May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe.
Some 2,076 days since the start of the Second World War, it’s officially over.
On May 4, the German military representatives signed the unconditional surrender of all forces in the Netherlands, and then the surrender of all German forces including Germany, signed at Supreme Allied headquarters in Reims, to take effect at midnight of 8th /9th
Another surrender was signed in Berlin on the 8th, which included the presence of Soviet commanders.
Word of the complete surrender had already leaked and massive celebrations had begun on the 7th, continuing through the next few days.
On May 8, Canada’s Prime Minister William Mackenzie King addressed the nation. He underlined that the “victory was won at so great a price.” During the six years Canada had enlisted more than a million men and women in the armed forces.
It had designed and built almost a million military vehicles, vast numbers of artillery and naval guns, hundreds of naval vessels contributing to the 3rd largest navy in terms of numbers, thousands of planes and the fourth largest airforce, the largest aircrew training programme in the world, manufactured millions of light arms, shells and bullets, millions of tons of supplies including food, raw materials, uniforms,medical supplies, high technology in communications and radar, advances in medicine, and more.
All this from a young nation with a relatively tiny population of only 11 million.
Canada had won the respect of other nations and emerged as a new power in the world, a benevolent power. As Canadians and Europeans took to the streets to celebrate,
Mackenzie King in his speech to the nation pointed out that the War was not over; Japan had yet to surrender
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.