{"id":49993,"date":"2019-05-08T12:08:33","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T16:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=49993"},"modified":"2023-09-01T14:49:53","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T18:49:53","slug":"how-did-your-family-celebrate-v-e-day-in-1945","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/how-did-your-family-celebrate-v-e-day-in-1945.html","title":{"rendered":"How Did Your Family Celebrate V-E Day in 1945?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega searches old newspapers to learn how our families celebrated V-E Day on 8 May 1945. Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Victory in Europe Day, known as V-E Day in the United States, \u201cmarks the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany\u2019s unconditional surrender of its armed forces\u201d on 8 May 1945. (1)<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: German General Alfred Jodl signs the instruments of unconditional surrender in Reims, France, on 7 May 1945. Credit: Franklin D. Roosevelt Library; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How did your family\u2019s hometown mark V-E Day back in 1945? According to the historical newspapers, all kinds of activities were planned to honor and, in some cases, celebrate the end of the war in Europe. Because the surrender announcement was expected (Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945), American cities had some time to plan and decide what they would do once the announcement was finally made. Historical newspapers provide information about what was happening in your family\u2019s hometown on that day in May 1945.<\/p>\n

V-E Day Plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Napa, California \u2013 and other cities nationwide \u2013 community leaders and merchants decided that retail stores would close for the day once the announcement was made. Napa decided that if the announcement was made after 3 p.m. then merchants would not open the following day, and if it was made on a Sunday, then they would not close at all. The announcement was made at 9 a.m., Tuesday, 8 May 1945. (2)<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California), 2 May 1945, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In some cities, the plan for V-E Day was to not only close stores but to also hold religious services, like the one planned at St John\u2019s Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Post-Register (Idaho Falls, Idaho), 3 May 1945, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apparently, not all cities thought that the announcement was cause for celebration. According to this newspaper article, Boston \u201cunion leaders announced workers will stay at their jobs, food dealers explained stores will be open as usual and Mayor Kerrigan said he would close liquor selling establishments only if \u2018great public excitement\u2019 prevails.\u201d Union leaders pointed out that many members had soldiers in the Pacific and they would continue to be working hard \u2013 and so too should families on the home front.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Herald (Boston, Massachusetts), 3 May 1945, page 28<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When V-E Day finally arrived, cities and businesses commemorated the event in various ways. In one case, a newspaper \u2013 the Miami Herald<\/em> \u2013 announced that it would not run advertisements that day, explaining: \u201cThis is done in order to provide adequate news space and an opportunity for everyone to get a copy of The Herald on this history making occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), 8 May 1945, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is the announcement the Miami Herald<\/em> placed on the bottom of the front page that day.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), 8 May 1945, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Miami Herald<\/em> also reported on a prayer service for V-E Day.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Miami Herald (Miami, Florida), 8 May 1945, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

V-E Day, 8 May 1945<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Harry S. Truman, mindful of the fierce fighting still going on in the war against Japan, cautioned that V-E Day should not be a day of \u201cunrestrained celebration\u201d \u2013 but instead be one of prayer. He called for the Sunday after V-E Day, which happened to also be Mother\u2019s Day, to be an official day of prayer.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri), 8 May 1945, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this newspaper article, Truman reminded U.S. citizens that \u201cMuch remains to be done. The victory won in the West now must be won in the East.\u201d In his speech announcing the end of the war with Germany, he lamented that he wished Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness that day. (President Roosevelt had died the month before on 12 April 1945.)<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Evansville Press (Evansville, Indiana), 8 May 1945, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even with the surrender of Germany, the war was anything but over. It wasn\u2019t until three months later, on 14 August 1945, that the announcement was made that Japan was surrendering, and a few more weeks (September 2) before that surrender document was signed.<\/p>\n

Where Was Your Family?<\/strong><\/p>\n

What was your family doing on V-E Day? Did you have any family members serving in the military on that day? Take some time to document their stories for future generations as we remember that historic day that brought part of World War II to a close.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> An online collection of newspapers, such as GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>, is not only a great way to learn about the lives of your ancestors \u2013 the old newspaper articles also help you understand American history and the times your ancestors lived in, and the news they talked about and read in their local papers \u2013 including events that may have happened in your own lifetime.<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

___________________<\/p>\n

(1) \u201cVictory in Europe Day,\u201d Wikipedia (https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Victory_in_Europe_Day<\/a>: accessed 22 April 2019).
\n(2) You can listen to the announcement via a recording available from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, https:\/\/www.trumanlibrary.org\/ww2\/veday.htm<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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