7 May 1945

Posted: Thursday, May 07, 2009 by Travis Cody in
17

On this day, 64 years ago, the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of the German High Command, officially ending the war in Europe.



The war in the Pacific would go on for another four months until the surrender of Japan was announced on 14 August 1945. The official surrender was signed on 2 September 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.



"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." General Dwight D. Eisenhower

17 comments:

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    07 May, 2009 00:42

    Even the generations born long after seem to have been defined in part by that war.

  1. Anonymous says:
    07 May, 2009 01:48

    Thank you for sharing this Travis. I didn't know. My learning for the day :) I think more should read the quote by Eisenhower myself

  1. Terra Shield says:
    07 May, 2009 02:59

    My great grandad went missing in the war in the pacific area... the wars should have never taken place.

  1. Marsha says:
    07 May, 2009 04:48

    That picture always makes me think of my dad, and it's such a classic.

    Thank you for keeping us on our toes about our history!!

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    07 May, 2009 06:39

    Thanks Travis.
    I have always like that photo.

  1. Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. says:
    07 May, 2009 06:39
    This comment has been removed by the author.
  1. Anonymous says:
    07 May, 2009 06:55

    May we never forget...

  1. Ivanhoe says:
    07 May, 2009 07:56

    That kissing pic is one of my faves ever. Together with another B&W - the one of the NY bridge workers taking a lunch break from 1930's.

    During communism, we celebrated the liberation by Soviet Army on 5/9. Then after the communism fell, we were told that the western part of Czech was actually liberated by American Army a full day before. So the end of war is now celebrated on 5/8...

  1. katherine. says:
    07 May, 2009 08:31

    have you read Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation?"

    (I could check your goodreads...ha!)

    I have often thought about how it would be to live in those times...

  1. Coco says:
    07 May, 2009 09:39

    Yay! Happy V-E Day, Trav! May the war be remembered and our veterans honoured for their great sacrifice.

    Both my grandfathers were in it as Canadian-British citizens and my grandmother (mom's mom) was head of the Ladies' Auxiliary in Ottawa. I still remember my Great-Uncle John polishing his medals before the Armistice Day parade - that acrid, soapy smell of really good polish from a tin, which was the only kind he would use on his medals. He would never talk about his experience ...

  1. Akelamalu says:
    07 May, 2009 10:47

    Eisenhower's quote says it all doesn't it?

  1. Jeni says:
    07 May, 2009 15:22

    I heartily agree that more should read Eisenhower's quote and at least think about it before getting the world into more conflicts.
    A cousin of my Mom's was killed in France 19 days before the Germans finally surrendered and it was three years plus a few months after that before his body was returned stateside for burial. My Mom told me once that somehow, reports that filtered back to the family about his death were that he either went completely crazy or something like that because they were told that he just suddenly stood up and walked, directly into the line of fire.
    Peace.

  1. laughingwolf says:
    07 May, 2009 17:10

    would japan have surrendered without the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki? :(

  1. Travis Cody says:
    07 May, 2009 17:35

    Charles: I know I am.

    Thom: I couldn't think of a more fitting quote for this particular remembrance.

    Terra: I'm so sorry for your loss and appreciate his service and sacrifice.

    Marsha: These posts are always something I enjoy.

    NNG: It's definitely an iconic image.

    Lois: You can count on me to always remember.

    Ivanhoe: If it's the one I'm thinking of, that bridge photo always makes me dizzy. And thank you for sharing that bit of history.

    Katherine: I have not read that book. It's definitely on my futures list though.

    Coco: I've never heard any of my grandpa's stories either, but I have asked if he would write them down for me to have some day.

    Akelamalu: Indeed it does.

    Jeni: I'm so sorry for such a terrible loss. I think him for his service and sacrifice.

    Laughingwolf: It's difficult to say. I'm sorry for the loss of life caused by the bombs, but I fear the losses from an invasion of the Japanese home islands would have been staggering.

  1. Mike Golch says:
    07 May, 2009 19:52

    the use of THE BOMB was a necessary of evil.it saved American and Japanese lives and took a lot of them as well.I pray that that particular pandora's box is never opened again.

  1. Julia Phillips Smith says:
    08 May, 2009 18:14

    Although the eruption of joy must have been something else to experience first hand, I hope the world never has occasion to experience it again.

  1. Cinnamon Girl says:
    11 May, 2009 15:14

    That quote is even more meaningful given the news out of baghdad today.

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