7 little known facts about VE Day
With VE Day 80 approaching, we list some surprising facts about VE Day that you might not know.
Image: Plenty of social rules were relaxed on 8th March 1945 to allow a huge number of people to take part in the celebrations | Public Domain
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In early May 1945, Nazi Germany finally surrendered to the Allied forces, putting an end to war in Europe. To celebrate, Winston Churchill declared a public holiday on 8th May. This day was called Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day for short.
Most people know that VE Day saw massive parties and rejoicing in the UK as well as in other Allied nations. But there are also some intriguing facts about VE Day that aren’t so well known.
Read on to discover some fascinating VE Day facts and secrets our team at Sky HISTORY has uncovered that you may not know.
1. Germany surrendered a second time – at Stalin’s request
The Germans first gave a complete surrender in Reims, France, on 7th May 1945. The surrender would take effect on 8th May.
Still, Stalin wasn’t happy. He wanted some changes to the surrender document, and he felt both the German and Soviet representatives weren’t high-ranking enough. He also felt it was better for the surrender to happen in Berlin, the centre of Nazi power.
Some argue Stalin’s real reasoning was that the original signing ceremony didn’t bring enough glory to the Soviet Union.
In any case, a higher-ranking German representative, Wilhelm Keitel, went to Berlin on 8th May to sign another, slightly different surrender. This one was signed around midnight – some say it was just before midnight, some say it was just after.
2. VE Day was celebrated on different days in different places
Given all the complicated details of Germany’s surrender, it’s no surprise that different groups ended up celebrating VE Day on different days.
Most of the Allies celebrated on 8th May. But due to the time difference, New Zealand ended up celebrating on 9th May.
The Soviet Union only recognised Germany’s second surrender as official. But a document signed very late on 8th May in Germany would be signed on 9th May in Moscow time. Therefore, the Soviets celebrated on 9th May, calling it Victory Day – which is still celebrated in Russia today.
3. The government was ready for massive parties
On 7th May in the evening, it was announced that 8th May would be a national holiday. And Churchill took some steps to ensure that the celebrations would go without a hitch. In fact, he actually contacted the Ministry of Food to make sure there would be enough beer to go around!
Yet as it turned out, this wasn’t enough. While the partying went on late into the night, plenty of pubs ran out of beer by the evening.
The government also temporarily relaxed rationing rules to allow people to buy flags and bunting without using precious ration coupons.
Other social rules were relaxed, too. People splashed in fountains, lit bonfires in London’s parks and even slept on the street after a long night of partying. Police allowed it all, and few problems were reported.
4. Despite all the rejoicing of VE Day, rationing actually increased afterward
VE Day didn’t mean that World War II was over, of course. The fighting wouldn’t end until Japan’s surrender.
Therefore, plenty of hardships continued. In fact, one of the most surprising facts about VE Day is that food rationing increased following it. Just three weeks after the joy of VE Day, rations of bacon were decreased. And in 1946, after the war’s true end, rationing of bread began – which had never happened during the war.
5. People celebrated Britain’s allies
As we’ve mentioned, people hurried to buy flags and bunting to decorate the streets. But while you might picture a scene full of Union Jacks, that isn’t quite what happened.
Take a look at photos of VE Day partiers and you’ll see the American Stars and Stripes flag and the Soviet flag being waved too.
6. Princess Elizabeth celebrated with the public in disguise – and even did the conga
There are plenty of stories of people dancing the conga in the streets of London to celebrate VE Day. But did you know that the future Queen Elizabeth II was dancing that night too?
One of the strangest VE Day facts is that the former Princess Elizabeth was partying with everyone else in London. She wore her Auxiliary Transport Service uniform and, together with Princess Margaret, went out to mingle with the partying crowds.
In an interview far later, she even described doing the conga at the Ritz Hotel.
7. Fighting throughout Europe didn’t end until a week later
Unfortunately, German forces in Eastern Europe didn’t all surrender on VE Day.
Fighting in Prussia and Latvia was still ongoing as late as 14th May. And German troops in Yugoslavia only surrendered on 15th May, a full week after VE Day.
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