Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day | |
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![]() Winston Churchillwaving to the crowds inWhitehallon 8 May celebrating the end of the war, showing the V of Victory | |
Also called |
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Observed by | European states
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Type | International |
Significance | End of World War II in Europe |
Date | 8 May |
Frequency | Annual |
First time | 8 May 1945 |
Related to | Victory over Japan Day,Victory Day (9 May)andEurope Day |
Victory in Europe Dayis the day celebrating the formal acceptance by theAllies of World War IIofGermany's unconditional surrenderofits armed forceson Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the officialend of World War II in Europein theEastern Front,with the last known shots fired on 11 May.
Russiaand some formerSovietcountriescelebrate on 9 May,as Germany's unconditional surrender entered into force at 23:01 on 8 MayCentral European Summer Time;this corresponded with 00:01 on 9 May inMoscow Time.
Several countries observepublic holidayson the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day, or Victory Day. In the UK it is often abbreviated toVE Day,a term which existed as early as September 1944,[1]in anticipation of victory.
History
[edit]Adolf Hitler,theNazi leader,hadcommitted suicide on 30 Aprilduring theBattle of Berlin,and Germany's surrender was authorised by his successor,ReichspräsidentKarl Dönitz.The administration headed by Dönitz was known as theFlensburg Government.The act of military surrender was first signed at 02:41 on 7 May inSHAEFHQ atReims,[2]and a slightly modified document, considered the definitiveGerman Instrument of Surrender,was signed on 8 May 1945 inKarlshorst,Berlin at 22:43 local time.
The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945...
— German Instrument of Surrender,Article 2,[citation needed]
Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout theWestern world,especially in the United Kingdom, in North America and in USSR. More than one million people celebrated in the streets throughout the UK to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed inTrafalgar Squareand upthe MalltoBuckingham Palace,where KingGeorge VIand QueenElizabeth,accompanied by their daughters andPrime MinisterWinston Churchill,appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. Churchill went from the palace toWhitehall,where he addressed another large crowd:[3]
God bless you all. This is your victory. In our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Ve_Day_Celebrations_in_London%2C_8_May_1945_HU41808.jpg/220px-Ve_Day_Celebrations_in_London%2C_8_May_1945_HU41808.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/VE_Day_celebrations_on_Bay_Street_1945.jpg/220px-VE_Day_celebrations_on_Bay_Street_1945.jpg)
Churchill askedErnest Bevinto come forward and share the applause. Bevin said, "No, Winston, this is your day", and proceeded to conduct the people in the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".[3]Later, PrincessElizabeth(the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister PrincessMargaretwere allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.[4]The 2015 filmA Royal Night Outwas inspired by Elizabeth and Margaret mingling with the public that night.[citation needed]
In the United States, the event coincided with PresidentHarry S. Truman's 61st birthday.[5]He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor,Franklin D. Roosevelt,who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April.[6]Flags remained athalf-stafffor the remainder of the 30-day mourning period.[7][8]Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day".[6]Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday.[5]Great celebrations took place in many American cities, especially inNew York'sTimes Square.[9]
Tempering the jubilation somewhat, both Churchill and Truman pointed out that the war against Japan had not yet been won. In his radio broadcast at 15:00 on 8 May, Churchill told theBritish people,"We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing (as Japan) remains unsubdued".[10][11]In America, Truman broadcast at 09:00 and said it was "a victory only half won".[12]
On the same day in 1945,MuslimsinFrench Algeriacelebrating the end of the war (of which some were also peacefully protesting forindependence) became the targets ofviolence and massacresbycolonialauthorities andpied-noirsettler militias, which would last until 26 June 1945.[13][14][15]While details of the killings were largely overlooked inmetropolitan France,the impact on the Algerian Muslim population was traumatic, especially on the large numbers of Muslim soldiers in theFrench Armywho were then returning from the war in Europe.[16]Nine years later, theAlgerian Warbegan, leading to independence from France inMarch 1962.[17]In February 2005, Hubert Colin de Verdière,France's ambassador to Algeria,formally apologized for the massacre, calling it an "inexcusable tragedy".[18][19]
National celebrations
[edit]VE Day is celebrated across European nations as public holidays and national observances.
