May 11th 2020
Although celebrations will sadly not go ahead as planned for Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, tomorrow, it is extremely important that we mark and acknowledge this most significant of dates in our national and world history.
On Monday 7th May 1945, General Alfred Jodl, representing the German High Command, signed the instrument of unconditional surrender at General Eisenhower’s HQ at Rheims. Fighting had stopped, and the war was over, but the formal announcement of victory was made a day later by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill. By Tuesday 8th May, when the Prime Minister spoke, the people of Britain were ready to celebrate! All across Britain, in backstreets, on suburban drives, on village greens, playing fields and factory grounds, trestle tables were being set up – bunting was hung up, flags were flown, and everyone prepared for street party festivities and celebrations such as never previously witnessed.
As so many of the historical photos and footage show, very few men of conscription age were there to join the celebrations. Behind the expressions of joy on the faces of the women as they enjoyed the moment, we can only imagine the strain of having lived through six long years of war, the food rationing and air raids, of receiving bad news from the front, and telegrams with the words ‘deeply regret to inform you…’.
Many analogies have been drawn between the current Coronavirus lockdown and war time, but it is difficult to compare too closely the suffering and sacrifice of those that fought for our freedom in World War II to today’s crisis. What is perhaps more appropriate is for us to take strength from all the examples of human spirit and extraordinary courage displayed in that era of strife and emergency, and apply it to our current circumstances. There are so many heart-breaking wartime stories of individual hardship and suffering, and it is extremely important for our children to read and listen to them to develop a real understanding of the sacrifices made for us.
We will get through this current crisis and we will find new ways to live and enjoy our regained freedom, just as survivors of World War II did in 1945 with hope and renewed faith in humankind and the communities around us.
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