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[crowd cheering]
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Downloaded from
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[flowing music]
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Official YIFY movies site:
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[Winston Churchill]
This is your victory,
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victory
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of the cause of
freedom in every land.
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In all our long history,
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we have never seen a
greater day than this.
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Everyone,
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man or woman,
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has done their best.
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Everyone has tried,
none has quit.
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Neither the long
years, nor the dangers,
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nor the fierce
attacks of the enemy,
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have in any way weakened
the unbending resolve
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of the British nation.
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[crowd cheering]
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God bless you all.
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[crowd cheering]
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[calm music]
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[Narrator] Monday
morning in central London
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on May the 7th, 1945,
was overcast but dry.
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But, unlike previous Mondays
over the last five years,
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there seemed to be
more people around.
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Amongst the crowds
beginning to gather
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in Piccadilly Circus
and Trafalgar Square,
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thoughts of the dull spring
weather were set aside.
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News was coming through of
momentous events in Europe.
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00:02:09,336 --> 00:02:12,132
Ever since the US
and Russian forces
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had met at Torgau on the
river Elbe on April the 25th,
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it seemed the end of the war
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against Nazi Germany
was in sight.
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Over the last weeks of April,
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the news reels were
full of stories
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00:02:26,353 --> 00:02:29,149
documenting the collapse
of the Third Reich.
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00:02:30,736 --> 00:02:33,429
All German forces in
Italy had surrendered.
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The Red Army was fighting
its way through Berlin,
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street-by-street.
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As the last defenses crumbled,
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Hitler committed
suicide just before
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00:02:44,647 --> 00:02:48,582
the Red Army soldiers finally
smashed their way through
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00:02:48,582 --> 00:02:52,102
to raise the Soviet
Flag over the Reichstag,
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the German parliament building.
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To the north, British forces
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had crossed the
river Elbe as well
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and had gone on to
capture Hamburg,
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Germany's second city.
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00:03:05,875 --> 00:03:08,188
But on Monday, May the 7th,
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people up and down
Britain sensed that
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something momentous
was about to happen.
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After six years of sacrifice
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during which they
had been bombed,
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machine gunned, and starved,
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the British public knew
that the war must be over.
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The events in Europe
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at the beginning of May 1945
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start to move really quickly.
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On the first it's
announced to the world
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that Hitler is dead.
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Two days later, his successor,
Grand Admiral Doenitz
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sends a delegation to
Montgomery's headquarters
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00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:41,497
on Luneburg Heath, near Hamburg.
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Montgomery finds their
terms unacceptable
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and sends them away.
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They return the following day
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and that afternoon the
surrender is signed
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in Montgomery's tent.
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The end of the war in
Europe is drawing nearer.
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The German command
to carry out at once,
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and without argument or comment,
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all further orders
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that will be issued
by the Allied Powers
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on any subject.
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Disobedience of orders,
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or failure to comply with them,
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00:04:17,912 --> 00:04:21,640
will be regarded as a breach
of these surrender terms
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00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,849
and will be dealt with
by the Allied Powers
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00:04:25,057 --> 00:04:27,163
in accordance with
the accepted laws
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00:04:27,163 --> 00:04:29,890
and usages of war.
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00:04:29,890 --> 00:04:32,133
[Narrator] All across
Germany, the Reich,
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which was meant to
last a thousand years,
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began to crumble.
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German forces were laying
down their weapons.
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Sometimes individually.
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Other times, as whole divisions.
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They joined the
thousands of refugees
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already on the congested
roads across Germany,
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00:04:49,427 --> 00:04:52,499
as everyone sought
to flee to the West,
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away from the Soviet army.
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00:04:56,986 --> 00:04:58,988
General Dwight D. Eisenhower,
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00:04:58,988 --> 00:05:01,956
the Supreme Commander of
Allied Forces in Europe
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00:05:01,956 --> 00:05:05,201
realized that now was
the moment to press home
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00:05:05,201 --> 00:05:06,409
the advantage.
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00:05:07,824 --> 00:05:09,930
Eisenhower, concerned
that Germans
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were trying to drive
a wedge between
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00:05:11,483 --> 00:05:15,211
the Western Allies
and the Soviet Union,
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decreed that there
would no longer be
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anymore of these
partial surrenders.
