn apart by an internal war between boss Joseph Magliocco and soldier Joe Gallo. In 1963, Bianco asked Patriarca boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca if Patriarca could serve as mediator between the two factions. Patriarca agreed and also inducted Bianco, then just a Colombo associate, as a made man in the Patriarca family. Bianco continued to serve as a liaison to the Colombos.

In 1982, Bianco allegedly participated in the murder of Anthony Mirabella. A Patriarca associate, Mirabella had incurred disfavor with the family because he was hard to control. Mirabella was shot to death in a Providence restaurant.

In July 1984, the Patriarca family entered a period of instability with the death of boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca. After a period of jockeying, his son Raymond Patriarca, Jr. became the new official boss. However, the younger Patriarca was not a strong boss; the family would be controlled over the next few years by a succession of powerful underbosses, including William "Wild Guy" Grasso. It also signaled a growing rivalry between the Patriarca mobsters in Boston, Massachusetts, and the family leadership in Providence, as well as friction with mobsters in Springfield and Worcester.

In 1985, Bianco was indicted on charges of conspiracy and aiding and abetting in the 1982 Mirabella murder. However, soon after the trial began, the judge dismissed all charges against Bianco due to lack of evidence.

## Boss

On 16 June 1989, underboss "Wild Guy" Grasso was murdered by members of the Springfield faction during a power struggle between Providence and Boston, which wanted more control over the family. The death of Grasso undermined Raymond Patriarca, Junior and Bianco essentially took control of the Providence-based family operations. Junior would be tried in 1991 for the murderer of Grasso. By 1990, Bianco would be de facto boss of the family, superseding Junior.

In 1989, Junior attended a Patriarca ceremony in a Massachusetts house in which four mob associates were admitted to the family. Unknown to the participants, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had placed electronic surveillance devices in the room. Junior's presence at this ceremony served as evidence that he was a member of the family in an upcoming indictment.

In March 1990, Bianco and other top Patriarca family members were indicted on charges of conspiracy to murder, loan sharking, illegal gambling, wire fraud and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. With the aid of government witness John Castagna, Bianco was convicted on August 8, 1991, of two counts of racketeering in Hartford, Connecticut. On November 25, 1991, Bianco was sentenced to 11 and half years in federal prison.

On November 16, 1994, Nicholas Bianco died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Springfield, Missouri.


George Taylor (cricketer)

# George Taylor (cricketer)

## Abstract

George Rammell Taylor (born 25 November 1909 — 21 October 1986) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Hampshire.

Taylor was born at Havant in November 1909. He was educated at Lancing College, where he played for the college cricket team. Taylor was a right-handed batsman who usually batted in the lower order in first-class cricket and a slow right-arm occasional bowler. He made a single appearance for Hampshire during the 1935 County Championship, scoring 0 and 21 in a home match against Lancashire. In the 1939 season with no other amateur available for more than a few matches, Taylor captained Hampshire, though he did not appear in the final few matches of the season when Giles Baring was available to play and was worth a place in the team on merit. The move to appoint Taylor as captain was not a success, and the team won only two out of 23 matches under his captaincy. In his obituary in the 1987 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, it was noted that he "would never have claimed to be more than a club player". He ended his career with 306 runs from 37 innings at an average of 9.27 and with a highest score of just 41, made in the match against Lancashire.

A solicitor, Taylor died in Romsey, Hampshire in October 1986 at the age of 76.


1956 in Germany

# 1956 in Germany

## Abstract

Events in the year 1956 in Germany.

## Incumbents

- President – Theodor Heuss

- Chancellor – Konrad Adenauer

## Events

- May 1 - Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956

- June 22 - July 3 - 6th Berlin International Film Festival

- October 27 - Saar Treaty

## Births

- 5 January - Frank-Walter Steinmeier, politician

- 7 January Leonard Lansink, actor Uwe Ochsenknecht, actor

- Leonard Lansink, actor

- Uwe Ochsenknecht, actor

- 21 January - Jürgen Kehrer, author

- 16 February - Bodo Ramelow, politician

- 25 February - Michel Friedman, lawyer, politician and talk show host

- 27 February - Rosemarie Gabriel, swimmer

- 28 March - Evelin Jahl, discus thrower

- 20 March - Theo Breuer, poet, essayist, editor, translator and publisher

- 12 April - Herbert Grönemeyer, singer

- 4 May - Ulrike Meyfarth, high jumper

- 18 May - Lothar Thoms, German track cyclist (died 2017)

- 31 May - Fritz Hilpert, German musician

- 1 June – Petra Morsbach, German author

- 3 June - Thomas Flach, German sailor

- 6 June - Hans-Peter Ferner, German athlete

- 8 June - Udo Bullmann, German politician

- 4 July - Bettina Böttinger, television presenter

- 13 July - Günter Jauch, television presenter and journalist

- 24 July Carmen Nebel, television presenter Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, journalist

- Carmen Nebel, television presenter

- Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, journalist

- 1 August - Axel Milberg, actor

- 12 August - Brigitte Kraus, athlete

- 18 August - Rainer Woelki, bishop of Roman Catholic Church

- 24 August - Nina Ruge, journalist and television presenter

- 21 September - Joachim Herrmann, politician

- 24 September - Ilona Slupianek, shot putter

- 26 September - Jutta Allmendinger, social scientist

- 30 September - Désirée Nick, actress and comedian

- 3 October - Ralph Morgenstern, actor

- 6 October - Rüdiger Helm, canoeist

- 20 November - Olli Dittrich, actor and comedian

- 23 November - Karin Guthke, Olympic diver

- 28 November - Michael Eissenhauer, art historian

- 30 November - Heinz Rudolf Kunze, singer

- 5 December - Klaus Allofs, football player

- 9 December - Henriette Reker, politician

## Deaths

- 1 January — Ludwig Dürr, German airship designer (born 1878)

- 3 January — Joseph Wirth, German politician, Chancellor of Germany (born 1879)

- 13 January — Lyonel Feininger, German painter (born 1871)

- 7 February - Karl Schelenz, German sport teacher (born 1890)

- 20 February — Heinrich Barkhausen, German physicist (born 1881)

