• Tour de France - Throughout Europe political tensions remained high as the 1937 Tour prepared to start. The fascist propaganda machine got a huge boost when Italian dictator Benito Mussolini lifted his boycott of the Tour and hand picked Giro d'Italia winner Gino Bartali to lead the Italian national team. Bartali was a young, extremely talented rider and was known for great bicycle racing results not political philosophy. The political dealings of the times made him a pawn for the controlling fascist government of Italy. His efforts would play a large part in the drama of this year's Tour.
Race leader Bartali abandoned after a bad crash and subsequent race leader Sylvere Maes abandoned in protest of a 30 second time penalty. Frenchman Roger Lapebie inherited the lead and rode into Paris for the victory.
• WW2 - Japan's invasion of China sparked the start of WW2 in Asia.
• USA - May 6, 1937, German zeppelin (huge blimp) Hindenburg burst into flames and was totally destroyed in less than minute while trying to dock at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey.
• Hollywood - Walt Disney released the first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Notable Deaths -
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, 1863-1937, the founder of the International Olympic Committee and the modern Olympics Movement. He believed that athletic exercise and competition was of great value in the education and development of young people.
