- Dec 4 Karl Bonhoeffer, German psychiatrist/neurologist, dies
- Dec 7 Godfrey Turner, composer, dies at 35
- Dec 9 Sir Timothy O'Brien, cricketer (Bart 5 Tests England 1884-96), dies
- Dec 14 R. O. Morris [Reginald Owen], British composer & music teacher, dies at 62
- Dec 17 Edgar Istel, German composer, dies at 68
- Dec 18 Janet Fay, American murder victim of the Lonely Hearts Killers (later filmed as "The Honeymoon Killers"), hammered to death at 66
- Dec 20 C Aubrey Smith [Charles], British actor (The Prisoner of Zenda), dies at 85
- Dec 20 Ladha Ramji, cricketer (bro of Amar Singh, Test Ind 1933-34), dies
- Dec 21 Seishiro Itagaki, Japanese General/min of War, hanged
Hideki Tojo
Dec 23 Hideki Tojo, Japanese Prime Minister during WW II (1941-44), hanged for war crimes at 64
- Dec 28 Mahmud Nokrashy Pasha, Prime Minister of Egypt (19..-48), assassinated
- Dec 31 Malcolm Campbell, British motor racer (world land and water speed record holder), dies of a stroke at 63