V-E Day

ErikH · 08-05-2006, 07:37 AM

Victory in Europe Day

61 years ago today the Allies celebrated the Defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the Third Reich.

Toronto on V-E Day

More here...
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/ve1.htm

Gerry Chester · 08-05-2006, 08:19 AM

Great photographs Erik, thank you.

Having qualified for LIAP, I was whisked away from Italy to arrive at my home in time to join in the Victory Celebrations on Merseyside. I hope at least some of your fellow countrymen, who my regiment supported in action, were also at home in Canada.

An interesting read:
The Day the War Ended - Voices and Memoirs from 1945
Authors: Various
Publisher: The Orion Publishing Group, London
Copyright: Various. Published 2005, 312 pp.

To you and yours, all the best, Gerry

spidge · 08-05-2006, 08:59 AM

Victory in Europe (VE) Day

On 7 May 1945 the German High Command authorised the signing of an unconditional surrender on all fronts: the war in Europe was over. The surrender was to take effect at midnight on 8–9 May 1945. The following day, 8 May, was declared VE (Victory in Europe) Day, but in Australia, celebration was tempered with the knowledge that the war in the Pacific was still to be won.
Australians serving overseas joined wholeheartedly in the celebrations. While in the major Australian cities there were similar outbursts of rejoicing, overall, the mood across the country was sombre. Churches held thanksgiving services, and on 9 May 100,000 people attended the service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. On that day, in Canberra, the editorial writer of The Canberra Times fancied that the floodlights over the Australian War Memorial stood "in bright relief against the darkness which is now passing from Europe, and soon from the entire world".

Lincolnshire, England, May 1945. Crews of No. 463 (Lancaster) Squadron, RAAF, and No. 467 (Lancaster) Squadron, RAAF, celebrate a belated VE day in their station mess, RAF Station Waddington.

Kitty · 08-05-2006, 11:44 AM

I wish i had been there to see it. The church bells ringing non-stop, the searchlights turned on and pointed skywards, bonfires lit and dancing in the streets, led by the Oirish in Congelton.
But recent reading has told me the celebrations for VJ Day were even bigger. One hell of a party that still resonates today.
Cheers for the service boys & girls!

plant-pilot · 08-05-2006, 12:39 PM

A happy and thoughtful VE Day to everyone. Nice photos, but I can't really help thinking that the ones that were actually doing most of the fighting and suffering missed out on most of the celebrating.

Like I said, have a thoughtful day.

spidge · 08-05-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plant-pilot

A happy and thoughtful VE Day to everyone. Nice photos, but I can't really help thinking that the ones that were actually doing most of the fighting and suffering missed out on most of the celebrating.

Like I said, have a thoughtful day.

We must be thinking that they were celebrating the end so that those that were fighting would soon be home to their loved ones.

Kitty · 08-05-2006, 01:17 PM

very true.
just as an aside, in one of the photos there is an RAF aircraft in the crowd. can't quite decide if it's a Spit or a Hurry. Can somebody please enlighten the blonde?

Gnomey · 08-05-2006, 01:18 PM

Yes, it would of been great to see the celebrations. Good photos Erik!

plant-pilot · 08-05-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidge

We must be thinking that they were celebrating the end so that those that were fighting would soon be home to their loved ones.

Indeed, that may very well be the case. But my point still stands, the ones who were doing the fighting missed out on the main celebrations. Many were still to die in service, many were posted straight to the far east and others from all theaters weren't sent home for de-mob for months, sometimes over a year.

I'm not trying to detract from the joy felt by people at home, even for the ones in the US and Canada who's standard of living hadn't changes all that much throughout the war. In places like London and Paris any excuse for a celebration was grasped with both hands, even though we know now that the wartime auserity like rationing was to remain for many more years.

I just thought it would be nice to see it from a different angle. From the view of the troops away from home. A great moment, but no streets packed with girls to hug & kiss, no free drinks. They gave more than most and got the least of the celebration.

