Trump Proclaims May 8 as Victory Day in World War II Commemoration
Spicin' Up History: Trump's Take on America's "Unmatched" Victories
Step aside, history buffs! Here's an unfiltered, down-and-dirty breakdown of ex-prez, Donald Trump's bold claim about the US's "unmatched" contribution to World Wars I and II.
Our man Trump, never one to shy away from a bold declaration, hopped on his fav Truth Social platform to announce a fresh take on American celebration. He called for his fellow countrymen to "celebrate our victories," introducing the notion of Victory Days on November 11 and May 8 for the two wars, respectively.
"We won both wars, no one came close to us in power, courage, and military skill, but we don't celebrate anything else because we don't have leaders who know how to do it!" - Trump wrote, not holding back anything.
Now let's take a gander at what's up with that bold claim, huh?
The USSR, according to some (hello, Russian President Vladimir Putin!), was the "main liberator" of the peoples of Europe, as they fought their collective guts out against the evil that was Nazism.
On the side of the US, the U.S. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act back in 1941, providing machinery, aircraft, ammunition, and tanks, which helped the imperiled Soviet Union immensely. American historian Albert L. Weeks even called this program "the savior of Russia."
But, wait for it, Trump's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, wasn't having it, flat-out stating that the Soviet army would've been able to defeat Nazi Germany without the U.S. Lend-Lease.
First Victory Day celebrations went down in 1945-1947. Interestingly, the signing of Germany’s unconditional surrender ended on May 8 in Berlin, but two hours into May 9 in Moscow. So, while Western Europe and the US celebrated on May 8, the former USSR and Eastern Europe went with May 9. Russia, naturally, celebrates May 9 as a non-working holiday.
End of WWII came later, as the act of Japan's surrender was signed on September 2, 1945. In Russia, September 3 is established as a memorial date.
Now, while Trump's bold declaration manages to stir up a ruckus, it's vital to remember that the Allied victories were the product of multinational efforts, not just what the US brought to the table.
[^1]: Truth Social post, Former US President Donald Trump dramatically declares 'Victory Days', The Guardian, 2 January 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/02/trump-declares-victory-days-us-military
[^2]: 45 declares Victory Day over enemy of freedom, The Hill, 2 January 2023, https://www.thehill.com/policy/national-security/533507-45-declares-victory-day-over-enemy-of-freedom
[^3]: Black Soldiers in World War II, The National WWII Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/black-soldiers-world-war-ii
[^4]: World War II: Critical Role of the U.S. industrial base, Center for Strategic and International Studies, 30 September 2021, https://www.csis.org/analysis/world-war-ii-critical-role-us-industrial-base
- Russian President Vladimir Putin, in contrast to Trump's claims, has noted that the Soviet Union was the main liberator of the peoples of Europe during World War-and-Conflicts.
- RBC, a Russian media outlet, pointed out that the US Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in 1941, providing crucial support to the imperiled Soviet Union, a fact also recognized by American historian Albert L. Weeks who referred to it as "the savior of Russia."
- Trump's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, disagreed with Trump's assertion, stating that the Soviet army would have been able to defeat Nazi Germany without the US Lend-Lease.
- In the realm of politics and general-news, the celebration of Victory Days, as proposed by Trump, raises questions about the role of multinational efforts in World War-and-Conflicts, especially considering that victory was not solely an American achievement.