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The only thing acceptable to him
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was a complete,
unconditional surrender
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of all German forces.
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[tense music]
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[Narrator] Over the weekend,
the German delegation
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arrived at the Allied
Headquarters in Reims
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in Northern France.
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Realizing that there was little
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that they had left
to negotiate with
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they signed the
Instrument of Surrender.
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As news of the signing of
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the Instrument of
Surrender in Reims spread,
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tens of thousands of Londoners
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00:06:02,638 --> 00:06:04,398
and people from
around the country
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00:06:04,398 --> 00:06:06,262
poured into Central London.
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00:06:07,539 --> 00:06:11,232
In Piccadilly Circus,
civilians, servicemen and women
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00:06:11,232 --> 00:06:13,442
filled the pavements and roads.
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Cars and buses
struggled to find a way
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00:06:15,961 --> 00:06:17,584
through the happy crowds.
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A column of students
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marched up and down the Strand
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before heading
off down Pall Mall
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towards Buckingham Palace.
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But there had been no
official announcement
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that the war in Europe
was really over.
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The Allied Force,
which invaded Europe
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on June 6th, 1944
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00:06:43,472 --> 00:06:45,646
has with it's great
Russian Allies
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00:06:45,646 --> 00:06:47,924
and forces advancing
from the South
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00:06:47,924 --> 00:06:51,549
utterly defeated the Germans
by land, sea and air.
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00:06:51,549 --> 00:06:53,205
This unconditional surrender
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00:06:53,205 --> 00:06:54,897
has been achieved by team work.
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Team work not only among
all the allies participating
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but among all the services,
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00:07:01,179 --> 00:07:02,422
land, sea and air.
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00:07:06,529 --> 00:07:09,705
[Narrator] Eisenhower's words,
however, proved premature.
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No sooner had the news of
the surrender reached Moscow,
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00:07:13,260 --> 00:07:16,021
then Stalin declared it void.
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The reality was,
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he wanted that document
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to be signed in the heart
of the enemy territory:
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Berlin.
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[Narrator] The ink on
the Surrender Documents
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was barely dry,
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00:07:34,212 --> 00:07:37,111
and already cracks were
beginning to appear
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00:07:37,111 --> 00:07:39,597
in the Allies' relationships.
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A new world order was emerging.
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[men speaking indistinctly]
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Despite the question
marks over the surrender,
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back in the United Kingdom,
everyone was waiting for
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00:08:34,341 --> 00:08:36,308
the official
announcement to be made.
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00:08:36,308 --> 00:08:39,035
That came at three
p.m. on the 8th of May.
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Britain's biggest party
was about to begin.
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[Narrator] An enormous
crowd now filled London.
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Some estimates put the figure
at around a million people.
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00:08:51,220 --> 00:08:53,049
Despite the size of the crowd,
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they waited patiently
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for Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
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to address the nation.
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At three p.m., his voice
filled the air once more.
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00:09:03,646 --> 00:09:06,338
[clock ringing]
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[Winston Churchill] Yesterday
morning, at 2:41 a.m.,
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00:09:20,836 --> 00:09:23,045
at General Eisenhower's
headquarters
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00:09:24,460 --> 00:09:29,154
General Jodl, the representative
of the German High Command,
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00:09:30,017 --> 00:09:32,502
and Grand Admiral Doenitz,
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00:09:32,502 --> 00:09:35,575
the designated head
of the German State,
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00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:40,959
signed the act of
unconditional surrender
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of all German land, sea,
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and air forces in Europe
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00:09:47,690 --> 00:09:50,831
to the Allied
Expeditionary Forces,
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00:09:50,831 --> 00:09:54,145
and simultaneously to
the Soviet High Command.
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Hostilities will end officially
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at one minute after
midnight tonight,
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Tuesday the 8th of May.
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00:10:05,259 --> 00:10:08,573
The German war is
therefore at an end.
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00:10:09,988 --> 00:10:14,614
We may allow ourselves a
brief period of rejoicing.
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Today is Victory in Europe Day.
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Advance Britannia.
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00:10:24,416 --> 00:10:27,627
Long live the cause of freedom.
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00:10:27,627 --> 00:10:29,490
God save the king.
