As Queensferry History Group is not meeting just now, due to the Coronavirus and Government guidelines, here is a brief acknowledgement to the 75th Commemoration of VE Day, as prepared by Blogmaster and History Group member, Norma Brown. The following information has been gathered and condensed from several on-line sources. (Free to use historical images of local celebrations are hard to find, if you have any we can use here or in our website, please contact us on our email address which is [email protected] or in our facebook page).
VE (Victory in Europe) Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8th May 1945.
It meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; had destroyed homes, families, and cities; and had brought huge suffering and deprivation to the populations of entire countries.
On 7th May, Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany and Denmark. The document of surrender was signed on behalf of Germany by General Alfred Jodl and came into effect the following day. Soviet leader Josef Stalin wanted his own ceremony. At Berlin on 8th May, therefore, a further document was signed – this time by German Field Marshal William Keitel.
The announcement that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast to the British people over the radio late in the day on 7th May. The BBC interrupted its scheduled programming with a news flash announcing that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday, to take place the following day, 8th May 1945. Newspapers ran the headlines as soon as they could, and special editions were printed to carry the long-awaited announcement. The news that the war was over in Europe soon spread like wildfire across the world.
Crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace to cheering crowds.
Crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace to cheering crowds.
Various events were organised to mark the occasion, including parades, thanksgiving services and street parties. Communities came together to share the moment. London’s St Paul’s Cathedral held ten consecutive services giving thanks for peace, each one attended by thousands of people.
Although VE Day marked victory for Europe over Germany, it did not mark the end of World War Two.
Even after 8th May, many soldiers, sailors and pilots were sent to the east to fight against the Japanese, who had not yet surrendered. Many had to continue fighting in other battles and lots of people were being kept as prisoners of war abroad. Three Queensferry men were Japanese Prisoners of War.
Japanese surrender came on 14th August 1945, after two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6th August) and Nagasaki (9th August). On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan, aboard the battleship USS Missouri.
The political, social and economic repercussions of the Second World War were felt long after Germany and Japan surrendered. Millions of people had lost loved ones and their lives had been turned upside down by the fighting.
The nation had to rebuild, as the war had been so expensive.
Food and clothing rationing had begun on 8th January 1940, four months after the onset of the war. Clothing rationing stopped on 15th March 1949. Rationing of food was gradually reduced and on 4th July 1954 rationing finally ended with butter being the final item to stop.
The nation had to rebuild, as the war had been so expensive.
Food and clothing rationing had begun on 8th January 1940, four months after the onset of the war. Clothing rationing stopped on 15th March 1949. Rationing of food was gradually reduced and on 4th July 1954 rationing finally ended with butter being the final item to stop.