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Remembering V-E DAY: May 8, 1945
The D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, represented the tip of the Allied spear into Germany’s Western Front. Over the next eleven months, millions of tons of supplies, vehicles, and Allied soldiers poured onto the continent to join the fight against the Nazis. The last year of the war in Europe saw some of the hardest fighting in the European Theater of Operations. Operation Market-Garden, the Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge, the crossing of the Rhine River into Germany, and the final battles for Berlin and other German cities took enormous tolls in life and property.
The last German V-1 bomb hit a farm in Herfordshire, England, on March 27th, 1945. On April 30th, with the Soviet Army overrunning Berlin, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker. One week later Germany surrendered. The surrender was announced May 7th, 1945, officially ending the European phase of World War II. Allied leaders decided that May 8th would be celebrated as Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day).
Throughout the day of August 14th, anticipation mounted as people listened to the radio or called their local newspaper for the latest word. The New York Times announced that its revolving news sign in Times Square would remain on continuously during the wait. Many people lingered below the sign, knowing the biggest celebration of all would occur there. The waiting gave cities throughout the country time to announce their plans. Every town and city expected crowds larger than those for V-E Day.
The news of Germany’s defeat set off mass celebrations around the world. Many people gathered to dance in the streets. Overjoyed Russians jammed Red Square in Moscow to celebrate. The London crowds mobbed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as he was traveling to Parliament to deliver his victory address. In France, Corporal William S. Dryer, U.S. Air Force, wrote to his fiancé, “The people went mad. Mad with laughter and mad with happiness, mad with anything and everything. All up and down the streets the cheering populace let it be known that Hitler was KAPUT…” There was celebrating throughout the United States with the gathering of thousands in New York City’s Times Square after hearing the news.
In Louisiana, Anne Relph recalled being on a train with her Grandmother “and hearing bells ring as we went through little towns…. I didn’t know what was going on until the train stopped, and someone told us that the war in Europe had ended. There was rejoicing, sort of dancing in the street and church bells ringing in every little town we went through. In New Orleans, people were literally dancing in the streets. They were singing, dancing, jumping in and out of fountains…It was like Mardi Gras, and just this incredible sense of relief that part of our war, anyway, was finished…”
Though the war in the Pacific was still being fought and the Japanese surrender would not come for almost another four months, there was no dampening of the spirits of the American people. They celebrated in the streets with the knowledge that with the victory in Europe this long war might actually be coming to an end.
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Student Travel – WWII Educational Tours
High school and college students, learn the leadership principles that helped win WWII on a trip to France or during a weeklong residential program in New Orleans. College credit is available, and space is limited.
See You Next Year! HS Yearbooks from WWII
Collected from across the United States, the words and pictures of these yearbooks present a new opportunity to experience the many challenges, setbacks and triumphs of the war through the eyes of America’s youth.
The Victory Gardens of WWII
Visit the Classroom Victory Garden Project website to learn about food production during WWII, find lesson plans and activities for elementary students, get tips for starting your own garden and try out simple Victory Garden recipes!
The Science and Technology of WWII
Visit our new interactive website to learn about wartime technical and scientific advances that forever changed our world. Incorporates STEM principles to use in the classroom.
Kids Corner: Fun and Games!
Make your own propaganda posters, test your memory, solve puzzles and more! Learn about World War II and have fun at the same time.
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FAQs
Founded in 2000, it was later designated by the U.S. Congress as America's official National WWII Museum in 2004. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution affiliated museum, as part of the Smithsonian Institution's outreach program.
What happened on VE Day? ›
On Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, Germany unconditionally surrendered its military forces to the Allies, including the United States. On May 8, 1945 - known as Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day - celebrations erupted around the world to mark the end of World War II in Europe.
What events led to VE Day and VJ Day? ›
Reaction to Japanese Surrender
This is the day when Fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would.” Jubilant Americans declared August 14 “Victory over Japan Day,” or “V-J Day.” (May 8, 1945–when the Allies accepted Nazi Germany's official surrender–had previously been dubbed “Victory in Europe Day,” or “V-E Day.”)
How much time do you need at ww2 Museum New Orleans? ›
Savor the full Museum experience with two days to immerse yourself in everything our campus has to offer. Spend time in each gallery, enjoy lunch and/or treats, spoil you or your loved ones with a show—you can do it all!
Is the New Orleans WWII Museum worth it? ›
The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and #2 in the U.S., and an unforgettable way to experience World War II—from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of the American servicemember abroad.
How much does it cost to get into The National WWII Museum? ›
Why did Germany lose WWII? ›
Logistics was another hugely important factor in the German defeat. No matter how fast or far the fighting formations advanced, they were dependent on timely supplies of fuel and ammunition. This became an ever greater problem as the army progressed deeper into Soviet territory and further away from its own railheads.
Which country surrendered first in WWII? ›
The formal surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, followed by the announcement of Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, brought about massive celebrations that filled streets all over the Allied world.
Why did WWII end? ›
The bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki with the Fat Man plutonium bomb device on August 9, 1945, caused terrible human devastation and helped end World War II.
Why did Japan surrender WWII? ›
It was the deployment of a new and terrible weapon, the atomic bomb, which forced the Japanese into a surrender that they had vowed never to accept. Harry Truman would go on to officially name September 2, 1945, V-J Day, the day the Japanese signed the official surrender aboard the USS Missouri.
World War II ended on September 2, 1945, in the Pacific theater with the official signing of surrender documents by Japan.
How many Americans died in WWII? ›
Deaths by Country
| Country | Military Deaths | Total Civilian and Military Deaths |
|---|
| South Africa | 11,900 | 11,900 |
| Soviet Union | 8,800,000-10,700,000 | 24,000,000 |
| United Kingdom | 383,600 | 450,700 |
| United States | 416,800 | 418,500 |
36 more rowsIs it safe to walk to the WWII Museum from the French Quarter? Yes, it is safe to walk from the French Quarter from the museum. There are sidewalks the entire distance and nearly everywhere in and around the French Quarter. Use the same caution and awareness you would while traveling in any city.
Does the New Orleans trolley go to the WWII Museum? ›
The 12 is the first Streetcar that goes to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Are backpacks allowed at the WWII Museum? ›
ONLY rolling luggage can be accommodated at the Guest Services desk based on available space. The Museum has lockers for storing backpacks and other small items but capacity is limited.
How is The National WWII Museum funded? ›
The Museum receives no government funding for our ongoing operating expenses, therefore we depend heavily on admission revenue and donations to pay the bills. With every $10 you donate, you will help cover the cost of admission for WWII veterans and the resources it takes to ensure their stories are never forgotten.
What is the ranking of the National World War II museum? ›
NEW ORLEANS (September 7, 2018) – The National WWII Museum was once again named among the top museums in the nation and the world in the 2018 TripAdivsor Travelers' Choice Awards, ranking No. 3 in the United States and No. 8 in the world.
What is The National WWII Museum website? ›
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/80th-anniversary-d-day.
Are donations to The National WWII Museum tax deductible? ›
The National WWII Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your contribution is tax deductible within the limits prescribed by law.