- 26 February — Rudolf Kanzler, surveyor and politician (born 1873)

- 21 March - Hans Müller-Schlösser, German playwright (born 1884)

- 13 April — Emil Nolde, German painter (born 1867)

- 16 April — Richard Kolkwitz, German botanist (born 1873)

- 29 April - Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, German field marshal (born 1876)

- 10 May - F.W. Schröder-Schrom, German actor (born 1879)

- 22 May - Walther Kossel, German physicist (born 1888)

- 29 May — Hermann Abendroth, German conductor (born 1883)

- 8 June - Hans Meiser, German Protestant theologian, pastor and first 'Landesbischof' of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria (born 1881)

- 17 June – Paul Rostock, German surgeon (born 1892)

- 7 July — Gottfried Benn, German poet and essayist (born 1886)

- 14 August: Bertolt Brecht, German writer (born 1898) Konstantin von Neurath, German diplomat and Nazi party chancellor (born 1873)

- Bertolt Brecht, German writer (born 1898)

- Konstantin von Neurath, German diplomat and Nazi party chancellor (born 1873)

- 21 August - Wilhelm Weskamm, German bishop of Roman Catholic Church (born 1891)

- 12 September - Hans Carossa, German novelist (born 1878)

- 13 October - Robert Lehr, German politician (born 1883)

- 2 November - Leo Baeck, German rabbi (born 1873)

- 13 November - Werner Haas, German motorcycle racer (born 1927)

- 15 November – Emma Richter, German paleontologist (born 1888)

- 25 December — Robert Walser, German writer (born 1878)


Springfield, Ohio, cat-eating hoax

# Springfield, Ohio, cat-eating hoax

## Abstract

In September 2024, American right-wing politicians and media figures amplified baseless claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing people's pet cats and eating them. The claims began when a member of a local Facebook group shared a rumor about a neighbor's daughter's friend's cat having been butchered. It spread quickly among far-right and neo-Nazi groups and was amplified by prominent figures in the American right, most notably Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance, associate Laura Loomer, and X owner Elon Musk.

The Springfield police department stated there have been no credible reports or evidence to support the claims, and the city's mayor, the city manager, and the governor of Ohio have all spoken out against them. Fact-checking website Snopes called the claims unfounded, while others characterized the claims as a hoax. The claims have been widely described as racist, causing harm to a community of legal immigrants for political gain.

The pet-eating claims spread amidst existing racial tensions in Springfield, where a large number of recent Haitian immigrants reversed population decline but strained some public resources. Prior to receiving national attention, there was already hostility towards the Haitian community, including a series of neo-Nazi incidents. After the claims received heightened attention, there were race-based attacks on Haitian residents, and anti-Haitian messages accompanied bomb threats that forced Springfield officials to close several public buildings, including the city hall and elementary schools.

## Background

In 1983, Newsweek called Springfield one of America's "dream cities," but in 2011 Gallup referred to it as the "unhappiest city" in the country, due primarily to deindustrialization and with it substantial job losses and an exodus of residents. In 2014, the city began the "Welcome Springfield" initiative to attract immigrants in an attempt to improve the local economy. As city leadership and the Chamber of Commerce attracted new businesses, a labor shortage emerged. Haitian immigrants began arriving in Springfield in 2017 to work in local produce packaging and machining factories. Some thought that this would help the city "regain its former vigor as a manufacturing hub" and by 2020, Springfield had somewhat successfully rebounded with the new employers creating some 8,000 jobs and with it, more labor shortage.

Employers urged workers to encourage Haitians to join the existing community to fill the new labor demands. Haitians in U.S., Haiti and South America heard from family and friends about Springfield and its need for workers in warehouses, manufacturing and the service sector. The trickling immigration increased substantially after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with deepening political and economic instability in Haiti after the assassination of the president in 2021. Some 12,000 to 20,000 Haitian migrants have since moved to Springfield attracted by jobs and a low cost of living. In June 2024, ongoing crises and severe violence in the Caribbean nation of Haiti led the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary protected status to Haitian immigrants, allowing the existing migrant population in the US to live and work without the risk of deportation.

While the migrants have had a positive economic impact on the city, the rapid growth of its immigrant population has strained public resources and fueled racial tension. This has led to a series of attacks on the Haitian community. In early 2023, a Springfield man committed several assaults and robberies on Haitian residents and was later sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The local Haitian church was vandalized and broken into twice. US-born Black people of Springfield were verbally abused when mistakenly identified by strangers as Haitian immigrants.

In August 2023, a Haitian immigrant crashed into a school bus on State Route 41 northwest of Springfield, killing an 11-year-old boy. The driver was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide and sentenced to nine to thirteen and a half years in prison. The incident inflamed existing racial tensions in the area and increased hostility towards the Haitian community. In August 2024, the Springfield Jazz & Blues Fest was interrupted by neo-Nazis with rifles who performed Nazi salutes and held swastika flags. Local police called it "a little peaceful protest". Later that month, a member of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe disrupted a Springfield city meeting, introducing himself with an anti-black slur and threatening that "crime and savagery will only increase with every Haitian you bring in". The Counter Extremism Project reports that on September 1, the white nationalist Patriot Front protested against the Haitian immigrants in Springfield.

## Origin and spread

### Facebook post

The cat rumor stemmed from a post made in early September to a private Facebook group called "Springfield Ohio Crime and Information". The user who made the post claimed that she heard from a neighbor that the neighbor's daughter's friend had "lost her cat" and then saw it "hanging from a branch, like you'd do a deer for butchering", insisting "they were carving it up to eat." The now-deleted post further asserted that the same was being done to dogs, ducks, and geese. The neighbor later admitted that she did not know the person who lost the cat and heard the story "from a friend, who heard it from another friend, who heard it from an acquaintance". The person who posted the original message later said it was not her intention for the rumor to be spread nationally and turned into hateful conspiracy theories.

