Eyewitness Accounts: Reporters Documented Nazi Surrenders and the Conclusion of World War II in Europe
In a nostalgic glance back to 1945, AP reporters and photographers documented the dramatic end of World War II in Europe and the Holocaust. Let's dive into some thrilling excerpts from those historic days:
American journalist Edward Kennedy, a daring AP correspondent, made headlines when he announced the German surrender before the planned time. Kennedy, despite being told to hold back the news, broke the embargo and revealed the historic event to the Allied public on May 7, right in the heart of Reims, France.
Kennedy published his account unofficially, causing a stir among U.S. authorities. The reason behind this embargo was political, as U.S. President Harry Truman and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had agreed to delay the news to allow Soviet leader Josef Stalin to hold a second surrender ceremony in Berlin.
However, Kennedy stood firm and reported the truth. In 2012, AP issued an apology, admitting that Kennedy "did everything just right." AP's then-President and CEO, Tom Curley, declared, "The world needed to know. Kennedy stood up to power."
REIMS, May 7 (Delayed)
In a flash, the Allies officially announced the Germans had surrendered unconditionally. General Alfred Jodl, the stoic Prussian general who had just finished signing the unconditional surrender of the Nazis, made a plea for mercy for the German people.
After surrendering the documents, Jodl asked to speak. With a stiff, expressionless face, he expressed his hope for the victor to treat the defeated kindly. The gesture met with silence—a silence filled with the weight of five years of relentless conflict.
Eisenhower, as cool and stern as ever, made it clear that Germany was a defeated nation, with a stern order for the populace to obey the Allies. With that, Nazi Germany ceased to exist, and peace reigned supreme.
The bells of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome chimed in jubilation as the news of peace swept across Europe. Cities erupted with joy, and even neutral capitals felt the buzz of celebration. Yet, the soldiers on the frontlines remained reserved, having witnessed the methodical wind-down of the war.
London exploded with unparalleled jubilation, with millions pouring into the streets from Buckingham Palace to the bustling East End. Public houses were jam-packed, with long-hoarded spirits finally seeing the light of day. The great bells of Big Ben tolled the hours, marking the historic moments of V-E Day.
In Washington, expectant crowds gathered in Lafayette Square, eagerly awaiting an announcement from President Truman. Meanwhile, the first move in withdrawing American troops was underway, with the Yanks evacuating their bridgehead along the banks of the Elbe River.
BERLIN, May 10, 1945:
Hard-hitting reports from former AP Moscow bureau chief Harold King painted a grim picture of Berlin, which had transformed into a "city of the dead." The extensive destruction left standing structures "wrecked beyond repair." The attrition of the war was evident, with many of Berlin's inhabitants seeking refuge in the outskirts. Red flags fluttered atop the burned-out Reichstag, symbolizing the nascent communist era.
As the masses gathered to celebrate the end of the war, the world experienced a significant turning point, with the complex interplay of journalism, military strategy, and international politics on full display. It was a time of triumph, but also a time of great turmoil.
- In Toronto's general news, discussions about the governments' war-and-conflicts policies focused on the unofficial account published by AP reporter Edward Kennedy during World War II.
- The armistice excerpts from Kennedy's news coverage, which documented the German surrender on May 7 in Reims, France, became a significant part of the world news, stirring debates about policy and legislation.
- Despite the initial controversy surrounding Kennedy's announcement, his actions were later commended by AP; he was credited for standing up against power and supporting the principles of journalism.
- As news of Germany's unconditional surrender spread around the world, it brought both excitement and uncertainty for the future, as the world entered a new era filled with complexities and changes, particularly in world-and-conflicts politics.
- Reporters like Harold King, who covered the aftermath of the war in Berlin, provided harrowing accounts of the city's destruction, illustrating the consequences of World War II's horrors and highlighting the need for thoughtful policy decisions and directions to avoid such catastrophes in the future.
- With World War II officially over, the focus shifted from war-and-conflicts to arts and literature, as artists sought to create works that captured humanity's collective experiences during the tumultuous period and the new era that followed, offering a more peaceful landscape for public consumption in the realm of news.
These sentences aim to connect the given words by exploring the themes of journalism, politics, and the impact of World War II on Europe, while highlighting the crucial role of reporters like Edward Kennedy and Harold King in documenting historical events and shaping public opinion.
