Forgot this yesterday, VE Day

[CaptainCrunch]

Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) was on May 8th 1945. VE Day officially announced the end of World War Two in Europe. On Monday May 7th at 02.41. German General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender document that formally ended war in Europe. Winston Churchill was informed of this event at 07.00. While no public announcements had been made, large crowds gathered outside of Buckingham Palace and shouted: “We want the King”. The Home Office issued a circular (before any official announcement) instructing the nation on how they could celebrate:

“Bonfires will be allowed, but the government trusts that only material with no salvage value will be used

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ve_day.htm

[HalifaxDrunk]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Bonfires will be allowed, but the government trusts that only material with no salvage value will be used

Wow, they were even burning Canuck and Oiler's memorabilia back in 1945.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by HalifaxDrunk

Wow, they were even burning Canuck and Oiler's memorabilia back in 1945.

They fought for the right to do it, they can burn anything they want.

[Puppet Guy]

[CaptainCrunch]

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

Man I was gonna hammer you about using a VJ day picture.

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Man I was gonna hammer you about using a VJ day picture.

luckily I spotted my mistake quickly...


found this little tidbit of Calgary-related WW II history:

http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/s,freddie.html

The VE Day sounds of celebration, revelry and relief were given new life when the stirring base tones of two Merlin engines at full power caught the attention of Calgarians on the afternoon of May 9, 1945. One of their wartime adopted sons was home for a visit with a very special guest of honour; Mosquito LR503, known as 'F for Freddie'. This powerful, beautiful airplane, late of 105 Squadron, was the survivor of 213 operations over occupied Europe: More ops than any other allied bomber during World War II.
In one of the poignant and painful ironies of war, 24 hours later would see the crew dead and the remains of Freddie, a few bits of metal and smoking splinters, scattered across the airport.

[undercoverbrother]

Hopefully there will never be another day like this...........

[Coach]

Heh, funny. Just by pure coincidence I watched Captain America yesterday. Perhaps my subconcious was bringing up some high school social studies and prompted me to do so. Its a good thing Captain America came along or we would all be speaking German and/or be evaporated by the Red Skull's Teseract weapons.

Thank you Captain America.



But seriously, thank you to all those who gave their lives and those who were lucky enough to make it home. Lets hope we never reach this level of war again.

[CaptainCrunch]

Even though the war ended in Europe it took a long time for most Canadian Soldiers to make their way home. there was even talk of shifting them to the Pacific Theatre to help the Americans, and get the Canadian Navy involved

For a bit of funny hilarity in post WW2 Europe, read My Father's son and no birds sang by Farley Mowat. Post war he basically formed his own army with a goal of collecting german weapons and equipment.

A few weeks later, he wrote to his parents informing them that "my eye shineth, and I am filled with piss and vinegar again. In future you will kindly address me with all due deference as Officer Commanding, First Canadian War Museum Collection Team. A sonorous title ain't it? Ought to be - I concocted it myself."

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/people-...vate-army.html

[CrusaderPi]

In keeping with the world war 2 theme the western war started 2 and a half hours ago when Germany crossed the Belgium border at 3:30 am local time. German troops have already landed on Eben Emael and cracked open Belgium's defensive line.

If you aren't following @RealTimeWWII then you're just wrong.

[chemgear]

Bit of a sidebar but this frakin' pissed me off the other day. Damn ignorant "Canadians":

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

Many Canadians don't know that the Vimy Memorial in France even exists, with many mistaking the monument -- shown on Canada's forthcoming new $20 bills -- for the Twin Towers, new documents show.
Others add that the initial design of the new polymer banknote, which was officially unveiled last Wednesday by the Bank of Canada, was "too pornographic."

[VO #23]

Did anyone else see this story last week? The Associated Press has officially apologized to the family of Ed Kennedy, 67 years after the fact, for breaking the story that Hitler had surrendered to end the war in Europe. I'd never heard this before, and it's fascinating stuff IMO.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/articl...op-3533814.php