World War 2
VE-Day
By the spring of 1945 the end of the war seemed to have been a very long time coming. With the announcement of Hitler's death, expectations of victory in the West were at fever-pitch, but still people were kept waiting.
The reason was an agreement between the Allies not to announce that peace had broken out until the Germans had signed instruments of surrender in Rheims and Berlin. A tight control was kept on the journalists in Rheims, however, this did not prevent one enterprising Associated Press guy from breaking the story. Though these sources, news of the German surrender reached New York on the 7th of May. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander, was furious, howerver as expected, the population of the Big Apple went beserk. That night - the 7th of May - the news of the Allied victory in Europe was announced on British radio. It was also announced that tommorow; the 8th of May would be Victory in Europe Day and a national public holiday.
All over Britain, street parties and bonfires, both long in preparation, were the principal features of the VE-Day celebrations in Britain. The day was a jubilant affair, with singing and dancing to mark the occasion. However, the overall general feeing was of relif that the intense strain of 'Total War' was finally over.
The joy was tinged with sadness caused by the loss of loved ones in the six years of conflict, and the awareness that there was still a war to be won in the Far East.