Posted on 05/08/2015 12:54:48 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Seventy years ago, then-British prime minister Winston Churchill declared May 8, 1945, to be "Victory in Europe Day" after a gruelling five-year war against Nazi Germany and its allies.
The day before, people had already started celebrating amid news that Hitler had committed suicide in his so-called Fuehrerbunker in Berlin days prior, and Germany has surrendered unconditionally.
Canada celebrated, too. It had joined the war effort early, with its first troops departing for Europe at the end of 1939. More than one million Canadians performed full-time duty during the war. They fought in the raid on Dieppe and at Juno Beach on the shores of Normandy.
More than 40,000 Canadians died in service, while about 8,000 were captured as prisoners of war.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Canadians also helped liberate Alaskan islands seized by the Japanese.
yeppers!
We(USA) were a better people then and had a free press. Can you imagine how the event would be reported today!?!
I think Canada, among the Allies, had the greatest population percentage in uniform.
My mother thought it was Truman's and he picked May 8th because it was his birthday.
My mother thought it was Truman's and he picked May 8th because it was his birthday.
It was actually based on negotiations with the Soviets and the Germans. IIRC a Soviet general lost his life because of the date chosen.
I think the point was that May 7 could have been called VE Day since the Germans had surrendered.
I think the point was that May 7 could have been called VE Day since the Germans had surrendered.
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