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See
the headlines and stories of Victory in Europe in May 1945,
reproduced here exactly as they appeared in the Belfast News-Letter.
Click on the date tabs to read each day's headlines and
articles.
Click
on the banner above to read the history of the Belfast News-Letter
May 8th 1945, marked the end to war in Europe and for
millions of people marked the end of six years of hardship
and a return to the way of life we take for granted today.
As the people of Europe slowly accepted the news, street parties
and celebration spread from city to town to village.
For many, the great excitement came on 7 May, rather than
on the official day of victory the next day. All across the
nation the people tuned in to the wireless to find out more.
They were told that Allied victory in Europe was to be celebrated
officially the following day but many people had already begun
their celebrations. People were out on the streets, hanging
bunting and banners and dancing. The famous World War Two
diarist Nella Last recorded
the scene in her diary:
'...all the shops had got their rosettes and tri-coloured
button-holes in the windows and men putting up lengths of
little pennants and flags. Till at three o'clock, the Germans
announced it was all over. As if by magic, long ladders appeared,
for putting up flags and streamers. A complete stranger to
the situation could have felt the tenseness and feeling of
expectation....'
So what do you remember of that time ? Have you any photos
?
Send in your thoughts and memories of the VE period using
the form below.
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YOUR RESPONSES SO FAR:
R Smyth - May 05
I had just turned eight when
we celebrated VE Day. It was a sunny day and a party was held in
the combined back gardens of two of
our neighbors (the tables fairly groaned with food, didn't we have
rationing?). That night a bonfire was lit with an effigacy of Hitler
on top. When he was well and truly alight one of the neighbors
let him have it with both barrels of his shotgun. THEN WE WERE
TOGETHER . THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO GAVE SO MUCH THAT WE COULD LIVE
IN PEACE. IN THEIR MEMORY LET THE PEOPLE OF N. IRELAND FORGET THE
PAST AND GET ON WITH LIVING.
The History Man - May 05
My memories
of VE day? Well I am now almost 75 years old so on VE day I would
have
been
almost
15 years old. I do not remember whether the day which stands out
in my memory was the 7th or the 8th of May.
At that time I was employed in the local spinning
mill and worked very long hours for a 15 year old so the day off
work was a very
welcome bonus. I remember the crowds of people, young and older
walking, running, dancing, singing, kissing and hugging total
strangers as they made their way to the Belfast City Hall. The
whole of that
area was a moving mass of ecstatic people.
I will never forget what was a totally euphoric day.
Brian Brown - May '05
My only memory of VE day was a great street party, I was seven,
I can remember, JELLY! - Ice cream came 3 years later...!
My memories of D-Day are much more vivid, I remember standing by
my Gran's fence in Peterborough, watching wave after wave of bombers
going over, towing gliders... now that I do recall, vividly.
Jim McIlmurray - May '05
Excellent report well presented, I would not expect anything less
from this site. Has to be one of Northern Ireland's best information
sources.
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