70 Years Later: V-E Day

May 8 is the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, when the Germans surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II in Europe. Not many veterans are still around to celebrate, but it is still important. Here are some titles that help us remember.

The Day the War Ended by Martin Gilbert follows the last day of the war in the European theater, hour by hour and location by location. It follows the common people who fought as well as the generals and statesmen. It also uses the various locations and people to show how we got the world we have today.

May 8 is celebrated as V-E Day, but the papers were actually signed on May 7, 1945. The Allies let a small number of journalists witness the signing, trying to keep the event under military embargo. One journalist, Ed Kennedy, knew the news was too big to keep, and told the world. Ed Kennedy's War tells the story of the consequences of his actions, including being vilified in rival newspapers and getting fired. This book also deals with Kennedy's earlier life, covering his assignments as a war reporter, including the Spanish Civil War.

Of course, if you want to know how it felt at home, there are a variety of sources to choose from. There's the announcement in the Chicago Tribune and another in the Chicago Defender, available in the Chicago Tribune Historical Archive and the Chicago Defender Historical Archive, respectively.

Memories? Stories? Thoughts? Please use the comment section below.