### Official response

Springfield's police department issued a statement that "there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community". Springfield mayor Rob Rue said that there was no evidence to support claims that geese or ducks from parks were being killed and eaten, later telling an interviewer "All these federal politicians that have negatively spun our city, they need to know they're hurting our city, and it was their words that did it." City Manager Bryan Heck called the rumor " disinformation ". Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, rebuked the rumors, saying “This is a piece of garbage that is simply not true. There’s no evidence of this at all." He also emphasized that these "people are here legally."

### Other events

Other recent events unconnected to the original Facebook post contributed to the spread of disinformation. In July, a user posted a photo to Reddit of a man carrying two dead Canada geese in Columbus, Ohio. The post initially attracted relatively little attention. More than a month later, it was picked up by right-wing sites and influencers who falsely claimed that the photograph showed a Haitian immigrant in Springfield. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was inundated with phone calls from people who said the photo was evidence of Haitians eating waterfowl. According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the geese were killed in a car accident and there is no evidence that the man intended to eat them, nor that he was Haitian or an immigrant.

In August, a 27-year-old U.S.-born woman was arrested in Canton, Ohio, on charges that she killed and ate a cat. Police body camera footage showing the arrest of the Canton woman was posted to social media spuriously labeled as an arrest in Springfield. Neither the Columbus man nor the Canton woman had any connection to Haiti or Springfield.

Before the pet-eating claims gained virality, there were unconfirmed rumors in Springfield of Haitians stealing waterfowl from city parks, which the city's Deputy Director of Public Safety and Operations denied, telling NPR "we haven't really seen any of that." On August 26, Clark County law enforcement dispatchers received a call saying Haitians had stolen geese from a Springfield park, but police found no evidence of it. Clark County Commission President Melanie Flax Wilt characterized the episode as a "literal wild goose chase", and Clark County officials said that a review of 11 months of records found no other calls regarding stolen animals. The following day, a Springfield resident commented at a city commission meeting, without providing evidence, that immigrants were "in the park grabbing up ducks by their neck and cutting their head off... and eating them". Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost cited the stolen-goose call as evidence that the media was ignoring evidence about the story.

### Amplification by Republican politicians and right-wing influencers

The initial claims based on the Facebook post went viral among American far-right and neo-Nazi groups and popular right-wing X accounts, which presented the claims as fact, and blamed Haitian Americans and the Biden administration.

On September 9, JD Vance, a U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 2024 Republican nominee for vice president, spread the claim in a post on X, writing: "Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country." Vance responded to criticism of his post the following day, writing: "In the last several weeks, my office has received many inquiries from actual residents of Springfield who've said their neighbors' pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It's possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false." He also encouraged supporters to continue posting and "keep the cat memes flowing".

Right-wing influencers used X to spread the claims and related memes, with Laura Loomer posting about "20,000 cannibalistic Haitians" eating cats and dogs in Springfield and Elon Musk sharing a variety of memes and videos about eating pets and Haitian voodoo. Ted Cruz, a U.S. Senator from Texas, posted a widely criticized meme relating to the incident on X, showing two cats with the caption "Please vote for Trump, so Haitian immigrants don't eat us". The Arizona Republican Party put out twelve roadside billboards in the Phoenix metro area stating "Eat less kittens, Vote Republican!", spoofing Chick-Fil-A 's "Eat Mor Chikin" advertising campaign.

During the Harris–Trump presidential debate on September 10, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump claimed that: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there." Moderator David Muir fact-checked Trump, stating that ABC News reached out to the city, whose spokesperson said there were no credible reports or specific claims of such activity.

Following the debate and a large volume of publications debunking or criticizing the claims, it continued to spread and expand. Loomer accused Haitian immigrants of eating humans, while sharing a video captioned "Cannibalism in Haiti". White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, herself the daughter of Haitian immigrants, responded to the comments, stating that "no leader should ever associate with someone who spreads this kind of ugliness, this kind of racist poison." Trump began alleging that Haitians are walking off with pet geese from the parks and lakes in Springfield.

On September 14, 2024, Donald Trump pledged to conduct mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from the city of Springfield, even though the majority of them are in the United States legally. Also that day, Vance again promoted similar claims that

Africans were eating cats in Dayton, Ohio by posting a dated video of cats roaming where skinned chickens were being grilled, which was refuted by both Dayton police and the mayor of Dayton.

On September 15, Vance both defended the claims, saying they were "the first-hand accounts of my constituents", while also acknowledging that they were false, calling them a meme: "The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do."

## Subsequent violence and threats

On September 12, a bomb threat led to the closing of Springfield's City Hall, several Clark County buildings, and a local elementary school. The mayor said that the person making the threat "used hateful language towards immigrants and Haitians in our community". On September 13, more bomb threats caused several schools and municipal buildings to be evacuated and closed. On September 14, yet more bomb threats led to the temporary lockdowns of several other sites, including a hospital and medical center. The bomb threats were sent via email "to multiple agencies and media outlets" according to the city commission office. In response, the mayor of Springfield, Rob Rue, made an appeal to Americans that "We need help, not hate". Wittenberg University in Springfield announced on September 14 that all activities on campus were cancelled for the next day after receiving an emailed threat of a potential shooting targeting Haitians. Clark State College said that it received a bomb threat and a shooting threat the same weekend and would hold classes online the following week.

Haitian Americans and Haitian immigrants have faced race-based attacks due to these claims. Haitian residents – some of whom have lived in the town for years – have since had windows broken and acid thrown on their cars as a result of the hoax.

Asked if he would denounce the bomb threats, Trump replied, "I don't know what happened with the bomb threats. I know that it's been taken over by illegal migrants and that's a terrible thing that happened."

## Reactions

The claims, variously described as debunked, false, or a conspiracy theory, have been widely characterized as a racist attempt to stoke fears or resentment of immigrants. Fact-checker Snopes rated the rumors as "unfounded". A White House spokesperson said that Republicans were making false claims "based on an element of racism", and an editor from the nearby Columbus Dispatch said these were "undeniably racist rumors." A local NAACP leader said she received a flurry of racist emails soon after JD Vance got involved.

