Bunting, Bunting Everywhere! By Tracey Vale

"German armed forces surrendered unconditionally on May 7. Hostilities in Europe ended officially at midnight, May 8. 1945. Yesterday morning at 2:41 a.m. at Headquarters, General Jodl, the representative of the German High Command, and Grand Admiral Doenitz, the designated head of the German State, signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea, and air forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force, and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command," the distinctive voice of Winston Churchill boomed into our home, decreeing the news we had all waited so long, while we endured so much, to hear.

The signing of unconditional surrender, which took place in Rheims, was not accepted by the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, who insisted on it's ratification the following day in Berlin.

We continued to listen to Churchill as he went on to say, broadcast from the House of Commons, "....Today, this agreement will be ratified and confirmed at Berlin, where Air Chief Marshal Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, and General de Lattre de Tassigny will sign on behalf of General Eisenhower. Marshal Zhukov will sign on behalf of the Soviet High Command. The German representatives will be Field-Marshal Keitel, Chief of the High Command and the Commanders-in- Chief of the German Army, Navy, and Air Forces.

"Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight, Tuesday, May 8, but in the interests of saving lives, the 'Cease Fire' began yesterday to be sounded all along the front, and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today. The Germans are still in places resisting the Russian troops, but should they continue to do so after midnight they will, of course, deprive themselves of the protection of the laws of war and will be attacked from all quarters by the Allied troops. It is not surprising that on such long fronts and in the existing disorder of the enemy, the orders of the German High Command should not in every case be obeyed immediately. This does not, in our opinion, with the best military advice at our disposal, constitute any reason for withholding from the nation the facts communicated to us by General Eisenhower of the unconditional surrender already signed at Rheims, nor should it prevent us from celebrating today and tomorrow, Wednesday, as Victory in Europe days.

"Today, perhaps, we shall think mostly of ourselves. Tomorrow we shall pay a particular tribute to our Russian comrades, whose prowess in the field has been one of the grand contributions to the general victory.

"The German war is therefore at an end. After years of intense preparation, Germany hurled herself on Poland at the beginning of September, 1939 and, in pursuance of our guarantee to Poland and in agreement with the French Republic, Great Britain, the British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations, declared war upon this foul aggression. After gallant France had been struck down we, from this Island and from our united Empire, maintained the struggle single-handed for a whole year until we were joined by the military might of Soviet Russia, and later by the overwhelming power and resources of the United States of America.

"Finally, almost the whole world was combined against the evil-doers, who are now prostrate before us. Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this Island and throughout the British Empire.

"We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injury she has inflicted on Great Britain, the United States, and other countries, and her detestable cruelties, call for justice and retribution. We must now devote all our strength and resources to the completion of our task, both at home and abroad. Advance, Britannia! Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King!"

Crowds gathered around major monuments, which were to be specially lit for the occasion, as well as in Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square and at Buckingham Palace, rejoicing the end of the dark days. Effigies of Hitler were built in record time and burnt on bonfires sprinkled around the country.

We were the first in our street to decorate. Mum and I became industrious in the backyard with buckets and tubs of red and blue dye. We dyed old sheets and tablecloths, pegged them up to dry, then cut them into squares and triangles. These were evenly-spaced and sewn onto thin rope to form a few hundred metres of bunting. Once ready, we strung this from an upstairs bedroom window, across our front garden to the house across the street. From there, we zigzagged down the street to the upstairs bedroom window of Mrs. Mason, who lived above the corner shop. It was a major feat! I thought it looked magnificent and was caught up, as we all were, in the air of celebration and excitement.

Dad's contribution was to make models of spitfires and warships, to be displayed in front of a painted scene. When he was finished, this was displayed in the bay window of our front room, complemented by an array of spotlights in direct contrast to the black-out curtains we had already removed. People came to look and admire his work, standing on the footpath outside our front garden, pointing out particular parts to small, wide-eyed children. I felt so proud.

Then, came the street parties. They were everywhere. I had never danced and sung so much as in those days following the announcement of Victory in Europe!

Sometimes, a piano was wheeled into the street and Miss Hand would accompany me in my entertainment efforts. If a piano was not available, Isabel provided Charlie Kunz records to substitute. I was taken to Stourport, where relatives lived, to entertain in their street parties. I danced on top of tables or on make-shift stages. It was exhausting and I began to feel 'partied out'.

But, the war was over! I couldn't wait to taste real ice-cream instead of the substitute concoction made from cornflour. The thought of lights in the streets and shop windows spurred Jean and I to run to the nearest main road for the big 'Switch On'. Alas, our shoulders slumped with the disappointment as few of the lamps were working. We felt that Birmingham would be a better prospect and raced back home for permission to board the next bus. Sure enough, and to our immense excitement, many shop windows were lit. We were late arriving back home, despite being out alone at night, but this was accepted, such was the freedom of the times.

I was almost thirteen when the war ended. It was a pivotal time of change. It was a time when traditional education was only a small part of my life, with professional training and theatre vastly overtaking it in importance.