It Was 60 Years Ago Today

In a schoolhouse in Rheims, France, at 2:41 a.m. on May 7, 1945, the deal was signed, and warring parties in Europe agreed to end the war at 11:o1 p.m. on May 8 and declare Victory in Europe Day as May 9. Journalists leaked the story (natch) and celebrations began spreading across Europe 60 years ago today.

Quaint: In Toronto, the City Council had to act quickly to pass a law allowing wives to kiss their returning soldier husbands in public.

Ribald: "During the night there were at least 50 young ladies emulating Eros, and they had the biggest crowd in the world to watch them ..." Jeff Robinson, an Aussie Airman, on the scene in Piccadilly Circus.

Confused: May 7, 8 and 9th all are celebrated as V.E. day. Western Europe officially does it on the 8th (although many still remember the celebrations on the 7th). Russia sticks to the official date of the 9th ... but then it was already the 9th in Russia when it was 11:01 p.m. on the 8th in the rest of Europe.

Dangerous: On May 8th, two U.S. destroyers were damaged by Kamikaze planes in the Pacific. Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Victory in Japan Day were still more than three months away.

h/t OC Register