The Columbus photographer who posted the photo to Reddit of the man carrying the dead goose told The Columbus Dispatch he regretted taking the picture, saying: "I wish I never took it, for sure. And I hate that the picture that I took is being weaponized to use against immigrants, or really, any other group. They always have to have somebody to use as a weapon. Some group to be the bad guy." The father of the 11-year-old boy who was killed in the 2023 accident accused several politicians of exploiting his son's accidental death for political gain and demanded an apology from Trump and Vance for furthering a false narrative using the tragedy as a "political tool" to spur hatred towards Haitians. Vance had falsely claimed that the boy's death was a murder rather than an accident, while the Trump campaign had used images of the boy and the driver in their campaign materials.

The Arizona Republic described the remarks as the "most laughable line out of Tuesday's debate", and humorists mocked the claims, at times citing the 1986 NBC sitcom ALF about a space alien who attempts to eat cats while Sky News called it "fantasy world stuff with real world consequences". According to the Los Angeles Times, Trump has placed a target on the back of a small group of immigrants by repeating racist disinformation which is disgraceful and deserves ridicule.

The German Foreign Ministry, in a rebuttal to Trump's attacks on Germany's Energy Transition in the debate, ended the post by stating that "We also don't eat cats and dogs" on X.

On September 13, during a "Celebration of Black Excellence" brunch event at the White House, President Joe Biden said that Haitian Americans were "under attack in our country right now", describing and denouncing the false rumors and how Trump was spreading them, although not addressing the presidential candidate by name. One of the prior speakers at the event was press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who has Haitian ancestry.

Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who is Haitian American, criticized Trump's comments, noting that Haitian immigrants contribute to the U.S. and are "committed to education, hard work, and building a better life, not just for themselves but for all of us". The National Haitian-American Elected Officials Network said that Trump's and Vance's "offensive statements" promoted "harmful stereotypes" and called on them to "engage in meaningful dialogue to address the harm caused". People in Haiti also condemned the baseless claims.

According to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (appearing on CNN in his personal capacity), Trump's amplification of the falsehood is a strategy to keep people talking about "the latest crazy thing that did" because "he cannot afford for us to be talking about his record (...) or his agenda", or Vance's ideas; a distraction technique that is "not harmless". Buttigieg linked it to other recent actions by Trump, such as inviting Loomer to a memorial ceremony for the September 11 attacks when she had previously spread conspiracy theories about the attacks.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned Trump and Vance, saying that when they "intentionally distribute incredibly malicious and disgusting claims like about eating pets, etc", they put people at risk of violence. After bomb threats explicitly mentioning the hoax prompted evacuations throughout Springfield, Hawaii senator Brian Schatz accused Trump of engaging in "racist stochastic terrorism ". Springfield law enforcement is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's Dayton office to investigate the threats.

## Analysis

According to MSNBC host Ana Cabrera, Trump is looking to strategically plant the seeds for a second-term immigration agenda, which would include the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Cabrera also said Trump is attempting to establish these American immigrants as the " other " – as people who are lesser than, despite the fact that Haitians, who are in Springfield legally, have played an important role in revitalizing Springfield's economy, reversing population decline and filling labor gaps there. According to NPR, citing a Stanford University study, Trump's pet-eating comments follow a trend of Republican Party messaging on immigration getting "more vitriolic".

False claims about immigrants stealing and eating household pets date back more than a century in the United States. In the late 19th century, around the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act, it was among several racist stereotypes and slurs used to demonize immigrants from Asia. Professor of Sociology Anthony Ocampo told The Guardian that the trope is "low-hanging fruit to rally xenophobia in a very quick way", making it "easier to scapegoat or enact harmful laws against" a community characterized as "savage or uncivilized". Binghamton University professor Robert Ku said the claim about Haitians was confusing because, whereas Asian immigrants were stereotyped because cats and dogs are eaten in some Asian countries, that is not true of Haiti. According to The Washington Post, "the goal in spreading such stereotypes is to portray newcomers as unfit for American society or invoke disgust toward them".

## In popular culture

Satirical music creator the Kiffness released a song parodying the hoax, titled "Eating the cats ft. Donald Trump (Debate Remix)", which quickly went viral. Dances based on the song have become viral on TikTok, which has led right-wing personalities like Charlie Kirk to mistakenly believe that the meme represents sincere support for Trump among members of Generation Z.


Princeton, California

# Princeton, California

## Abstract

Princeton (formerly, Ket-tee) is a census-designated place in Colusa County, California. It lies at an elevation of 82 feet (25 m). Its ZIP code is 95970 and its area code is 530. Princeton's population was 303 at the 2010 census.

## History

Before Euro-American settlers came to the region, Colus Indians inhabited the region. The first Euro-American settler in the area around Princeton was John S. Williams, who was sent by Thomas Larkin, the American Consul to Mexico, whose children were given an 44,364 acre land grant from Governor Manuel Micheltorena in 1844. Williams built an adobe in 1847 near the abandoned Patwin village of Chah’ de’-he near Princeton and established a successful cattle ranch.

The first establishment in what became the town proper was a roadhouse called the Sixteen-Mile House, built in 1851. In the 1870s grain farming became successful in the region. Princeton had a grain warehouse and served as a point where farmers could bring their grain to be shipped by boat to larger markets down river. By 1897 Princeton was a small town of 250 people with a number of businesses including a bank, hotel, and grocery store.

For nearly 130 years Princeton had an operating ferry that connected residents to the community of Afton across the Sacramento River. However, it was closed down by Glenn County officials in 1986 due to safety and financial considerations. Ferry service temporarily resumed in 1988, with a 50-cent toll to defray maintenance costs, but was ultimately shut down permanently at some point in the late 1990s. The remains of the ferry and dock can be found at 39°24'43.3"N 122°00'35.1"W.

Today, Princeton is probably best known as the home of Farmers Brewing Company, which distributes craft beers regionally.

## Demographics

Princeton first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.

The 2010 United States Census reported that Princeton had a population of 303. The population density was 165.0 inhabitants per square mile (63.7/km). The racial makeup of Princeton was 217 (71.6%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 10 (3.3%) Native American, 1 (0.3%) Asian, 1 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 70 (23.1%) from other races, and 4 (1.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93 persons (30.7%).

The Census reported that 303 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 124 households, out of which 32 (25.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 70 (56.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 11 (8.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 7 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 9 (7.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 2 (1.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 25 households (20.2%) were made up of individuals, and 11 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44. There were 88 families (71.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.78.

