One of the most revered holidays in Russia is Victory Day. As you know, it is celebrated on May 9th. As it turned out, not everywhere. In Europe, the holiday of victory over fascism and finding peace is celebrated on May 8.
Historical background
There is a historical basis for this. On May 7, 1945 in France in the city of Reims, General of the American Army Walter Bedell Smith, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Front in Europe, Eisenhower, and Soviet General Ivan Susloparov signed the "Act of Germany's unconditional surrender" with the German command, which was to enter into force on May 8 at 23.01 Central European Time. At this time, bloody battles were still going on in the East, and almost a week remained before the liberation of the Czech Republic.
The representative of the Soviet military mission, Susloparov, was asked to read the text of the surrender and sign it on behalf of the Soviet government. The signing was scheduled for 2 hours 30 minutes. May 7. Ivan Susloparov sent the text of the Act with a dispatch to Moscow. However, by the appointed time, he did not receive any answer. He had to take responsibility for himself and sign the "Act of Germany's unconditional surrender." However, the Soviet general added a note, according to which another, more perfect, surrender document could later be signed, if any of the allied states announced it.
The next day, May 8, at Stalin's insistence, the Act was ratified by all parties involved in Berlin. At the time when Zhukov and the allies finished the paperwork, the next day came in Soviet time - May 9th. In the USSR, such an important holiday for the Soviet people was fixed on May 9, the date of the official signing of the Act. The treaty signed on May 7 is commonly referred to as the "Provisional Act of Germany's surrender."
In Europe, this event is timed to coincide with May 8, because on this day, in 1945, thousands of people learned that fascism had been defeated, took to the streets and celebrated.
V-E Day
In Europe, the celebration of Victory Day is no longer on such a scale as it was in the first years after the war. Reconstructions of hostilities, panoramas, exhibitions of old military weapons are already practically not satisfied.
Germany was no exception in the Victory Day celebrations. The holiday is also celebrated on May 8, but it has the official name "Day of Liberation from National Socialism and the end of World War II in Europe." Modern Germany does not consider itself the successor of the Nazi state, therefore, on this day, wreath-laying takes place at the monument to the Liberators.
In 2005, the UN General Assembly decided to consider May 8 and 9 as Days of Mourning and Reconciliation. These days are dedicated to the memories of those who gave their lives for the sake of peace on earth.
