VE DAY 75 Years

[Bob Bacon]

Friday 8 May 2020 marks 75 years since Nazi Germany's formal surrender at the end of the Second World War.

On VE (Victory in Europe) Day in 1945, millions took to the streets to celebrate peace after years of devastating war.

30 April 1945. Allied troops are closing in and Berlin is all but surrounded. The leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, is left contemplating inevitable defeat.
He commits suicide in his underground bunker. In the days that follow, Hitler's successor - Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz - negotiates an end to war, and in the early hours of 7 May 1945 Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies is signed. After nearly six long years of carnage and destruction, the war in Europe is coming to an end.

Victory in Europe Day - commonly referred to as VE Day - took place in Britain on 8 May 1945 to mark the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany's surrender. Following the horrors of war, it was truly a day to savour: a collective release of relief and euphoria.

Ahead of the 75th anniversary, here are nine things you should know about the impact and significance of VE Day.

IT WASN'T THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Whilst VE Day marked the formal end of war in Europe, several pockets of German resistance continued to fight bitterly for another week or so.

Furthermore, the war in the Far East was not over, and Japan still had to be defeated.

At 3pm on 8 May 1945, from the same room at the War Cabinet Office from which Neville Chamberlain had announced the country was at war in 1939, Winston Churchill alluded to the task ahead during his radio broadcast to the nation. He cautioned:

'We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead’.

Japan surrendered after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. The announcement of their surrender was made on 15 August 1945, now known as VJ (‘Victory over Japan’) Day.

THE CELEBRATIONS STARTED EARLY

The Allies had originally agreed to mark 9 May 1945 as VE Day. But news of Germany’s surrender was leaked and spread across the world like wildfire, sparking impromptu celebrations.

Perhaps understandably, Britain did not want to wait. After years of loss, destruction and heartache, people were eager to rejoice at the prospect of a peaceful Europe. And so, late on 7 May, a BBC radio news flash announced that the next day would be a national holiday