The population was spread out, with 60 people (19.8%) under the age of 18, 23 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 59 people (19.5%) aged 25 to 44, 112 people (37.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 49 people (16.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males.

There were 158 housing units at an average density of 86.1 per square mile (33.2/km), of which 124 were occupied, of which 83 (66.9%) were owner-occupied, and 41 (33.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%. 196 people (64.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 107 people (35.3%) lived in rental housing units.

## Politics

In the state legislature, Princeton is in the 4th Senate District, represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil, and the 3rd Assembly District, represented by Republican James Gallagher. Federally, Princeton is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.

## Education

Princeton has a high school and elementary school, both of which have an enrollment of just over 100 students each.


Alexa Nikolas

# Alexa Nikolas

## Abstract

Alexa Nikolas (born April 4, 1992) is an American YouTuber and former actress. Nikolas began acting as a child and is best known for her role as Nicole Bristow on the Nickelodeon television series Zoey 101. She also appeared on various other television series, including That's Life, Hidden Hills, Revelations, and The Walking Dead.

Since her retirement from acting, she has founded Eat Predators, a movement that seeks to end predatory behavior in the entertainment industry.

## Career

In 2004, at age 12, Nikolas was cast as Nicole Bristow on Zoey 101, alongside Jamie Lynn Spears. In 2006, following the conclusion of the second season, Nikolas exited the series, following numerous fights and incidents with Spears, who claimed she was making up lies about her and suspected she was trying to take over her role on the series. In August 2005, it was reported that Britney Spears confronted Nikolas about the feud. She later alleged Nickelodeon failed to protect her from abuse, saying she "did not feel safe" around the show's creator, Dan Schneider.

In addition, Nikolas appeared on Hidden Hills regularly and also on the 2005 series Revelations. Following her departure from Zoey 101, Nikolas guest starred on various other television series, most notably The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Judging Amy, ER, Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, and Heroes with actress Laura Marano who played young Alice Shaw the sister of Nikolas' character, Angela.

In 2011, she appeared in the film Red State as Jesse, and that same year, she appeared on Family Guy as additional voices. Nikolas appeared in three episodes of the television series The Walking Dead – her character, Haley, was introduced in November 2012, before being killed off in February 2013. In 2012, Nikolas starred as Willow in the comedy-horror film Detention of the Dead.

## Personal life

Nikolas was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1992. She is of Greek descent. Nikolas moved to Los Angeles when she was 6 years old to pursue an acting career.

She was married to Canadian electronic musician Mike Milosh from 2012 to 2016.

Nikolas has accused Milosh of grooming her for a sexual relationship when she was 16 and he was 33, though states that they did not engage in sex until she turned 18. In August 2021, Nikolas sued Milosh on grounds of sexual battery, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a violation of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. Milosch denied Nikolas’s claims and counter-sued, accusing Nikolas of fabricating abuse claims against him after he stopped paying her spousal support. Nikolas dropped the lawsuit in May 2022. Milosh's lawsuit was stricken in February 2023.

Nikolas has been married to Michael Gray since 2021. The couple have two children.

## Accusations

In 2022, Nikolas and her organization Eat Predators organized a protest against unsafe working conditions for children, and child predators being protected at Nickelodeon.

Nikolas discusses her strategy as inviting pushback and criticism, saying, "If they want to silence me, it's the whole so-called Streisand Effect, where their usual relentless tactics to silence a survivor just makes it more public.”

On July 8, 2023, Nikolas accused actor Jonah Hill of forcibly kissing her at a party at actor Justin Long 's house in 2008, when she was 16 and Hill was 24. Speaking through an attorney, Hill denied her accusations, while Long stated he did not know about the incident.

In February 2024, it was announced that Nikolas would appear in the Discovery documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.


1942 in Germany

# 1942 in Germany

## Abstract

Events in the year 1942 in Germany.

## Incumbents

### National level

Head of State and Chancellor

- Adolf Hitler (the Führer) (Nazi Party)

## Events

- 13 January — Heinkel test pilot Helmut Schenk becomes the first person to escape from a stricken aircraft with an ejection seat.

- 20 January — World War II: Nazis at the Wannsee conference in Berlin decide that the " final solution to the Jewish problem" is deportation, and later extermination.

- 21 January — World War II: Erwin Rommel launches his new offensive in Cyrenaica.

- 3 February — World War II: Rommel suspends his offensive in Cyrenaica.

- 17 March — Holocaust: the Nazi German extermination camp Belzec opens in occupied Poland about 1 km south of the local railroad station of Belzec in the Lublin district of the General Government. Between March 1942 and December 1942, at least 434,508 people were killed there.

- 24 March - The deportation of Slovak Jews to Auschwitz begins.

- 27 March - The first French Jews are deported to Auschwitz.

- April — Holocaust: the Nazi German extermination camp Sobibor opens in occupied Poland on the outskirts of the village of Sobibór. Between April 1942 and October 1943, at least 160,000 people were killed in the camp.

- Spring — Holocaust: the Nazi German extermination camp Treblinka II opens in occupied Poland near the village of Treblinka. Between July 1942 and October 1943, around 850,000 people were killed there, more than 800,000 of whom were Jews.

- 12 May — World War II – Second Battle of Kharkov: In the eastern Ukraine, the Soviet Army initiates a major offensive. During the battle the Soviets capture the city of Kharkov from the German Army, only to be encircled and destroyed.

- 21 May — World War II: Mexico declares war against Germany after the sinking of the Mexican tanker Faja de Oro by the German U-boat, U-160, off Key West.

- 27 May — World War II – Operation Anthropoid: Czech paratroopers attempt to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. He survives, but is seriously injured.

- 4 June — World War II: Reinhard Heydrich succumbs to wounds sustained on May 27 from Czechoslovakian paratroopers acting in Operation Anthropoid.

- 4 June - World War II: Hitler and Mannerheim recording

- 9 June — World War II: Nazis burn the Czech village of Lidice in reprisal for the killing of Reinhard Heydrich.

