Tuesday, May 08, 2007

VE Day ~ Victory in Europe


VE DAY ~ Victory in Europe

May 8, 1945




May 8, 1945 was VE Day - Victory in Europe over the Nazi war machine and the end of Hiltler's Third Reich. The celebrations in England were huge, as seen in this picture of Churchill waving to the crowds. But, the war was not over - it still was being waged in the Pacific against Japan.


Excerpts from Winston Churdhill's Victory speeches:

Finally almost the whole world was combined against the evil-doers, who are now prostrate before us. Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this Island and throughout the British Empire.

We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injury she has inflicted on Great Britain, the United States, and other countries, and her detestable cruelties, call for justice and retribution. We must now devote all our strength and resources to the completion of our task, both at home and abroad. Advance, Britannia! Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King!

God bless you all. This is your victory! It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the independent resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.

Excerpts from President Harry Truman's Speech to the nation:

The flags of freedom fly over all Europe.

For this victory, we join in offering our thanks to the Providence which has guided and sustained us through the dark days of adversity.

Our rejoicing is sobered and subdued by a supreme consciousness of the terrible price we have paid to rid the world of Hitler and his evil band. Let us not forget, my fellow Americans, the sorrow and the heartache which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors-neighbors whose most priceless possession has been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty.

A Proclamation--The Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God's help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The western world has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of free-born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, corrupted their children, and murdered their loved ones. Our Armies of Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering peoples, whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave.

5 comments:

Lew said...

What a difference a few decades makes. We fought WW2 with no goal less than total Victory acceptable.

Today, Victory seems like the last thing the left and their followers desire.

Wade Huntsinger said...

At least France voted a better guy in..I think. I only heard a little about him. Victory is a wonderful thought. Thanks for reminding me!

Anonymous said...

We won that one and lost (politically) just about every one since. Thanks for the memories!

De'on Miller said...

A wonderful tribute to a wonderful era .... God help us now. The enemy is of many faces this time. Sadly, they live among us.

Flag Gazer said...

Both Churchill and Truman thanked God for his answers to our prayers and understood that it was VICTORY that gives us liberty and freedom!