Victory Europe Day, May 8/9

Military Parades and Celebrations

On May 8th 1945, Nazi Germany accepted the allied powers’ offer of an unconditional surrender. In previous years this anniversary would be known as Victory in Europe Day, or “VE Day” for short. Today would have been a celebration of the allies’ triumph over the Axis powers in Europe and the Atlantic, as the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union’s shared victory brought an end to years of suffering across the continent and marked the beginning of the current international order.

By mustering manpower and manufacturing Washington defeated fascism, liberated the European continent, and upheld American values at home and abroad. Victory in Europe Day should be seen as a shining example of the United States’ ability to marshal the allies and overthrow the Axis powers. Our sacrifices and commitment to defending liberty and defeating tyranny condemned Fascism to the dustbin of history.

The current administration has said it wishes to rebranded VE Day to “Victory Day for World War Two” (and Armistice Day as “Victory Day for World War One”). As a veteran and historian, I disagree with the administration’s decision to present today’s anniversary as the definitive end of the Second World War. From May 8th, 1945 through August 15th of the same year, the United States would continue to fight in the Pacific against Imperial Japan. Between VE Day and the surrender of Imperial Japan, American forces would defeat the Japanese at the Battle of Okinawa and deploy atomic weapons against the cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Treating VE day the definitive end of the Second World War minimizes the importance of these major events in the closing chapters of the Pacific theatre. It minimizes the sacrifice of those who fought on in the Pacific theater.

I also disagree with the idea of a Victory Day celebration. I observed the Russian Victory Day Parade in 2013 as an Army Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow pic above).