- 10 June — World War II: The Gestapo massacres 173 male residents of Lidice, Czechoslovakia also in reprisal for the killing of Heydrich in the village.

- 11 June — Plans are made for the deportation of Jews from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

- 23 June — The experimental early type of a nuclear reactor led to Leipzig L-IV experiment accident, becoming the first nuclear accident in history and consisting of steam explosion and reactor fire in Leipzig.

- 1 July — 27 July — World War II: the First Battle of El Alamein.

- 2 July — Soviet, American and British newspapers report that more than 1,000,000 Jews have already been exterminated by the Nazi regime across occupied Europe.

- 4 July — World War II: Twenty-four ships are sunk by German bombers and submarines after Convoy PQ 17 to the Soviet Union is scattered in the Arctic Ocean to evade the German battleship Tirpitz.

- 14 July — World War II: Germany introduces the Ostvolk Medal for Soviet personnel in Wehrmacht, on the same day that the first Dutch Jews are deported to Auschwitz.

- 18 July — World War II: Germany test flies the Messerschmitt Me 262 (using only its jet engines) for the first time.

- 19 July — World War II – Battle of the Atlantic: German Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz orders the last U-boats to withdraw from their United States Atlantic coast positions, in response to an effective American convoy system.

- 22 July — Holocaust: The systematic deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto begins, with many being transported to the new extermination camp at Treblinka.

- August - Deportation of Croatian Jews to Auschwitz begins.

- 22 August — Brazil breaks diplomatic relations and declares war on Germany and Italy.

- 30 August — Luxembourg is formally annexed to the German Reich.

- 31 August - 5 September — World War II: Battle of Alam Halfa

- 3 September — A German attempt to liquidate the Jewish ghetto in Lakhva leads to an uprising.

- 27 September — World War II – Both commerce raiding German auxiliary cruiser Stier and Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins sink following a gun battle in the South Atlantic. Stier is the only commerce raider to be sunk by Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships.

- 3 October — The first A-4 rocket is successfully launched from Test Stand VII at Peenemünde, Germany. The rocket flies 147 kilometers wide and reaches a height of 84.5 kilometers, becoming the first man-made object to reach space.

- 5 October - Himmler orders all Jews in concentration camps across Germany to be transferred to Auschwitz or Majdanek.

- 14 October — A German U-boat sinks the ferry SS Caribou, killing 137.

- 23 October—4 November – World War II – Second Battle of El Alamein: British troops go on the offensive against the Axis forces.

- 3 November — World War II – Second Battle of El Alamein: German forces under Erwin Rommel are forced to retreat during the night.

- 10 November — World War II: In violation of a 1940 armistice, Germany invades Vichy France, following French Admiral François Darlan 's agreement to an armistice with the Allies in North Africa.

- 19 November — World War II – Battle of Stalingrad: Soviet Union forces under General Georgy Zhukov launch the Operation Uranus counter-attacks at Stalingrad, turning the tide of the battle in the USSR's favor.

- 22 November — World War II – Battle of Stalingrad: The situation for the German attackers of Stalingrad seems desperate during the Soviet counter-attack Operation Uranus, and General Friedrich Paulus sends Adolf Hitler a telegram saying that the German Sixth Army is surrounded.

- 23 November — A German U-boat sinks the SS Benlomond off the coast of Brazil. One crewman, a Chinese second steward named Poon Lim, is separated from the others and spends 130 days adrift until he is rescued on 3 April 1943.

- 28 December - - Hitler orders Greece and Crete to be fortified and Balkan rebellions to be suppressed firmly and approves the withdrawal of Army Group A from the Caucasus. - Sterilization experiments begin on women at Birkenau.

- - Hitler orders Greece and Crete to be fortified and Balkan rebellions to be suppressed firmly and approves the withdrawal of Army Group A from the Caucasus.

- - Sterilization experiments begin on women at Birkenau.

## Births

- 17 January — Ulf Hoelscher, German violinist

- 28 January — Hans Jürgen Bäumler, German figure skater, actor, pop singer and television host

- 21 February — Margarethe von Trotta, German actress, film director, and writer

- 28 March — Conrad Schumann, East German border guard (died 1998)

- 18 April — Jochen Rindt, German-born racing driver (died 1970)

- 22 April – Rudolf Jaenisch, German-American biologist

- 6 June - Klaus Bednarz, German journalist (died 2015)

- 12 June — Bert Sakmann, German physiologist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate

- 30 June — Claus Wisser, German businessman and philanthropist (died 2023)

- 5 July — Hannes Löhr, German football player

- 21 July — Alfred Gomolka, German politician

- 26 July – Hannelore Elsner, German actress (died 2019)

- 6 August — Evelyn Hamann, German actress (died 2007)

- 24 August — Hans Peter Korff, German actor

- 5 September Werner Herzog, German filmmaker Norbert Trelle, German Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Hildesheim

- Werner Herzog, German filmmaker

- Norbert Trelle, German Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Hildesheim

- 9 September - Ted Herold, German rock and roll singer (died 2021)

- 16 September - Ingrid Stahmer, German politician (died 2020)

- 18 September Gerhard Kentschke, German football player and coach Wolfgang Schäuble, German politician (died 2023)

- Gerhard Kentschke, German football player and coach

- Wolfgang Schäuble, German politician (died 2023)

- 20 September - Jürgen Hart, German cabaret performer (died 2002)

- 25 September - Volker Rühe, German politician

- 26 September - Ingrid Becker, German athlete

- 1 October — Gunther Wallraff, German investigative journalist

- 20 October Christel DeHaan, German-American businesswoman and philanthropist (died 2020) Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, German biologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

- Christel DeHaan, German-American businesswoman and philanthropist (died 2020)

- Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, German biologist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

- 21 November - Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, German politician

- 25 November - Rosa von Praunheim, German film director, author and painter

- 2 December - Ulrich Wickert, German journalist

- 3 December - Alice Schwarzer, German feminist and publisher

## Deaths

- 26 January — Felix Hausdorff, German mathematician (born 1868)

- 8 February — Fritz Todt, German engineer (born 1891)

- 12 March - Robert Bosch, German industrialist (born 1861)

- 14 March — Friedrich Karl Georg Fedde, German botanist (born 1873)

- 3 August - Richard Willstätter, German chemist (born 1872)

- 30 August — Martin Kirschner, German surgeon (born 1879)

- 1 November — Hugo Distler, German composer (born 1908)

- 3 December — Henner Henkel, German tennis champion (born 1915)

- 22 December — Kurt Schumacher, German sculptor (born 1905)


1943 in Germany

# 1943 in Germany

## Abstract

Events in the year 1943 in Germany.

