Recallin' Old V-E Day, May 8th, 1945
- Europe
- Berlin
- World War II
Mark the Day: May 8th, 1945 - Historic Victory Day in World War II - Celebration of VE Day, Marking the End of World War II in Europe on 8th May 1945
Let's rewind the clock to Berlin, May 8, 1945. You're smack-dab in the heart of Europe, witnessing thedeclaration of a huge bash, that the media dubbed Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day. But yet, technically, it wasn't, right? We'll explain.
The real deal went down on May 7, 1945, with the unconditional surrender of Germany a day earlier at Reims, France. But, to ensure it was a grand spectacle, they decided to throw a second shindig in Berlin, a posh neighborhood called Karlshorst, for all the awesome Allied peeps.
Now, imagine General Wilhelm Keitel, donning his finest uniform, diving into a ceremonial inkwell and signing a document that signaled the formal end of largescale chaos. This historic moment was watched by Allied faces from all corners of the globe, including the US, UK, France, and the USSR. But, remember, May 8th is just the day it happened in Berlin.
In Moscow, folks were popping champagne and throwing parties all over the place on May 9th, cos of a weird time-zone situation. That day, they celebrate as Victory Day. Bonus tidbit, you ask? The big surrender ceremony ran late, so technically, it was, like, midnight in Moscow on May 8th, but they rocked the party on the 9th.
[1] History.com Editors, & A&E Television Networks, LLC. (2009). Victory in Europe Day. Retrieved May 12, 2023, from https://www.history.com/news/what-is-victory-in-europe-day[2] National World War II Museum. (2022). The Surrender in Berlin: Victory in Europe May 8, 1945. Retrieved May 12, 2023, from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/articles/surrender-berlin-victory-europe-may-8-1945
[1] The commemoration of Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, took place on May 8, 1945, in Berlin, Germany, but the real surrender happened a day earlier, on May 7, 1945, at Reims, France.[2] On May 8, 1945, in Berlin's posh neighborhood, Karlshorst, a grand ceremony was held for the Allied forces to witness the formal end of World War II in Europe.[3] The main Allied powers, including the US, UK, France, and the USSR, were present at the Berlin ceremony, making it a significant event in European politics.[4] While some European nations celebrate VE Day on May 8, such as Germany, Russia honors the victory on May 9th due to a different time zone, with locals popping champagne and throwing parties on that day instead.