Austria
[edit]The Festival of Joy is an Austrian event held in honor of VE Day. TheAustrian Mauthausen Committee(MKÖ) has organised the Festival of Joy since 2013, in cooperation with theAustrian Governmentand theCity of Vienna.The festival is held annually onHeldenplatz.[20]
On the eve of the diamond jubilee in 2020,Russian PresidentVladimir Putin,at the request of ChancellorSebastian Kurz,gave a live address broadcast on Austrian TV channelORF.[21]
France
[edit]France celebrates VE Day on 8 May, being a national andpublic holiday.Orléanssimultaneously celebrates both VE Day and the anniversary of theSiege of Orléansbeing lifted on this date by French forces led byJoan of Arcduring theHundred Years War.[22]
Germany
[edit]Events inBerlinoccur on 8 May to commemorate those who fought against Nazism in theGerman Resistanceand died in World War II. In 2020, a regional holiday in Berlin occurred on 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of surrender.[23]East Germanycelebrated 8 May as itsTag der Befreiung(Day of Liberation), first celebrated underWalter Ulbricht's government in 1950 and repeated annually until thefall of communism.[24]Between 1975 and 1990, it wasTag des Sieges(Victory Day).[citation needed]
Poland
[edit]8 May is known in Poland as "Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa" (National Victory Day).Polandofficially recognised 9 May from 1945 until 2014, and on 24 April 2015, Poland officially recognised National Victory Day.[25]On 8 May 1945, a meeting of the Council of Ministers was held, debating whether to establish the holiday on 8 May (proposed byMarshalMichał Rola-Żymierski) or 10 May (proposed by the government).[26]Finally, in Poland, the National Day of Victory and Freedom was established on 9 May by decree.
From 1946 to 1989, it was celebrated with Russian traditions, as Poland was asocialist stateat the time. The main celebrations were carried out at Plac Zwycięstwa orPlac DefiladinWarsaw(most notably in1985).
After 1990 and thefall of the Soviet Union,no official ceremonies were organized; however, many cities and military units together with local governments organized their own festivities. TheRussian minority in Polandcontinues to celebrate 9 May traditions to this date. At the end of March 2015, due to the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance Łukasz Kamiński sent a letter to theMarshal of the Sejmrequesting a change from 9 to 8 May.[27]On 24 April, theSejmadopted the Act on National Victory Day to be celebrated on 8 May, at the same time abolishing the National Day of Victory and Freedom celebrated on 9 May.[28]
United Kingdom
[edit]In the United Kingdom, VE Day is not an annual public holiday. In 1995 and 2020, the bank holiday was moved from the preceding Monday to 8 May to commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day, respectively.[29][30]
Commemorative events
[edit]Belgium:In Belgium, the commemoration of the termination ofWorld War IIsince 1974 has been part of theArmistice of 11 November 1918(Dutch: Wapenstilstandsdag), an annual national holiday. Every year on this day, a truce-ceremony is held in the presence of the king at theTomb of the Unknown Soldiernear theCongress ColumninBrussels.It was first intended to commemorate the victims of theFirst World Warand subsequently those ofWorld War IIand all other wars worldwide.[citation needed]
Czech Republic:Since theDissolution of Czechoslovakiain 1993, theCzech Republichas officially recognized 8 May as Victory Day (Den vítězství) Liberation Day (Den osvobození).[31][32]In recent years the liberation ofPlzeňby American forces has been commemorated on 5 May.[33][34][35]From 1948 to 1993, theCzechoslovak Republiccelebrated 9 May, which was marked with a military parade of theCzechoslovak People's Army(ČSLA) onLetnáevery five years.[36][37]
European Union:9 May isEurope Daywhich celebrates "peace and unity in Europe", on the anniversary of the 1950Schuman Declaration.[38]
Baltic states:Estonia,LatviaandLithuaniaofficially commemorate 8 May, but do not commemorate 9 May since it marked theSoviet occupationin 1944 for these states.[39]Despite this, the localRussian communitiesstill informally celebrate 9 May. Russian diplomats, other representatives from theCommonwealth of Independent States,and local politicians of Russian origin usually take part.[40][41]
List of associated holidays
[edit]Country | Holiday name | Date | Type | Notes |
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Victory and Peace Day | 9 May | National public | [42] |
Shushi Liberation Day | 8 May | National public | It is celebrated jointly with VE Day | |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [42] |
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Liberation Day,Guernsey | 9 May | Regional public | BritishChannel Islandshave threeLiberation Days:9 May inJerseyandGuernsey;[43]10 May inSark;[44]and 16 May inAlderney |
Liberation Day,Sark | 10 May | Regional public | [44] | |
Liberation Day,Alderney | 16 May | Regional public | [43] | |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [45] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | Regional public | Public holiday only inRepublika Srpskabut celebrated across the nation[46] |
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Victory Day | 8 May | National public | as "Den vítězství" |
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Remembrance Day | 8 May | National commemorative | Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.[47] |
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Victory over Fascism Day | 9 May | National public | As "ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე" (Victory over Fascism Day)[48][49] |