## Incumbents

### National level

Head of State and Chancellor

- Adolf Hitler (the Führer) (Nazi Party)

## Events

- 18 January – World War II: Soviet officials announce they have broken the Wehrmacht 's siege of Leningrad.

- 18 January – The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising begins.

- 27 January – World War II: 64 bombers mount the first all American air raid against Germany (Wilhelmshaven is the target).

- 29 January – German police arrest alleged necrophiliac Bruno Ludke.

- 29 January – Dr Ernst Kaltenbrunner succeeds the late Reinhard Heydrich as head of the RSHA SS-Reichssicherheitshauptamt controlling the Schutzstaffel Gestapo

- 2 February – World War II: In Russia, the Battle of Stalingrad comes to an end with the surrender of the German 6th Army and its 91,000 remaining soldiers.

- 3 February – World War II: The Four Chaplains of the U.S. Army are drowned, when their ship (Dorchester) is struck by a German torpedo.

- 14 February – World War II: Battle of the Kasserine Pass: German General Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps launch an offensive against Allied defenses in Tunisia.

- 16 February – World War II: The Soviet Union reconquers Kharkov, but is later driven out in the Third Battle of Kharkov

- 18 February – In a speech at the Berlin Sportpalast, German Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels declare a " Total War " against the Allies.

- 18 February – The Nazis arrest the members of the White Rose movement.

- 22 February – Members of White Rose are executed in Nazi Germany.

- 28 February – Operation Gunnerside: 6 Norwegians led by Joachim Ronneberg successfully attack the heavy water plant Vemork.

- 1 March – Heinz Guderian becomes the Inspector-General of the Armoured Troops for Nazi Germany 's Army.

- 13 March – Holocaust: German forces liquidate the Jewish ghetto in Kraków.

- 16 March – 19 March – World War II: 22 ships from Convoys HX 229/SC 122 and one U-boat are sunk in the largest North Atlantic U-boat wolfpack attack of the war.

- 22 March – World War II: The entire population of Khatyn in Belarus is burnt alive by the German Dirlewanger Brigade in retaliation for an attack of a German convoy by Soviet partisans.

- 26 March – Adolf Hitler writes to Benito Mussolini that Russia is so weakened by the defence of Stalingrad that it cannot possibly be a serious menace.

- 13 April – World War II: Radio Berlin announces the discovery by Wehrmacht of mass graves of Poles killed by Soviets in the Katyn massacre.

- 6 May – World War II: Six U-boats are sunk after sinking 12 ships from Convoy ONS 5, regarded as the turning point in the North Atlantic U-boat war.

- 13 May – World War II: German Afrika Korps and Italian troops in North Africa surrender to Allied forces.

- 15 May – The Comintern is dissolved in Moscow.

- 16 May – World War II: Operation Chastise by RAF 617 Sqdn is carried out on German dams.

- 16 May – Holocaust: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends.

- 24 May – Holocaust: Josef Mengele becomes the chief medical officer of Auschwitz.

- 5 July – World War II: Operation Citadel commences, resulting in the Battle of Kursk – The largest tank battle in history begins, with German Panther tanks seeing combat for the first time.

- 12 July – World War II – Battle of Prokhorovka: The Wehrmacht and the Red Army fight to a draw.

- 24 July – World War II: Operation Gomorrah begins: British and Canadian aeroplanes bomb Hamburg by night, those of the Americans by day.

- 27 July – World War II: Operation Gomorrah – The continued British bombing of Hamburg, initiates a firestorm. The fire rages through the night into the morning of the 28th, causing the majority of Operation Gomorrah's deaths.

- 3 August – World War II: Operation Gomorrah closes, with an estimated 42,600 killed and 37,000 wounded; much of Hamburg is leveled.

- 23 August – The Battle of Kursk ends with a serious strategic defeat for the German forces.

- 24 August – World War II: – Heinrich Himmler is named Reichsminister of the Interior in Germany.

- 29 August – World War II: Germany dissolves the Danish government after it refuses to deal with a wave of strikes and disturbances to the satisfaction of the German authorities (see Occupation of Denmark).

- 8 September – World War II: Frascati bombing raid September 8, 1943: The USAAF bombs the German General Headquarters for the Mediterranean zone.

- 12 September – World War II: German paratroopers rescue Benito Mussolini from imprisonment, in Operation Eiche.

- 13 October – World War II: The new government of Italy sides with the Allies and declares war on Germany.

- 17 October – World War II: The last commerce raider, auxiliary cruiser Michel, was sunk off Japan by United States submarine Tarpon.

- 22 October – World War II: The RAF delivers a highly destructive airstrike on the German industrial and population center of Kassel.

- 15 November – Porajmos: German SS leader Heinrich Himmler orders that Gypsies and "part-Gypsies" be put "on the same level as Jews and placed in concentration camps."

- 18 November – World War II: The Royal Air Force opens its bombing campaign against Berlin, with 440 planes causing only light damage and killing 131. The RAF loses 9 aircraft and 53 aviators.

- 23 November – The Deutsche Opernhaus on Bismarckstraße in the Berlin neighborhood of Charlottenburg is destroyed.

- 2 December – A Luftwaffe bombing raid on the harbour of Bari, Italy, sinks an American ship with a mustard gas stockpile, causing numerous fatalities; the exact death toll is unresolved, as the bombing raid itself causes hundreds of deaths as well.

- 11 December – United States Army Air Corps raids a U-boat yard at Emden, losing 20 planes but shooting down 138 German fighters.

- 20 December – First flight of a true four-engined version of the troubled He 177A heavy bomber, as the Heinkel He 177 V102 prototype of the Heinkel He 177B series makes its maiden flight with four separate Daimler-Benz DB 603 engines at the Heinkel-Sud factory airfield in Schwechat.

