EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY


By kbarber
Churchill above a crowd in VE Day

When is VE Day? Victory in Europe Day is celebrated on May 8th every year as the end of the Second World War in the European theater. We use VE Day to remember the Allied victory over Nazi Germany’s forces in Europe. So, if you’re looking for a VE Day definition, we’d say it’s the day that the Allies officially stomped the Nazis into the dust!

Understanding the Origins of Victory in Europe Day

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Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 in an attempt to obtain world domination. But what exactly makes VE Day what it is? What happened on May 8th, 1945, that leads us to mark the day as a win for Allied forces? May 8th was the second of two surrender signings of WWII during the month. Soviet Premier Josef Stalin insisted upon this second signing, and it was attended by a German Field Marshal named Wilhelm Keitel. Keitel was well-known in the German military sphere for ordering laws that allowed the execution of Jewish people in Germany, so his presence at the second surrender signing sent a strong message to remaining German forces. The signing on May 8th meant that German forces would immediately and unequivocally surrender to Allied forces. After the unconditional surrender on Victory in Europe Day, both Keitel and German Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl – who was present at the first signing one day before in Reims, France – were swiftly executed. That’s what we call a win for the Allies!

Why Did the Germans Surrender During WWII?

Though Hitler and his forces had conquered much of Europe by 1940, one of his many lethal mistakes was attempting to overtake Britain. Nazi forces got cocky, as they had just recently taken control of their longtime arch-nemesis: France. By 1941, after Britain had stood firm against Nazi attacks, Hitler made yet another mistake: breaking a non-aggression pact that the country had with the Soviet Union. As we all know, Pearl Harbor was the cause of America's eventual involvement in the war. Japan, which was firmly allied with the Germans, attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. And, of course, Americans weren’t going to take that attack lying down. Two years later, the Allies, now with America on their side, and the Soviets launched counter-attacks to drive the Nazis back to Berlin. Knowing defeat was imminent and the repercussions of his heinous actions would be severe, Hitler took his own life on April 30th, 1945. German Admiral Karl Dönitz, who was appointed as Hitler’s successor, spent his short tenure as Führer ensuring a successful surrender of German forces on Victory in Europe Day, as he knew they were officially outmatched. Suggested read:Meet Isoroku Yamamoto, the Man Who Planned the Pearl Harbor Attack

What Does VE Day Stand for?

As you might’ve guessed by now, VE Day stands for “Victory in Europe Day.” The surrender signings on VE Day meant that the fighting in Europe was officially over. Though the brunt of the bloody battle had come to an end, fighting on the world’s stage was not completely over. Japan had signed a treaty of alliance with Hitler early on during the war, and it was still facing the ramifications of that alliance after VE Day 1945 had passed. War against Japan didn’t cease until nearly three months later in August of 1945. The socioeconomic impact of the war would also be felt throughout Europe for years to come, as clothes and food rationing were still in place until 1949 and 1954, respectively.

VE Day Facts You Should Know

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  • There were two surrender signings for WWII: one on May 7th and one on May 8th.
  • The German surrender did not come as a surprise, and the people of Europe began celebrating their victory well before the Victory in Europe Day signings officially took place.
  • Then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a national broadcast over radio at 3:00 p.m. on Victory in Europe Day to announce the momentous occasion, stating, “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.”
  • VE Day celebrations weren’t limited to the “common” people; the British Royal Family also took to the balconies to celebrate. A total of eight appearances were made by the King and Queen during the Victory in Europe Day celebrations. King George VI also made a radio announcement praising the people of Europe and outlining his hope for lasting peace.
  • Nearly 50,000 people gathered at Piccadilly Circus in London during VE Day celebrations.

VE Day significance isn’t lost on any of us – especially Vets who know what it’s like to be in the midst of battle. That’s why, on Victory in Europe Day and every day, we need to remember the men and women who helped make victories like this possible. Read next:Kilroy Was Here: The Infamous WWII Meme That Lives On

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.


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