Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Cape papers capture the end of WWII
THE WAR against Japan had some months still to run in May 1945, but the fall of the Nazi Reich in Europe signalled the end of what has been described as the worst human disaster in history, a five-year global conflict that cost between 50 and 80 million lives.
A London Times editorial, reproduced in the Cape’s newspapers, said: “So passes to its just doom of ignominy and ruin the most monstrous dominion that pride, cruelty and lust of power have ever sought to impose upon the suffering millions of the nations.”
It’s little wonder there was global joy. May 8, 1945: World celebrates VE- Day – War in Europe ended. The war in Europe ended officially today.
The announcement for which the world has waited since the German mass sur- renders began last week was made simultaneously in London, Washington and Moscow this afternoon.
The world struggle has lasted five years and eight months.
The Acting Prime Minister, JH Hofmeyr, made the following announcement to the people of the Union and South-West Africa this afternoon“Official news has been received that agreement has been reached for the surrender of all German forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force and the Soviet High Command.
“The war in Europe has therefore ended in a complete and overwhelming victory for the Allies in which South Africa, by virtue of its contribution thereto, may fittingly rejoice.”
Mr (Winston) Churchill is expected to make his historic announcement later this afternoon.
At the same hour President (Harry) Truman and General (Charles) de Gaulle will make it to the American and French nations.
There is no official intimation of when it will be made by Marshal (Joseph) Stalin.
London started its celebrations yesterday afternoon and there were scenes of wild enthusiasm last night, with bonfires, dancing in the streets, and excited crowds outside Buckingham Palace and in Whitehall.
In Cape Town, artillerymen manning the coastal batteries at Cape Town, Simon’s Town and Saldanha Bay stood by to fire a victory salvo of 21 guns immediately after Mr Churchill’s pronouncement.