VE Day celebrations in Toronto, Ont., May 1945. Photo : National Film Board

VE Day, 8 May 1945

On April 30, 1945, Hitler committed suicide. On May 5, German forces in North-West Europe surrendered. Victory in Europe, or VE, Day was officially celebrated three days later.

In Germany, where the Canadian Army fought right to the last day, soldiers were too relieved to celebrate very much. In Paris and London, Canadians joined people in the streets in an outpouring of emotion. In Toronto, thousands danced in the streets while three Mosquito aircraft dropped tickertape overhead.

Most Canadian cities and towns held religious services of thanksgiving. Frustrations built up after years of wartime controls and rationing led to riots and looting in some places, but nowhere else on the scale of those in Halifax ( see The Halifax VE Day Riots ). The war was not yet over - the war with Japan was still underway - but the major threat of Nazi Germany had ended.

Related Newspaper Articles

English Articles

• VE-Day Plans
  The Globe and Mail, 04/05/1945
   
• Carnival of Joy Loosed As Toronto Celebrates European Victory News
  The Globe and Mail, 08/05/1945
   
• War Factories Receive News Jubilantly, Sanely
  The Globe and Mail, 08/05/1945
   
• New Waterford Riot Scene as Ilsley Reaches Halifax
  The Hamilton Spectator, 11/05/1945
   
• Ontario Soldier Tried On Charges of Mutiny
  The Globe And Mail, 18/08/1945
   

French Articles

• La reddition de l'Allemagne est imminente
  Le Devoir, 04/05/1945
   
• "L'Allemagne s'est rendue sans conditions aux Alliés occidentaux et à la Russie, dans une école de France "
  Le Devoir, 07/05/1945
   
• La nouvelle de la reddition totale se répand comme une trainée de poudre
  Le Devoir, 07/05/1945
   
• MM. Churchill et Truman annoncent la victoire en Europe
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• Le roi félicite Eisenhower
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• La victoire proclamée officiellement de Londres et Washington
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• Aujourd'hui est le "Jour V-E"
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• "Te Deum" chanté par Son Eminence
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• La victoire aux Trois-Rivières
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• La fin des hostilités acceuilli avec joie
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• Message officiels d'Ottawa pour le jour de la victoire
  Le Devoir, 08/05/1945
   
• Le Souverain Pontif réaffirme les conditions du paix durable. La reddition ratifiée à Berlin la nuit dernière
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Message officiels du jour de la victoire
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Le message de Sa Sainteté
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Message de M. Molotov pour le jour V.-E.
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Réaction sur la capitulation. À travers le monde
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Le duc de Windsor ira en Angleterre
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Faits divers. Incidents en marge de la fête de la victoire
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Cérémonie religieuse s pour la victoire
  Le Devoir, 12/05/1945
   
• Staline fête la victoire
  Le Devoir, 25/05/1945