History: May 2020 Archives

The German war is therefore at an end. After years of intense preparation, Germany hurled herself on Poland at the beginning of September, 1939; and, in pursuance of our guarantee to Poland and in agreement with the French Republic, Great Britain, the British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations, declared war upon this foul aggression. After gallant France had been struck down we, from this Island and from our united Empire, maintained the struggle single-handed for a whole year until we were joined by the military might of Soviet Russia, and later by the overwhelming power and resources of the United States of America.

Finally almost the whole world was combined against the evil-doers, who are now prostrate before us. Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this Island and throughout the British Empire.

We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injury she has inflicted on Great Britain, the United States, and other countries, and her detestable cruelties, call for justice and retribution. We must now devote all our strength and resources to the completion of our task, both at home and abroad. Advance, Britannia! Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King!

So concluded Winston Churchill's announcement to the British people of the utter defeat of Nazi Germany. The news launched two solid days of rejoicing throughout Britain.

America welcomed the news, but the war with Japan continued, and the country was still in mourning for the death of President Roosevelt less than a month earlier.

When he repeated his remarks to the House of Commons, he appended an appreciation for his parliamentary colleagues of all parties, for maintaining "the liveliness of Parliamentary institutions" as well as unity and perseverance in the face of war:

We have all of us made our mistakes, but the strength of the Parliamentary institution has been shown to enable it at the same moment to preserve all the title-deeds of democracy while waging war in the most stern and protracted form. I wish to give my hearty thanks to men of all Parties, to everyone in every part of the House where they sit, for the way in which the liveliness of Parliamentary institutions has been maintained under the fire of the enemy, and for the way in which we have been able to persevere-and we could have persevered much longer if need had been-till all the objectives which we set before us for the procuring of the unlimited and unconditional surrender of the enemy had been achieved.

He concluded by putting a motion before the House:

I recollect well at the end of the last war, more than a quarter of a century ago, that the House, when it heard the long list of the surrender terms, the armistice terms, which had been imposed upon the Germans, did not feel inclined for debate or business, but desired to offer thanks to Almighty God, to the Great Power which seems to shape and design the fortunes of nations and the destiny of man; and I therefore beg, Sir, with your permission to move:

That this House do now attend at the Church of St. Margaret, Westminster, to give humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God for our deliverance from the threat of German domination.

This is the identical Motion which was moved in former times.

A great many events were planned for this weekend, and nearly all of them have had to be cancelled because of the CCP Bat Virus. Britons were encouraged go to their doorsteps to join in a toast to the nation at 3 pm, and to sing along with "We'll Meet Again" after the Queen's broadcast at 9 pm.

This playlist begins with a British Movietone newsreel of V-E Day in London, including excerpts of Prime Minister Winston Churchill's broadcast announcing Germany's unconditional surrender, the procession of the House of Commons to a service of Thanksgiving across the street at St. Margaret's Church, V-E Day celebrations, appearances of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, and King George VI's address to the nation. There follows the complete seven-minute Churchill radio address, then what looks like the raw footage of Churchill's speech that British Pathé included in the Movietone newsreel. There is a seven-minute silent color film of London on V-E Day from the US National Archives.

Next up, film from the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1995, featuring the "Sweetheart of the Forces," Dame Vera Lynn, then 78 years old, performing the songs that inspired the Allied nations through World War II. She was joined by Harry Secombe and Cliff Richard for a sing-song in front of Buckingham Palace. Three of the four royals who had appeared on the balcony in 1945 appeared again in 1995: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret.

Finally, from today's commemorations in COVID-19 lockdown: The Queen's address to the nation; the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speak to World War II veterans in a care home; and today's concert from the Royal Albert Hall, with Katherine Jenkins performing for an empty arena, closed because of the CCP Bat Virus.

One phrase in Queen Elizabeth's speech might have been merely a reference to those still living who remember that day, but it could also be taken as an allusion to her incognito excursion with her sister Princess Margaret to join the celebrating throng, a night that included joining a conga line at the Ritz Hotel. A Daily Mail timeline of V-E celebrations around Britain has more details of the princesses' adventure.

For some reason, the ability to add this to the playlist above, but here, from the Royal Family's YouTube channel, is King George VI's V-E Day broadcast to the Empire.

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Dame Vera Lynn, who lives with her daughter and son-in-law in Ditchling, Sussex, raised a glass to salute the 75th anniversary and joined in the national sing-a-long of "We'll Meet Again" following the Queen's address. (Prof. Kate McLoughlin recounts a memorable interview with Dame Vera in 2005.)

Westminster Abbey recalls its role in the celebration of V-E Day, and the steps it took to protect its treasures during the war. The order of service of Thanksgiving for Victory began with this bidding from the minister to the congregation:

Brethren, we are met together on this day to pour out our hears in fervent thanksgiving to the God and Father of us all, and to dedicate ourselves afresh to the service of his Kingdom. We desire to thank him for deliverance from the hand of our enemies; for the devotion, even to death, of those who for the five years past have stood between us and slavery; and for the hopes of a better world for all his people. I bid you, therefore, lift up your hears that you may tell the praises of our God, and pray that his wisdom may lead us, and his Spirit strengthen us, in the days that are to come.

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us:
but unto thy Name give the praise.
The Lord hath done great things for us already:
whereof we rejoice.
Praise the Lord, O my soul:
and forget not all his benefits.

The service included the National Anthem and the hymns "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven," "Rejoice, O Land, in God Thy Might," and "Before the Almighty Father's Throne." The congregation, kneeling, recited a Solemn Dedication:

Let us, as our best and only worthy thanksgiving, lay our lives before God in penitence for the past and resolve for the future, and dedicate ourselves anew to his service that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

The short service of Thanksgiving, offered hourly in Westminster Abbey on V-E Day, included the Doxology, "All People That on Earth Do Dwell," "Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven," "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and "Now Thank We All Our God." One of the prayers offered was adapted from President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, including the words, "With malice toward none, with charity toward all."