May 1945

(Defeated Germany)                        

When Fuhrer Adolf Hitler committed suicide on the 30^th April 1945, Grand Admiral Karl Donitz succeeded him as Reichpasident and Joseph Goebbels as Reich Chancellor.

On the 1st May 1945, German General Hans Krebs was a high-ranking officer in the Nazi Army. He negotiated the unconditional surrender of the city of Berlin to the Red Army. On the same day newly appointed Goebbels informed Krebs that he did not have that authority,

On the 1st May 1945, knowing Germany had lost the war, and as committed Nazis, Goebbels and his wife Magda arranged for their six young children to receive a morphine injection followed by cyanide tablets killing all six. The two parents committed suicide. He shot himself in the head and she bit into a cyanite pill.

On the 2nd May 1945, the Battle of Berlin ended following the Red Army’s capture of the Reichstag Building on which the Soviet flag was raised.

On the same day, knowing the war was lost, three of Hitler’s inner cabinetcommitted suicide. Krebs and Martin Bormann, who had been Hitler’s personal secretary had bitten into a cyanide pill. General Wilhelm Burgsdorf had been Hitler’s chief adjutant and shot himself in the head.     

Following the death of Hitler, his successor Donitz became the new Head of State and on the 4^th May 1945 he ordered all U-boats to cease operations.

Allied British Field Marshall Sir Bernard Mongomery had established his headquarters at Luneburg south of Hamburg, by the 4^th May 1945. Montgomery, on the 5^th May 1945, accepted the unconditional surrender of German troops in the Netherlands, Denmark, northwest Germany and Norway.

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Two separate concentration camps were liberated on the 4^th/5^th May 1945. Neuengamme concentration camp, south-east of Hamburg on the 4^th May 1945. More than 85 satellite camps made up the Neuengamme complex. During the last few weeks of April 1945, the SS Nazi guards began to evacuate the prisoners and themselves to other destinations by any means available. When the first British soldiers arrived on the 4^th May 1945, they found a barren and clear site. They then reported the site was “empty”.

Further south, located through Upper Austria and southern Germany, was Mauthausen and over 100 satellite concentration camps. Of all the Nazi concentration camps, Mauthausen was one of the harshest and most severe. The Nazis had been performing horrific scientific experiments on the prisoners. By the 3^rd May 1945 the SS and guards were preparing for evacuation. When on the 5^th May1945 the U.S. Army liberated Mauthausen most of the SS and guards had fled. Exact numbers of prisoners are unknown as most of the records were destroyed by the Nazis but on the day of liberation approximately 85,000 were still alive. Mauthausen was one of the first massive concentration camps in Nazi Germany and the last to be liberated by the Allies.

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In the Netherlands, on the 5^th May 1945, German troops had unconditionally surrendered to Allies. There remained however, to the western part of the country, some occupying German troops. On the 7^th May 1945, whilst waiting for the Canadians to arrive to disarm the Germans, thousands of citizens gathered on the Dam in central Amsterdam to celebrate the end of the war and welcome the Allied soldiers. Residing in the Groote Club (Great Club) building on the corner of the Dam and Kalverstraat were German soldiers. Two German soldiers were arrested by local forces but one refused to surrender his weapons. The arrested soldier fired a shot and German soldiers appeared in the windows, on the balcony and roof of the Groote Club and started firing machine guns into the celebrating crowds. On the Dam square large-scale panic broke out but most of the crowd were able to disperse safely. Lasting about two hours after the initial shots, local resistance forces and the Germans began to exchange fire. The commander of the local forces persuaded a German officer to join him in entering the Groote Club and order the German soldiers to cease fire. Until the Canadian troops arrived on the 9^th May 1945, the Germans remained at the Groote Club. When the Canadian’s liberated Amsterdam the Germans were taken into custody. No official list of casualties exist because the shooting was never investigated. Local newspapers estimated there were 25/30 civilian fatalities and 100/120 wounded.