## Births

- 6 January – Wilhelm Kuhweide, German sailor

- 14 January – Manfred Wolke, German boxer

- 22 January – Wilhelm Genazino, German author and journalist (died 2018)

- 24 January - Peter Struck, German politician (died 2012)

- 25 January - Dagmar Berghoff, German journalist and television presenter Roy Black, German actor and singer (died 1991)

- Dagmar Berghoff, German journalist and television presenter

- Roy Black, German actor and singer (died 1991)

- 1 February – Brun-Otto Bryde, German judge

- 11 February – Gerhard Glogowski, German politician

- 12 February – Rainer Eppelmann, German politician

- 13 February – Friedrich Christian Delius, German writer (died 2022)

- 15 February – Elke Heidenreich, German author and television presenter

- 21 February – Paul Kirchhof, German judge

- 22 February – Horst Köhler, German politician, former President of Germany

- 27 February – Klaus Köste, German gymnast (died 2012)

- 24 March – Marika Kilius, German pair skater

- 12 April Lothar Kobluhn, German football player (died 2019) Michael Otto, German entrepreneur

- Lothar Kobluhn, German football player (died 2019)

- Michael Otto, German entrepreneur

- 16 April Christian Herwartz, German Catholic priest (died 2022) Petro Tyschtschenko, German businessman

- Christian Herwartz, German Catholic priest (died 2022)

- Petro Tyschtschenko, German businessman

- 19 April – Claus Theo Gärtner, German actor

- 1 May – Sabine Uecker, German politician

- 2 May – Manfred Schnelldorfer, German figure skater

- 6 May – Wolfgang Reinhard, German pole vaulter (died 2011)

- 10 May – Wolfgang Porsche, German manager

- 18 May – Helmut Haussmann, German politician

- 22 May – Gesine Schwan, German politician

- 24 May – Gerd Gies, German politician

- 31 May – Antje Vollmer, German theologian and politician (died 2023)

- 28 June – Klaus von Klitzing, German physicist, Nobel Prize laureate

- 30 June – Hartmann von der Tann, German journalist

- 30 June – Dieter Kottysch, German boxer (died 2017)

- 4 July Conny Bauer, German trombonist Heide Simonis, writer and politician (died 2023)

- Conny Bauer, German trombonist

- Heide Simonis, writer and politician (died 2023)

- 6 July – Hans-Jürgen Papier, German judge

- 7 July – Jürgen Geschke, German track cyclist

- 25 July Hans-Peter Kaul, German judge (died 2014) Erika Steinbach, German politician

- Hans-Peter Kaul, German judge (died 2014)

- Erika Steinbach, German politician

- 29 July Michael Holm, German singer Ingrid Krämer, German diver

- Michael Holm, German singer

- Ingrid Krämer, German diver

- 4 August – Barbara Saß-Viehweger, German politician, lawyer and civil law notary

- 12 August – Herta Däubler-Gmelin, politician

- 27 August – Wolfgang Nordwig, German pole vaulter

- 3 September – Dagmar Schipanski, German physicist and politician (died 2022)

- 7 September – Lena Valaitis, German singer

- 16 September Oskar Lafontaine, German politician Bärbel Wartenberg-Potter, German Lutheran bishop

- Oskar Lafontaine, German politician

- Bärbel Wartenberg-Potter, German Lutheran bishop

- 25 September – Willi Entenmann, footballer and coach (died 2012)

- 27 September – Walter Riester, German politician

- 28 September Michael Herz, German businessman Ursula Werner, German actress

- Michael Herz, German businessman

- Ursula Werner, German actress

- 29 September – Wolfgang Overath, German footballer

- 30 September – Johann Deisenhofer, German biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate

- 6 October – Udo Zimmermann, German composer and opera director (died 2021)

- 19 October – Axel Ullrich, German biologist

- 20 October – Madeleine Schickedanz, German entrepreneur

- 22 October – Wolfgang Thierse, German politician

- 28 October – Cornelia Froboess, German actress

- 20 November – Bernard Broermann, German businessman (died 2024)

- 21 November – Kasper König, German museum director (died 2024)

- 23 November – Günther Beckstein, German politician

- 8 December – Bodo Tümmler, German Olympic middle-distance runner

- 12 December – Renate Schmidt, German politician

- 17 December – Heidemarie Koch, German archaeologist (died 2022)

- 23 December – Queen Silvia of Sweden

- 25 December – Hanna Schygulla, German actress

- 31 December – Wolfgang Gerhardt, German politician

## Deaths

- 13 January – Else Ury, German writer (born 1877)

- 15 January – George of Saxony, Crown prince of Saxony (born 1893)

- 14 February – David Hilbert, German mathematician (born 1862)

- 22 February – Hans Scholl, German White Rose resistance member (executed by Nazis) (born 1918)

- 22 February – Sophie Scholl, German White Rose resistance member (executed by Nazis) (born 1921)

- 26 February – Theodor Eicke, German Nazi official (born 1892)

- 10 March – Otto Modersohn, German painter (born 1865)

- 22 March – Hans Woellke, German shot putter (born 1911)

- 13 April – Oskar Schlemmer, German painter, sculptor and choreographer (born 1888)

- 24 April – Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, German general (born 1878)

- 15 May – Ludwig Roselius, German businessman (born 1874)

- 31 May – Helmut Kapp, German Gestapo official

- 13 July – Luz Long, German long jump athlete (born 1913)

- 21 July – Theodor von Guérard, German jurist and politician (born 1863)

- 5 August – Liane Berkowitz, German resistance fighter of the Red Orchestra organisation (born 1923)

- 2 September – Wilhelm Geiger, German Orientalist in the fields of Indo-Iranian languages (born 1856)

- 16 September – Robert Schmidt, German politician (born 1864)

- 22 September – Heinrich Waentig, German politician (born 1870)

- 23 September – Theodor Wolff, German writer and journalist (born 1868)

- 5 October – Ludwig von Estorff, German general (born 1859 in Germany)

- date unknown: Gottlob Walz, German diver (born 1881)