Double dealing?

Mostbritishciviliansassumed the war in Europe was over when they heard the Lunenburg Heath ceremony on the BBC in which Field Marshall Montgomery accepted the surrender of the representative of the new Fuehrer, Admiral Doenitz, at 18:30 on 4 May, 1945.

The US and Russia were furious and insisted another surrender take place. The day chosen was 8 May (President Truman’s birthday). Churchill agreed, so in a second ceremony in Berlin, poor old Field Marshall Keitel was trotted out to surrender again.

It became a total shambles when a midnight cease fire was chosen – 1am on 9 May in Russia. So the USSR continued to celebrate 9 May as VE Day until the Berlin Wall came down –but I suspect so much beer was consumed no-one minded.

(REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews