When's Victory?

From Wikipedia:
"Victory in Europe Day/ Victory Day"

Victory in Europe Day, generally known as V-E Day, VE Day, or simply V Day was the public holiday celebrated on 8 May 1945 (7 May in Commonwealth realms) to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forcesIt thus marked the end of World War II in Europe. On 30 April, Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin. Germany's surrender, therefore, was authorized by his successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg Government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France and on 8 May in Berlin, Germany. Upon the defeat of Germany (Italy having already surrendered), celebrations erupted throughout the world. From Moscow to Los Angeles, people celebrated. In the United Kingdom, more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace before the cheering crowds. Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations. In the United States, the victory happened on President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April. Flags remained at half-mast for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-mast that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day." Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday. Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and especially in New York City's Times Square.

 Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) celebrated on May 8th:

Denmark (5 May) as "Befrielsen" (The Liberation)

Netherlands (5 May) as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day)

United Kingdom:  In 1995 the May Day Bank Holiday was moved from the first Monday in May, May 1, to Monday 8 May, for that year only, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War.

France as Victoire 1945

Slovakia as Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom (Victory over Fascism Day)

Czech Republic as Den vítězství (Day of Victory) or Den osvobození (Day of Liberation)

Poland as "Dzień Zwycięstwa" (Day of Victory and Soviet occupation in Poland)

Norway as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day)

United States  Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) a working holiday

 

 

Victory in Europe Day (Victory Day) celebrated on May 9th:

Victory Day or 9 May marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the part of the Second World War known in the Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War where the Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany. It was first inaugurated in the sixteen republics of the Soviet Union, following the signing of the surrender document late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May, by Moscow Time). The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. Though the official inauguration happened in 1945 (which means it has been celebrated since 1946), the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in some of the countries. In the former Soviet Union this festival was celebrated to commemorate the Red Army's victory over the Nazi forces.

Armenia since its independence in 1990. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Azerbaijan since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Belarus "Дзень Перамогі" (Victory Day) -   since its independence in 1991 and considers it a non-working day. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Poland officially recognised 9 May from 1945 until 2014.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism and considers it a non-working day.

British Channel Islands of Jersey and  Guernsey were not liberated from German occupation until 9 May 1945, and  Sark on 10 May 1945, and celebrate those dates as their Liberation Days.

Georgia (country)  "ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე" (Victory over Fascism Day) - since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

German Democratic Republic (East Germany) recognised Tag der Befreiung (Day of liberation) on 8 May, it was celebrated as a public holiday from 1950 to 1966, and on the 40th anniversary in 1985. Only in 1975 the official holiday was 9 May instead and that year called Tag des Sieges (Victory Day).

Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) does not officially recognise 9 May as a holiday. However, celebrations continue to take place in some areas of the former German Democratic Republic. Also, on 8 May, the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern since 2002 has recognised a commemorative day Tag der Befreiung vom Nationalsozialismus und der Beendigung des 2. Weltkrieges (Day of Liberation from National Socialism, and the End of the Second World War).

Israel has celebrated for decades, although officially recognised 9 May since 2000. Parades are hosted in many cities across the country.

 Kazakhstan since its independence in 1991. It's a non-working day. The holiday is sometimes celebrated in connection with other national holiday on 7 May (Defender of the Fatherland Day). The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Kyrgyzstan since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Moldova since its independence in 1990. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Montenegro officially recognised 9 May as the Victory Day over Fascism as an official holiday;

Russian Federation "День победы" (Victory Day) - since its formation in 1991 and considers it a non-working day even if it falls on a weekend (in which case any following Monday will be non-working). The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Serbia Victory Day over Fascism but it's a working holiday. Still many people gather to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army, Minister of Defense and the President.

Tajikistan since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Turkmenistan since its independence in 1991. The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

Ukraine officially recognised 9 May - "День пам'яті та примирення" (Memorial Day) -  from its independence in 1991 until 2013, where it was a non-working day even if it falling on a weekend (in which case any following Monday was non-working). The holiday was similarly celebrated there while the country was part of the Soviet Union. In 2014, after the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Ukraine joined the Baltic states in commemorating the end of World War II and the Victory in Europe Day on 8 & 9 May. From 2015 Ukraine will be officialy celebrating Victory Day over Nazism in World War II -  "День перемоги над нацизмом у Другій світовій війні" - on both May 8 and 9, per a decree of parliament.

Soviet Union officially recognised 9 May from 1946 until its dissolution in 1991.

Uzbekistan has officially recognised 9 May from 1999, where the holiday was introduced as "Memorial/Remembrance Day". The holiday was similarly celebrated there while part of the USSR

^ Whether you celebrate Victory in Europe Day, V-E Day or Victory Day on May 7th, 8th or 9th the main thing is that the end of World War 2 in Europe be remembered as it affected millions upon millions of people across the globe. Tomorrow is  the 70th V-E Day (or Victory in Europe Day) for many Western countries and yet there is very little talk about any events remembering the 70th anniversary in the US  and Canada. That is a just plain wrong - we call the men and women who lived, fought and/or died during World War 2 the "Greatest Generation" in the United States and yet we do little to show our appreciation and respect for what they did. ^

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day