Countries' Vibrant Commemorations of World War II's 'Freedom Day' or 'Liberation Day' - Celebrations of Liberation Day Across Countries Marking the End of World War II
Spin-Off Article:
A World United: How Different Nations Honor the End of World War II
A axis of evil, spanning nearly six years in Europe and leaving behind over 60 million casualties, crumbled on May 8, 1945. Adolf Hitler's suicide and the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht marked the official end of the bloodbath, although some countries commemorate their liberation earlier.
Facing the Allied headquarters in Reims, Generaloberst Alfred Jodl put pen to paper on May 7, signing the Armistice Agreement. The following day, flags of victory waved high in France and the UK, now known collectively as "Victory in Europe Day" (VE Day). Yet, the victory was short-lived; Soviet leader Josef Stalin demanded another ceremony in the Soviet zone, forcing a repetition at Berlin-Karlshorst in the early hours of May 9.
Both days hold significance for European countries and Russia. The United Kingdom and France usually celebrate on May 8, while Russia commemorates the event on May 9, "Victory Day."
A World of (Liberation) Days
Not all nations eagerly celebrated their liberation. Denmark, for instance, marks "Liberation Day" on May 4. The Dutch celebrate "Liberation Day" on May 5. Italy, meanwhile, remembers its "Liberation Day" on April 25.
Germany, then a divided country, approach liberation with caution. The Western part viewed May 8 as a day of humiliation, reminding citizens of their nation's shameful defeat. It wasn't until the late 1960s and 1970s, when President Richard von Weizsäcker famously labeled the day as a "day of liberation," that attitudes began to shift. The Eastern part of Germany, on the other hand, celebrated "Day of Liberation of the German People from Hitler Fascism" between 1950 and 1966.
A Gallery of Rememberance
- A Second World War's Goodbye
- The Day of Deliverance
- Europe's Triumph
- A Russian Victory
- A Date of Reckoning
This marks only a selection of countries and their unique ways of honoring the end of the Second World War. Nations across the globe have their own distinct traditions, each with a story to tell of the war, freedom, and unity.
Countries such as the Czech Republic and Poland balance gratitude to foreign liberators with remembrance of their local resistance fighters. Slovakia, Hungary, and the Baltic States also honor those who shed blood in their fight against the tyranny that once held them captive.
Occasions like "Victory over Japan Day" (VJ Day) in the USA remind citizens of the high cost of the war, including the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan, meanwhile, grieves over its loss yet focuses on peace and the horrors of warfare.
Commemorations across time and space vary significantly, shaped by each country's history, cultural narrative, and experiences during the war. And while the reasons behind them differ, one thing remains the same: the world united in relief and hope for a new beginning.
- The Community policy and Employment policy of various nations often include commemorative events to mark the end of World War II, such as reviving memories of the Wehrmacht's surrender and the celebrations that followed in countries like the UK and France.
- However, some countries, like Germany, approach the commemoration of their liberation with caution, as the Western part struggled with feelings of humiliation for many years and only recently started to view May 8 as a 'Day of Liberation'.
- In contrast, other European countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy have their own unique 'Liberation Days', which do not correspond to the general timeline of the end of the war.
- Politics and general news outlets frequently highlight these diverse commemorations, emphasizing each nation's specific history and cultural narrative during the war, as well as their unique ways of honoring the end of the Second World War.