Austria at the outbreak of war in 1939 was generally recognised as part of Germany. With Germany/Austria facing total defeat, the Allies liberated Austria on the 27^th April 1945. The Austrian democratic constitution was reinstated which paved the way for a new federal government later in the year.  On the 7^th May 1945, two rogue German planes strafed the liberating U.S. 8^th Division and the resulting return fire were the last shots fired by U.S. troops in Europe.

In London, on the nightshift of the 7th May 1945, Muriel Hall was on duty as a Reuter’s war operative. Muriel had been recruited in mid-1944 by Reuters from the Royal Signals because of her “teleprinting” skills. After the unconditional surrender by Germany, an immediate embargo was imposed but someone in America broke the embargo that the war in Europe was over. It was imperative for Reuter’s that an announcement was forwarded to all relevant parties. Muriel was passed the message to forward the announcement to all concerned. The announcement stated the following: “19.41pm. London Monday tomorrow will be VE day Europe full stop. Churchill ET King will broadcast – Reuter”. After forwarding the message, she continued to work through the night until approximately 8.00 am. She left the office and walked along Fleet Street toward Trafalgar Square along with everybody else. She noticed that people were mostly silent on that journey.  Gradually, upon hearing that Churchill stated the King would be making a speech at 9.00 pm., the people began dancing and singing suspecting the war was over. As she already knew the war was over, Muriel went home.

Taking place at Allied head-quarters at Reims in northeast France, the Alles were aware of German readiness to negotiate for peace. Back in Berlin, Donitz was fully aware the European war was lost and he began negotiations with the Alles for an unconditional surrender on the 7th May 1945. The documents were duly signed on the 8th May 1945, with signatures by representatives for Germany, Britain, America and France in attendance. The Soviet Union signed but later disputed the date.   

8th May ’45 – VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY, (VE-Day)

Officially, VE-Day began at one minute after midnight following Reuter’s announcement. The civil population started to realise the war in Europe had been won as the news began to filter through. The scenes of the celebrations in London on VE -Day have gone down in history. Thousands of people were massed in Trafalgar Square, The Mall and finally at Buckingham Palace. The rejoicing crowds began to chant “We want the King. We want the King”. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth accompanied by their daughters and Prime Minister Churchill appeared on the balcony before the cheering crowds. Going from the palace to the Ministry of Health in Whitehall, Churchill gave his famous “V for Victory” sign when he addressed another large crowd at 3.00pm. His message was: “God bless you all. This is your victory. In our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, have done their best”.  He reminded the crowds, that although the War in Europe was won, there were still the Japanese to defeat in the Pacific. During the course of the day VE-Day the 8th May 1945 was declared a public holiday. At 9.00pm the King made his radio broadcast to the nation. The beginning of the broadcast began with the words: “As your King I thank, with a full heart, those who bore arms so valiantly on land or sea or in the air and all civilians who shouldering their many burdens have carried them unflinchingly without complaint”. King George VI was a shy man and since childhood had struggled with a stammer. Over the course of the war he demonstrated a strength of character and became a symbol of courage and inspiration to the nation. The people were inspired by the King and had readily taken him into their hearts. Later in the day permission had been granted to the two princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, to wander incognito among the crowds to take part in the celebrations. They were discreetly accompanied by members of security forces. After the Reuter’s broadcast the previous evening on the BBC, similar celebrations took place the length and breadth of Britain. In many areas huge bonfires had been lit, with numerous effigies of Hitler burned in the fires. Also, In Paris, huge celebrations along The Champs-Elysees had the rejoicing citizens partying, singing and dancing.

In the United States President Truman dedicated the victory to Franklin Roosevelt, who had died on the 12th April 1945. Flags remained at half- mast for the 30-day mourning period. New York’s Times Square was one of many American cities to celebrate the victory. On their 15.00 hrs radio broadcasts on the 8th May 1945, both Truman and Churchill had informed the respective citizens that the “victory was only half won”.

