VE Day 7 May 1945
VE Day commemorates the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied forces in 1945, ending World War II in Europe. With Adolf Hitler dead, German military leaders signed surrender documents at several locations in Europe on May 7. VE Day marked a major milestone for the Allies but did not end the war, as conflict in the Pacific against Imperial Japan continued.
In London, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, learned of the German surrender at 7am on May 7, but waited until 7.40pm that evening to make the news public. The official announcement said simply: “In accordance with arrangements between the three great powers, tomorrow, Tuesday (May 8), will be treated as Victory in Europe Day and will be regarded as a holiday.” Tens of thousands rushed into the streets of London and continued celebrating until heavy rains arrived around midnight. The following day – the first VE Day – celebrations continued as best they could with rationing still in place. The Board of Trade eased the rationing of cloth just a smidgen: “Until the end of May you may buy cotton bunting without coupons, as long as it is red, white or blue, and does not cost more than one shilling and three pence (6.25p) a square yard.”
Longstanton resident John Fletcher says he does not remember any celebrations in the village like those seen in London. “The village was too poor” he remarks. With rationing, war weariness and five years of enforced discretion, due to the proximity of RAF Oakington, it appears villagers took news of the surrender in the calm manner with which they had responded to the declaration of war so many years before. As for John: “I probably just went to the Black Bull that evening and celebrated with an extra pint”.
What we can learn from VE Day 1945 is that this current period of national crisis will eventually come to an end, as it did then. All we can do while we await that day is to safeguard ourselves, our neighbours and the key workers who live amongst us by adhering to the current government restrictions especially as lockdown is on the verge of being eased. We can celebrate our own victory day when this is all over. In 1945, VE Day would have been a celebration of mixed emotions: relief that the war was over, but sadness also for the lives lost. Our day of victory against coronavirus will be the same when it comes—and it will come. When it does, we must celebrate and give thanks just as the country, RAF Oakington and local residents did all those years ago. Now, as in World War II, the lives of a nation really are in the hands of a few.
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