Just a thought.

spidge · 08-05-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plant-pilot

I just thought it would be nice to see it from a different angle. From the view of the troops away from home. A great moment, but no streets packed with girls to hug & kiss, no free drinks. They gave more than most and got the least of the celebration.

Just a thought.

All too true!

08-05-2006, 07:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
ErikH Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 161	V-E Day Victory in Europe Day 61 years ago today the Allies celebrated the Defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the Third Reich. Toronto on V-E Day More here... http://www.toronto.ca/archives/ve1.htm __________________

08-05-2006, 08:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
spidge Legendary Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 8,058	VE day was here yet VJ day was still to come. Victory in Europe (VE) Day On 7 May 1945 the German High Command authorised the signing of an unconditional surrender on all fronts: the war in Europe was over. The surrender was to take effect at midnight on 8–9 May 1945. The following day, 8 May, was declared VE (Victory in Europe) Day, but in Australia, celebration was tempered with the knowledge that the war in the Pacific was still to be won. Australians serving overseas joined wholeheartedly in the celebrations. While in the major Australian cities there were similar outbursts of rejoicing, overall, the mood across the country was sombre. Churches held thanksgiving services, and on 9 May 100,000 people attended the service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. On that day, in Canberra, the editorial writer of The Canberra Times fancied that the floodlights over the Australian War Memorial stood "in bright relief against the darkness which is now passing from Europe, and soon from the entire world". Lincolnshire, England, May 1945. Crews of No. 463 (Lancaster) Squadron, RAAF, and No. 467 (Lancaster) Squadron, RAAF, celebrate a belated VE day in their station mess, RAF Station Waddington. __________________ Spidge, ------------------------------------------------------- My Avatar is the memorial to the 22 Commonwealth Coastwatchers at the Temakin Cemetery on Betio (Tarawa Atoll) who were beheaded by the Japanese on 15th October 1942. http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat...mem_beito.html "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Winston Churchill made this prophetic pronouncement in a House of Commons speech in 1938, just after Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich agreement with Hitler. Chamberlain returned from Germany with the signed agreement in hand, proclaiming that "peace in our time" had been achieved. Churchill attacked Chamberlain's "politics of appeasement" in this and many other speeches.) What did the Australians do in ww2 and other conflicts? Check out this site: http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pag...ster-index.htm

08-05-2006, 12:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
plant-pilot Very Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,014	A happy and thoughtful VE Day to everyone. Nice photos, but I can't really help thinking that the ones that were actually doing most of the fighting and suffering missed out on most of the celebrating. Like I said, have a thoughtful day. __________________ M3... the ship of the desert 2003

08-05-2006, 01:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gnomey Per Ardua Ad Astra Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,963	Yes, it would of been great to see the celebrations. Good photos Erik! __________________ "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few" Sir Winston Chuchill, Summer 1940 "To him the people of Britain and the free world owe largely the way of life they enjoy today" Ensciption on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-1940) Statue in London Aircraft of World War 2 Forum - A Warbird Forum

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08-05-2006, 08:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Originally Wallasey, Cheshire - Now a world-wide wanderer Posts: 852	Great photographs Erik, thank you. Having qualified for LIAP, I was whisked away from Italy to arrive at my home in time to join in the Victory Celebrations on Merseyside. I hope at least some of your fellow countrymen, who my regiment supported in action, were also at home in Canada. An interesting read: The Day the War Ended - Voices and Memoirs from 1945 Authors: Various Publisher: The Orion Publishing Group, London Copyright: Various. Published 2005, 312 pp. To you and yours, all the best, Gerry

08-05-2006, 11:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	I wish i had been there to see it. The church bells ringing non-stop, the searchlights turned on and pointed skywards, bonfires lit and dancing in the streets, led by the Oirish in Congelton. But recent reading has told me the celebrations for VJ Day were even bigger. One hell of a party that still resonates today. Cheers for the service boys & girls!

08-05-2006, 01:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kitty Legendary Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,121	very true. just as an aside, in one of the photos there is an RAF aircraft in the crowd. can't quite decide if it's a Spit or a Hurry. Can somebody please enlighten the blonde?

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