Lest we forget May 8th, 2022 May 8th, 2022. Victory in Europe Day - also known as VE Day - celebrates the Allied Forces accepting the Nazi's unconditional surrender from World War 2. The final document was signed on 8th May 1945. Today, countries throughout the world celebrate VE Day annually, on either 8th or 9th May.
Excellent post mate. Whenever I read about WW2 I'm staggered at what happened and humbled. He bravery of everyone concerned is truly incredible. I'm currently reading about how the SOE and Resistance worked together and the massive risks they took. As well as the Germans and Gestapo they had the turncoat French police and militia not to mention locals with grudges who'd turn them in to cosy up to the Nazis. For every British airman they got out of occupied France they lost three Resistance who were tortured then executed. And they knew that would happen, unbelievably brave.
Have great respect for those who went over and those French who were willing to help, were they a different breed to today or was in needs must in desperate times. We're off to Normandy next month for the D Day celebration with our eldest daughter and son in law. Looking forward to visiting the new memorial at Ver sur Mer which is next to Arromanche, the one Harry Billinge became well known for getting it erected. This will be our tenth visit to the beaches and war grave cemetaries, we keep saying our previous visit will be the last but we keep going, it's a wonderful part of France imo.
Took the kids a few years back and visited, Pegasus Bridge, Arromanche and the American cemetery the lines of white crosses really brings it home.
Agree 73, but we prefer to visit the smaller cemeteries which are dotted all around Normandy. The one at Bayeau is quite large but nothing like the American one at Omaha.
Trying their best to forget it but it should never happen, should always be remembered and spoken about.
When we lived in France for five years they made a big thing of it over there, mind they had to be liberated which must have been awful to live nearly five years under occupation, never really understood why we let it slide by year on year thought with the new found passion to celebrate the cenotaphe in November that WW2 would be more in the public conscious but if the media can't be arsed then hey ho.
Went over a few years back with Leger Travels - visited some amazing sites like the normal ones mentioned above. But we also went to a few hidden gems 'Grand Camp Maisey', La Cambe Cemetery and a small church in Angoville with images in the stained glass windows depicting the Allies. Our guide was a retired soldier and his knowledge was second to none. My next one I'd like to do is the 'Bridge To Far', where I'd like to visit my Great Uncles grave in Enschede, Netherlands. He was a rear gunner (tail-gun Charlie) that was shot down over the town and all seven crew died. God bless them all.
Had a week in a gite in GPMaisey quite a few years ago now, been back since and it was much improved. There's a museum there dedicated to the USA Rangers who were tasked with taking the Point du Hoc, well featured in the film The Longest Day. Sadly last week a large section of the rock mass giving it it's name fell into the sea caused by errosion.
I was gifted a jumble of books about the French resistance and am finally creasing the last of them. They've been truly incredible and humbling. I've no one, in the family, who'd want them so would happily send them or drop then off. Failing that I'll send them to one of the care homes for old soldiers who might appreciate the..
