No, there usually isn't a comma in those sentences. You could put one for emphasis, for example. It all depends on your sentence or sentence structure.

The placement of of commas is much more flexible in English than in German. Either with or without would be OK in this sentence.

The one place you don't put a comma in English is the one that comes before "dass" in German.

And comma placement has changed a lot in the last 50 years in American English. In many instances, there are no clear guidelines to best practices.

Depends entirely on how you want it to be read. In this case, a comma would suggest you were contrasting last year with some other year.

On the evening before my birthday last year, I read a book.

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000074.htm
Commas After Introductory Phrases
Prepositional Phrases

Use a comma to separate a group of prepositional phrases of more than four words when the phrases come at the beginning of a sentence.

Do not use a comma between separate phrases unless they are in a series.

A comma may also set off a single prepositional phrase at the beginning to make the sentence clear. A comma is recommended after any introductory prepositional phrase of more than four words.

Correct: Under the kitchen table the dog cowered.
(Single short, clear phrase. No comma needed.)
Correct: Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands.
(Comma optional, but helpful due to length of phrase)

Correct: Under the pile of clothes, we found his wallet.
(Two prepositional phrases, not in a series)

Incorrect: On the sand, of the beach, by the inlet, we relaxed in the sun.
(Do not separate the phrases since they are not in a series.)

Correct: On the sand of the beach by the inlet, we relaxed in the sun.

Correct: Over hill, over dale, we hit the dusty trail.
(The two phrases are in series here. We could say "Over hill and over dale.")

One old rule when I was in college was that introductory prepositional phrases should be set off by a comma if they contained five words or more.

And, Juli-fc, to state what might already be obvious to you:

"I read a book last year" does not need a comma.