VE Day in Britain
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As the Second World War was reaching its conclusion, Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30th April 1945. He was succeeded by Grand Admiral Karl Donitz, who, during his short time as the president of Germany negotiated an end to the war with the Allies.
On 4th May 1945, a German delegation arrived at the headquarters of British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery at Luneburg Heath (east of Hamburg). Here, Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany and Denmark.
Three days later, on 7th May 1945, Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces. The document of surrender was signed on behalf of Germany by General Alfred Jodl and came into effect the next day.
Soviet leader Josef Stalin wanted a separate ceremony. It meant that a further document was signed on 8th May 1945 by German Field Marshal William Keitel.
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In the run up to May 1945, communities across Britain anxiously awaited Germany’s unconditional surrender. And so, in spring 1945, a group of ministers in Britain were tasked with the job of organising how people could celebrate victory in Europe.
The committee initially arranged to declare VE-Day with a three minute ‘all clear signal’, with sirens ringing out across Britain. However, the idea was dismissed, and the news that the conflict in Europe had ended was transmitted to the British people by a radio broadcast late in the day on 7th May, 1945. The BBC discontinued its scheduled programme with a news flash that declared that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday, taking place the following day.
Did You Know…?
The people in charge of planning the celebrations were part of the ‘Office Committee for the Coordination of Departmental Action on the End of Hostilities’
Following years of wartime restraints, many people in Britain couldn’t wait for the official day of celebration to begin the festivities. On the eve of VE Day, truckloads of partygoers drove through the streets waving flags and pubs across Britain were full of jubilant revellers.
On the morning of the national holiday, 8th May 1945, Churchill was informed by the Ministry of Food that there were enough beer supplies in the capital. The Board of Trade also declared that people could buy red, white and blue bunting without using their ration coupons. This meant that colourful bunting and flags soon lined the streets of villages, towns and cities of the British Isles.
The largest crowds were in London, but communities all around Britain took part in the celebrations. Both organised and spontaneous parades and street parties took place, bonfires and fireworks were lit, soldiers and civilians did the conga through the streets, and some restaurants even provided ‘victory menus’.
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Did You Know…?
St Paul's Cathedral in London held ten consecutive services giving thanks for peace, with each service being attended by thousands of people
At 3pm on VE Day, Churchill delivered a national radio broadcast where he stated that the war in Europe had drawn to a conclusion. He also included words of caution: ‘We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing: but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.’
Like Churchill, King George VI also gave a radio address. In it, he paid respect to those who could not participate in the celebrations, stating: ‘Let us remember those who will not come back…let us remember the men in all the services, and the women in all the services, who have laid down their lives. We have come to the end of our tribulation and they are not with us at the moment of our rejoicing.’
The British Royal Family played a key role in London's victory celebrations, with huge crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal family. The King and Queen emerged eight times on the Buckingham Palace balcony, and at one point they were also joined by Winston Churchill.
While the King and Queen were waving to the crowds for the final time that evening, the future monarch, Princess Elizabeth, and her sister Margaret had been permitted to leave the palace and mingle (anonymously) with the joyful crowds below them. Princess Elizabeth later reminisced, 'we stood outside and shouted, "We want the King"… I think it was one of the most memorable nights of my life.
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Did You Know…?
Initially, the celebrations were going to be named ‘Ceasefire Day’, but Winston Churchill suggested ‘Victory in Europe Day’ to acknowledge the ongoing war in the Far East.
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Licensing hours were extended and VE Day celebrations stretched long into the evening. People all around Britain danced and sang along to the music of the day provided by gramophones, barrel organs and accordions.
But VE Day was not a jubilant time for everyone. Amidst the celebrations, many people spent it reflecting on the friends and relatives they had lost as a result of the conflict, or feeling anxious about those who were still serving overseas.
The pressures of the war years had impacted many communities, and left a delicate and exhausted population knowing that there were more economic, political and social difficulties still to come.
Our ‘VE Day in Britain’ resource was created with assistance from writer, Kevin Telfer
To learn more, take a look at Kevin’s book ‘The Summer of ’45: Stories and Voices from VE Day to VJ Day’
SECOND WORLD WAR CONTENTS:
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