The Soviet Union signed Germany’s unconditional surrender on the 7^th May 1945. The terms of the surrender stated that the ceasefire would commence at 23.01 on the 8^th May1945, Central European Time (CET). Due to the time zone difference between Moscow and the CET the Soviet Union, from Moscow, announced the war in Europe ended on the 9^th May 1945allies , Moscow Time. 

The British Channel Islands were invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany  on the 30^th June 1940 and had imposed harsh conditions on the citizens. When the Germans signed the unconditional surrender on the 8^th May 1945, the islanders were informed by the German authorities the war was over. Two separate Royal Navy destroyers arrived off the coast of Guernsey at approximately 14.00 hrs on the 8^th May 1944. They were met by a German minesweeper and a junior officer came on board HMS Bulldog, but only to negotiate surrender terms. The officer was handed details of the surrender terms and he departed. Both British ships also departed as the general ceasefire did not apply until midnight.  The two ships returned to the same position off Guernsey after receiving a message from the Germans they agreed to a meeting at midnight on the 8^th/9^th May 1945. The German second-in-command, on board a minesweeper, met with HMS Bulldog and adjourned to the wardroom. He agreed to the unconditional surrender terms when asked. The Guernsey documents were signed on HMS Bulldog. The two ships slowly sailed round the coast and anchored off St. Peter Port. Leaving Bulldog behind, a British officer transferred to HMS Beagle and sailed on to Jersey arriving at 10.00 hrs. Eventually, the Jersey surrender documents were signed at 14.00 hrs on board HMS Beagle. Both Royal Navy ships had copies of the unconditional surrender documents in case the German officer signing the documents did not have the authority to sign for both islands. British liberating forces landed on Jersey and Guernsey shortly after. Similar British liberations were taking place throughout the remainder of the Channel Islands.

German Troops surrendered to the Red Army on two separate occasions. The first was on the 9^th May 1945 on the Danish island of Bornholm. The second was on the 11^th May 1945 in Czechoslovakia.

Heinrich Himmler was a leading, and one of the most powerful, members of the German Nazi Party. After Hitler’s birthday “celebrations”, Himmler left Berlin and attempted to negotiate a peace agreement with the Allies. Hitler immediately ordered for Himmler to be arrested. Himmler fled to escape justice by the Allies. He attempted to go into hiding after his former comrades rejected him and was also hunted by the Allies. Himmler had not arranged any escape plans other than the fact he carried a forged paybook of a German sergeant. Without a destination in mind, Himmler and two aides travelled south until on the 21^st May 1945 they were stopped at a checkpoint in Bremervorde. By the time they were stopped Himmler was disguised as the German sergeant. On the 23^rd May 1945, he was taken to the British Civilian Interrogation Centre near Luneburg. British military intelligence had noticed that Himmer’s identity papers had been seen before by fleeing members of the S.S. Himmler was searched after admitting who he was, whilst being routinely interrogated. He was medically examined by a doctor who failed to open Himmler’s mouth. Himmler bit into a hidden cyanide pill and died within fifteen minutes. Shortly after Himmler’s body was buried in an unmarked grave whose location remains unknown.   

On the 2^nd May 1945, Donitz, as Head of State, with Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk as Leading Minister, formed a government referred to as the “Flensburg Government”. The government relocated to Flensburg in northern Germany near the Danish border, hence the reference to the “Flensburg Government”. Including Donitz there were eleven cabinet members which included one prominent Nazi leader in Albert Speer. On the 23^rd May 1945 the government was dissolved when British troops occupied and arrested the ministers as POWs. To ensure no members of the government escaped by sea, two Royal Navy destroyers were deployed in the Flensburg Fjord.

