Victory in Europe-May 8th, 1945

GERMANY SURRENDERS! 

This is a solemn but glorious hour. I only wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day. General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the united nations. The flags of freedom fly all over Europe. 

-President Truman in his radio broadcast to America. 

It has been seventy-two years since this broadcast was first heard over the radio waves in America.  After four and a half years of fighting, Americans everywhere welcomed the news with great rejoicing. Hitler had been defeated. Europe was, once again, free. 

But that didn't mean things were over. In the pacific, the war with Japan raged on, showing no signs of slowing anytime soon. Many families had been torn apart by the war, and their boys in uniform would never come home.  Many had made the ultimate sacrifice, never living to see the day when they freedom they fought for became a reality.  

Yet, their sacrifice had not been in vain. Europe was freed from the iron fist of Hitler and the Nazi party. And even though it didn't mean the war was over, it was a cause for great rejoicing. The war in Europe had started over two years before the war in the Pacific. And when it started, it seemed as if Germany's win was inevitable. 

But he had been stopped. A few days before surrender, Hitler had committed suicide.  And the world had no more to fear from him. One by one the Nazi leaders either killed themselves, or were captured. 
The dawn of freedom was shining once again on the European countries that had been under the iron control of the Third Reich for over five years. 

"For the triumph of spirit and of arms which we have won, and for its promise to the peoples everywhere who join us in the love of freedom, it is fitting that we, as a nation, give thanks to Almighty God, who has strengthened us and given us the victory.
"Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day of prayer.
"I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won, and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the ways of peace.
"I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate the day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory.

-Taken from President Truman's broadcast

*All pictures taken from google images*

I pray we may never forget the sacrifice made for freedom. And may we keep a vigilant watch over it, so that we may never have cause to say "we lost our freedom."

America. The Land of the Free. And the Home of the Brave.