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VE Day | 9 May | National commemorative | Considered a national day of remembrance.[50] |
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Liberation Day | 25 April | National public | Public holiday.[51] |
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Liberation Day | 9 May | Regional public | [52] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [53] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [42] |
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Remembrance Day | 8 May | National commemorative | AsNacisma sagrāves un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena(The Crushing of Nazism and Commemoration Day of Victims of World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.[54] |
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Remembrance Day | 8 May | National commemorative | AsAntrojo pasaulinio karo aukų atminimo diena(Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the World War II).[55]Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held by the President and other officials. |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [42][56] |
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Liberation Day | 5 May | National commemorative | as "Bevrijdingsdag"(Liberation Day), a public holiday held once every year on 5 May.[57] |
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Liberation Day | 5 May | National commemorative | as "Befrielsesdag"(Liberation Day), an officialflag flying day,not a public holiday.[58] |
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Liberation Day | 8 May | National commemorative | as "Frigjøringsdagen"(Liberation Day) andThe National Veterans Day,an officialflag flying day,not a public holiday.[59] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | as "День Победы" (Victory Day)[60][61] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | as "Дан победе"/"Dan pobede"(Victory Day), a public working holiday.[62][63] |
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Victory over Fascism Day | 8 May | National public | as "Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom"[64] |
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Victory Day | 9 May | National public | [42] |
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Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War | 9 May | National public | [65] |
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Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 | 8 May | National public | [66] |
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Day of Remembrance and Honour | 9 May | National public | [67]Known as "День Памяти и Почестей"; before 1999, it was known as "Галаба куни" or "День победы" (Victory Day).[citation needed] |
Soviet Victory Day
[edit]The instrument of surrender signed 7 May 1945 stipulated that all hostilities must cease at 23:01 (CET), 8 May 1945. Since that point in time would be on 9 May in local time in theSoviet Union,most Soviet states including Russia celebratedVictory Dayon 9 May.[68][69]
Gallery
[edit]-
Fireworks inMoscow,Russia (Victory Day 2005)
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Ceremony inPlace de la République, Strasbourg,France (2013)
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Concert inAmsterdam,Netherlands (Bevrijdingsdag2014)
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A street inWetherbywith decorative bunting, United Kingdom (2020)
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Ceremony at theWorld War II Memorial,Washington D.C., United States (2020)
See also
[edit]- List of timelines of World War II
- Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War
- Victory Day
- Victory Day Parades
- Victory over Japan Day
- Stunde Null
References
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- ^Barr, Sabrina (8 May 2020)."How Princess Elizabeth celebrated VE Day".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2022.Retrieved11 May2020.
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- ^United Press (15 May 1945). "30 Days of Mourning For Roosevelt Ended".New York Times.p. 4.
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- ^Telfer 2015,p. 33.
- ^Hermiston 2016,p. 356.
- ^Telfer 2015,p. 76.
- ^Morgan, Ted(31 January 2006).My Battle of Algiers.HarperCollins. p.17.ISBN978-0-06-085224-5.
- ^Horne, Alistair(1977).A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954–1962.New York: The Viking Press. p. 26.
- ^Peyroulou, Jean-Pierre (2009). "6. La mise en place d'un ordre subversif, le 9 mai 1945".Guelma, 1945: une subversion française dans l'Algérie coloniale.Paris: Éditions La Découverte.ISBN9782707154644.OCLC436981240.
- ^Porch, Douglas (1991).The French Foreign Legion.Macmillan. p. 569.ISBN978-0-333-58500-9.
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- ^"Latvia's National holidays and Remembrance days – MFA of Latvia".mfa.gov.lv.Archived fromthe originalon 17 November 2016.
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- ^Bevrijdingsdag 5 meirijksoverheid.nl(in Dutch)
- ^Befrielsendanmarkshistorien.dk(in Danish)
- ^FrigjøringenStore norske leksikon(in Norwegian)
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Bibliography
[edit]- Hermiston, Roger (2016).All Behind You, Winston – Churchill's Great Coalition, 1940–45.London: Aurum Press.ISBN978-17-81316-64-1.
- Telfer, Kevin (2015).The Summer of '45.Islington: Aurum Press Ltd.ISBN978-17-81314-35-7.
External links
[edit]Media related toVE Dayat Wikimedia Commons
- Records from the UK Parliament Collections
- WWII: VE Day, May 8, 1945– slideshow byLife magazine(archived)
- Rare audio speeches of the famous historical personsof the USSR, etc.
- 50th Anniversary Celebration of VE Day in MoscowonYouTubebyLeon Charneyon The Leon Charney Report.