(Pacific – British and Commonwealth)

During the Burma Campaign, British and Anglo-Indian forces made a successful airborne and amphibious attack on the Rangoon River, and minesweepers cleared the river of mines. The Indian 26^th Division began the amphibious attack on both banks of the river on the 2^nd May 1945. Expecting stiff resistance they were surprised to find the Japanese had abandoned Rangoon several days earlier, and the liberation of Rangoon was achieved.

In New Guinea, Australian troops began the invasion in November 1944. The defending Japanese had been driven from the coastline inland into the jungle region. On the 11^th May 1945, Wewak airfield had been surrounded and captured. It was during this attack that Private Edward Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross for attacking several Japanese bunkers. By the 15^th May 1945 the Australians began a “mopping-up” operation for the Aitape-Wewak campaign. The battle ended in August 1945 when offensive operations were halted as the Japanese government had begun discussions for a possible surrender.

Again, during the final days of the Burma Campaign, five destroyers of the British Royal Navy engaged overnight, in what was left of the Imperial Japanese Navy, on the 15^th/16^th May 1945. The resulting engagement culminated into the Battle of Malacca Strait. The Royal Navy was alerted, by the enemy’s decrypted Japanese naval signal, that the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro, escorted by destroyer Kamikaze, was heading for the Strait. In the early hours of the 16^th May 1945, positioning into a crescent the five Royal Navy destroyers awaited the arrival of the Japanese ships. The resulting Battle of Malacca Straits was that Haguro was sunk and Kamikaze damaged with 927 Japanese sailors killed. Royal Navy casualties were, two killed, three wounded and one destroyer damaged.

(Pacific – America)

The Battle of Okinawa was the largest, bloodiest and last major battle in the Pacific war. When the joint U.S. and Allied troops launched the amphibious landings on the 1^st. April 1945 they were mostly unopposed. The Japanese refused to fight on the beaches and to force a battle of attrition they withdrew into caves in the rocky hills. Both sides sustained huge casualties. In the waters around Okinawa the Japanese had a major success when, on the 5^th May 1945, they launched the largest kamikaze attack against the Allied ships. Twenty-six Allied ships were sunk and a further 168 severely damaged when Japanese planes, flown by kamikaze pilots, deliberately flew into the ships. During the Battle of Okinawa approximately 40% of the Allied casualties were sailors lost in these attacks.

Nagoya is a city near the southern coast of Japan. Located west of Tokyo and east of Hiroshima, Nagoya’s Mitsubishi factory manufactured Japanese aircraft. With the exception of Tokyo, Nagoya was the most heavily bombed city. On the 14^th and 16^th May 1945 large scale precision air raids and firebombing attacked the Mitsubishi factory and surrounding war industries. Also hit and burned down was the national treasure, Nagoya Castle. From mid-December 1944 to the end of July 1945 there were 21 separate attacks, dropping over 400,000 tons of bombs, on Nagoya. Nearly half a million citizens were left homeless as a consequence.

(Other Theatres)

The Fu-Go balloon bomb was an Imperial Japanese incendiary balloon weapon designated to attack the USA and blown by the fast high altitude air crents across the Pacific. Each balloon was a hydrogen filled paper balloon, 33 feet (10 m) in diameter and fitted with an incendiary device. Over 9,000 balloons were launched by the Imperial Japanese Army from sites off coastal Honshu beginning the 3^rd November 1944. The last was launched on the 20^th April 1945, of which approximately 300 reached the American continent. The balloons were a complete failure except for one that landed in Bly, Oregon on the 5^th May 1945. Reverend Mitchell and his pregnant wife Elsie drove to Fremont National Forest for a picnic. Accompanying them were five Sunday school students. Elsie and the children discovered a balloon and carriage on the ground, while Reverend Mitchell parked the car. By being disturbed the on-board anti-personnel bomb exploded, instantly killing four boy students. Elsie and another girl student died later of wounds. The incident was hushed up at the time but in 1950 the Mitchell Monument was built on the site of the explosion.

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