Victory in Europe

60th Anniversary 8th May 2005

World War 2, the greatest paroxysm that has ever seized the human race was an event so enormous and so tragic as to defy imagination. Millions died on Britain, France, Germany - tens of millions in the Soviet Union. The United States, though spared the worst of the horrors also made her sacrifices.

Despite heavy losses to the American troops at Omaha Beach, the D Day landings on June 6th 1944 were a resounding success, Allied losses however rose steeply from that time:

June 6th - 20th 1944, 1st US Army lost 24,162 men and Second British Army 13,572 men.

From June 6th to August 25 1944, TWO MILLION ALLIED SOLDIERS landed in Normandy, Allied losses totaled 10% (206,703 men) 124,394 Americans, 82,309 British and Canadian. They confronted 740,000 German Soldiers, who lost 240,000 men.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old

Age will not weary them, Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun, And in the morning

We will remember them

 


Message from Webmaster.

If you are a certain age as I am you will have your own memories of World War 2 and how it affected not only your life but your family around you, it was very few families that did not have at least one member who made the ultimate sacrifice.

That sacrifice made by millions must not be squandered but cherished for what we have today and if you find it possible do try and make at least one visit to the battlefield cemeteries, I fail to see why anyone could not be moved.

I have put together here a few pictures which recall the spirit and atmosphere of that period.


'... We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender

.The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

1874 - 1965

 

Dancing in the Streets

The German forces in Europe surrendered to the Allies on 7 May 1945. During the celebrations that followed the announcement of the end of the war, Churchill appeared on the balcony of the Ministry of Health in Whitehall, to speak to the vast crowd. After the words 'This is your victory!', the crowd roared back, 'No - it is yours!'

 

 

 

Street Party

Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's Headquarters on Luneberg Heath for signing of the surrender. Monty seated at table reads the surrender terms. General-Admiral von Friedeberg signing surrender. General Kienzl signing the surrender. Rear Admiral Wagner signing. Monty signing on behalf of General Eisenhower.

Date of signing: May 3rd 1945

Bernard Law MONTGOMERY
(1887 - 1976)

("1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein") British Field Marshal. He commanded part of the British Expeditionary Force in France 1939-40 and took part in the subsequent evacuation from Dunkirk. In August 1942 he took command of the 8th Army, then barring the German advance on Cairo; his victory at El Alamein in November turned the tide in N Africa and was followed by the expulsion of Rommel from Egypt and rapid Allied advance into Tunisia. In February 1943 Montgomery's forces came under US general Eisenhower's command, and they took part in the conquest of Tunisia and Sicily and the invasion of Italy. Montgomery was promoted to Field Marshal 1944 and commanded the Allied forces during the opening phase of the invasion of France June 1944, and from August the British and commonwealth troops that liberated the Netherlands, overran N Germany, and entered Denmark.


He received the German surrender May 3, 1945 at his 21st Army Group headquarters on Luneberg Heath. He was in command of the British occupation force in Germany until Feb 1946, when he was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Created 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1946.

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