Re... Victory in Europe Day 2018 and 2019 - PublicHolidays.fr I did wonder if the "World War II lasted from 1 September, 1939, to 8 May, 1945" bit were just a typo, or evidence that the VE day sentiment in France really meant that on 8th May 1945, WW2 was actually over. Anyhow just to see what the wiki had to say... World War II - Wikipedia And in one bit it opts for: “World War II (often abbreviated to WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier.” Or in another bit: "Date 1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945 (6 years and 1 day)" Perhaps "related conflicts continued on even after 2nd September 1945" - might be added too. Would be nice to see a bit more made of VE day though in the UK - although "closing every shop" doesn't seem like what we'd be doing in the UK even were this so ;-)
Lloyd Swick Age 96 platoon commander Calgary Highlanders The War is Over - Video Gallery - Veterans Affairs Canada
One of most moving passages about VE Day I've read - by the men who were there. 'The Story of the Twenty-third Hussars', pages 251 and 252.
Harkness My diary reminds me how similar the end of hostilities were both in Germany & italy ! Wednesday 2nd. May 1945 Jerry threw his hand in Italy and Austria. Fired all our 2" mortars, phosphorous bombs and verey lights and had bonfires all over the shop. Cease fire about 11 pm. ( At noon today the Germans signed an unconditional surrender at Caserta) Ron
Ron, An unforgettable day/night. This is the 23rd Hussars, C Squadron bonfire at Niendorf, on the Baltic coast:
Harkness et al To be completely truthful, the fact that we had been told that ,after midnight (and from thence forth) we would have to account for all of our ammo might have influenced our actions Ron
We've returned to the UK now, after 16 years in SW France. I had an email from some friends there to say they had their usual celebrations at the War Memorial ( about 3 members of the commune of 100 approx. gave their lives, many more in WW1). All sang la Marseillaise, then joined for the 'glass that cheers' in the Hall. There are still a few elderly people there who nurse their 'wounds' from those days.
After five years and eight months, with the unconditional surrender of the Germans on May 8, 1945, World War II came to an end in Europe. It had been the most destructive and cruelest in human history, involving more than 60 nations and some 110 million soldiers, and it is estimated that it exacted approximately 60 million victims, including six million Jews, the victims of the Holocaust. http://web.nli.org.il/sites/NLI/Eng...rmany/World-War-2/Pages/World-war-II-end.aspx
Next year's early May bank holiday will be moved back by four days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Bank holiday changed to mark VE Day
When VE Day dawns on 8th May 2020 it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved – ones and to hope for the future, but not forgetting those still in conflict until 15th August when it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. The 75th anniversary will provide our nation, and our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period. To commemorate this important time we are organising VE Day 75, a three-day international celebration that will take place from 8th May to 10th May 2020. Home - VE Day 75
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/teach/ww2-how-did-the-british-plan-to-celebrate-ve-day/zndn7nb Planning for peace In spring 1945, war with Germany was drawing to a close. While the British government was dealing with a country in the grip of rationing and cities ravaged by bombs, some ministers had to turn their thoughts to how people could celebrate victory after six years of war. Enter the ‘Office Committee for the Coordination of Departmental Action on the End of Hostilities in Europe.’