Traditionally, the Victory Day over Nazism in Western countries is celebrated on may 8. As a rule, the holiday is celebrated with parades and events, but this year because of the pandemic, had to cancel all public events. However, in different countries of the West have come up with different mechanisms in order not to disregard the Victory, but not subjected to unnecessary hazards residents of these countries.
United Kingdom: spotlight on Portsmouth
For Britain, the Victory day over Nazi Germany is one of the most important holidays of the year. Despite the fact that all public events had to be cancelled, the British authorities figured out how to celebrate this holiday in conditions of isolation. Celebrations began on the morning of 8 may, when in Westminster, the speaker of the house of Commons sir Lindsay Hoyle laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. At 11 a.m. local time was imposed nationwide, the “two minutes silence” in memory of those who never returned from the war.
In Britain it was decided to “reconstruct” the victory Day as it was in 1945. At 14:45 on local television decided to broadcast Churchill’s speech, which announced the victory over Germany – at this time 75 years ago, the British Prime Minister announced the end of the war and congratulated their fellow citizens. After Churchill’s speech at three o’clock local time, the British offered a toast “For those who gave so much. We thank you!”.
After the “reconstruction” of 1945 continues with a live TV concert with songs of the war years. The British offered to sing along with the artists to create the images of national performance. The highlight of the concert – performance of popular WWII song “We’ll meet again” – hymn of hope that all troubles will pass. These words – “we’ll meet again” – sounded in the address of the Queen to the British in March in connection with the pandemic coronavirus.
And how, exactly 75 years ago to the nation on the radio asked king George VI to mark the victory over Nazi Germany, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II in the evening will deliver an address in honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of world war II in Europe.
And still the memory of war in the skies over many cities will fly the heirs of the heroes of “battle of Britain” – modern pilots. And the sky over Portsmouth will be covered by floodlights – as more than 75 years ago.
Berlin: festival for the first time in the history
In Germany the attitude to the Victory Day over Nazism particular. May 9 there has never been a national holiday, largely due to the fact that the country was divided, and ideological barrier prevented reaching agreement.
In the West was often dominated by the sentiment that this is not a Day onZisman, and day of defeat and division of Germany. Because many this holiday even ignored – the only national holiday was considered October 3: day of the reunification of the GDR and the FRG.
But this year, may 8 was recognized as an official state holiday, albeit only on the territory of the capital of Berlin.
the Idea to make this day filed a 95-year-old Esther Bejarano, the woman who survived the Holocaust. She wrote a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the petition to make this day a national holiday was signed by 100 thousand Germans.
While throughout Germany there is a debate about the proposal Bejarano, the authorities of the capital has already passed a law that recognizes this day as a state holiday.
“we are Talking about protecting the principles of democracy,” said an active supporter of the celebration of the victory over Nazism Moritz van Dülmen. The slogan of the celebration was the reminder that Hitler was democratically came to power: “In the beginning was the vote. The vote led to such results.”
Despite the fact that on may 8 never admitted a public holiday across the country held events dedicated to the memory of those killed in the war. Because of the coronavirus, some of them had to cancel. However, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier laid a wreath at the Memorial to the victims of war and tyranny. Similar ceremonies were also held in many other cities of Germany.
France surrendered to the EU
In France, Victory Day was not celebrated always – it so happened that it nearly coincides with another important holiday for this country: 9 may the French celebrate the Day of Integration (the anniversary of the country’s accession to the EU). This decision was made by President valéry Giscard d’estaing in 1975. However, in 1981 following President Francois Mitterrand regained celebration “in memory of 400 thousands of French killed during the war.”
this year there were disturbing rumors – newspaper the Local reported that, according to them, the President Makron is planning to cancel the holiday, in order to save money in a crisis. Then we discussed the merging of the holidays of 8 and 9 may under the auspices of a single Europe Day. However, these rumors were groundless – the Day of victory over Nazism in France remained a public holiday.
this year, the French authorities have decided to seriously reduce the celebration. Because of the coronavirus, canceled the parade on the Champs Elysees, also not be the traditional festivities on the place de l’etoile.
in General, all events will be held in high-safety mode – but nevertheless, they will be held. President Makron with a small group of officials (including its predecessors – France�� Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy) laid wreaths at the monument to Charles de Gaulle, and held the traditional ceremony of lighting the eternal flame at the Tomb of the unknown soldier.
