Victory in Europe Day
| File:VE Day.jpg | |
| Date | 8 May 1945 |
|---|---|
| Description | Day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's surrender. |
Victory in Europe Day, generally known as VE Day, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on 8 May 1945.
On 30 April 1945, Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, reportedly committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin. Germany's surrender was authorised by his successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg Government. The act of military surrender was first signed at 02:41 on 7 May in Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) at Reims in France[1] and a slightly modified document was signed on 8 May in Berlin.
Most European countries celebrate the end of World War II on the 8th of May. Russia, Belarus, and Serbia celebrate on 9th May, as did several former Soviet bloc countries. Israel marks VE Day on 9th May, as well, as a result of the large number of immigrants from the former Soviet bloc, although it is not a public holiday. The term VE Day existed as early as September 1944,[2] in anticipation of victory.
8 May 2020
The early May bank holiday in 2020 was moved back by four days for the whole of the UK to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. May Day is traditionally held on a Monday but will be put back to Friday 8 May 2020. The holiday will form part of a three-day weekend of commemorative events which are expected to include more than 20,000 pubs encouraging people to toast the heroes of the war, while churches will take part in a Ringing Out For Peace.[3]
References
- ↑ Leaders & Personalities of the Third Reich, Vol. 2", ISBN 978-0-912138-66-4
- ↑ "VE Day"
- ↑ "May bank holiday 2020 changed for VE Day anniversary"
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