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[crowd cheering]
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[Narrator] Now it was official.
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Although many people had
already started celebrating,
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the parties could
start in earnest.
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00:10:43,263 --> 00:10:45,161
As the celebrations began,
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00:10:45,161 --> 00:10:48,337
Churchill delivered his
speech again to Parliament,
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00:10:48,337 --> 00:10:50,650
before leading the
great and the good
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00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:54,136
to a short service
of thanksgiving in
Westminster Abbey.
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We decided we would
go up to London.
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We bought ourselves
what was called
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00:11:03,110 --> 00:11:05,285
a workman's ticket
in those days,
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00:11:05,285 --> 00:11:07,425
for one and six pence.
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00:11:07,425 --> 00:11:10,911
And, that was to bring
us back home at night.
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And then we had to sort of
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waste away the day a bit
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because all the celebrations
were going to be
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mainly in the evening.
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So, we went out by
public transport.
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We went to Gravesend on the bus.
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00:11:25,443 --> 00:11:28,032
And we went from Gravesend
to Dartford and so on.
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00:11:28,032 --> 00:11:30,724
Ended up on the
Embankment on a tram.
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00:11:30,724 --> 00:11:31,967
And then we were,
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I enjoyed the evening
in Trafalgar Square.
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It was unbelievable.
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It was a wonderful day.
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[crowd cheering]
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I had a brother who was
in the Tank Regiment
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00:11:42,356 --> 00:11:44,807
and was on holiday,
on leave I should say,
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00:11:44,807 --> 00:11:46,326
at that time.
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00:11:46,326 --> 00:11:49,087
And having had a motorbike,
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00:11:49,087 --> 00:11:52,677
he took me up to
Hammersmith Broadway
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where all the festivities
were taking place.
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It was an absolutely
joyous, carefree,
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00:12:02,583 --> 00:12:07,588
uninhibited display
of emotion and relief.
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00:12:08,175 --> 00:12:10,108
[calm music]
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00:12:15,010 --> 00:12:16,459
[Narrator] All over the country,
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00:12:16,459 --> 00:12:18,703
towns and villages celebrated
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00:12:18,703 --> 00:12:22,362
with hastily improvised
street parties and parades.
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00:12:30,957 --> 00:12:33,960
I was here, in Sevenoaks.
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00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,308
And like all children
I took part in the,
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00:12:38,309 --> 00:12:39,551
in the parades,
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00:12:39,551 --> 00:12:43,763
and a fancy dress on the
Vine Cricket Grounds.
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00:12:43,763 --> 00:12:46,248
We had quite a celebration.
223
00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:51,701
What I recall vividly is
two Spitfires appearing
224
00:12:51,701 --> 00:12:54,704
and doing a victory
roll over the ground.
225
00:12:54,704 --> 00:12:56,051
And we all cheered.
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00:12:56,051 --> 00:12:57,604
And off they went again
227
00:12:57,604 --> 00:12:59,779
presumably to Beacon Hill.
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00:13:00,780 --> 00:13:02,195
That was very exciting.
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00:13:02,195 --> 00:13:05,715
It was almost as if they were,
230
00:13:05,715 --> 00:13:06,993
they did it for us kids.
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00:13:20,903 --> 00:13:22,802
[Narrator] Thousands
of cheering people
232
00:13:22,802 --> 00:13:25,977
crammed themselves in
front of Buckingham Palace.
233
00:13:25,977 --> 00:13:28,428
Seven times King George VI,
234
00:13:28,428 --> 00:13:30,395
his wife and their
two daughters,
235
00:13:30,395 --> 00:13:32,777
the princesses
Elizabeth and Margaret,
236
00:13:32,777 --> 00:13:34,814
stepped out onto the balcony
237
00:13:34,814 --> 00:13:37,230
to acknowledge their cheers.
238
00:13:37,230 --> 00:13:39,301
[crowd cheering]
239
00:13:39,301 --> 00:13:42,373
The royal princesses were
even given permission
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00:13:42,373 --> 00:13:46,135
to go out in disguise and
join the celebrating crowds.
241
00:13:59,493 --> 00:14:03,014
Soldiers, sailors and
airmen were everywhere.
242
00:14:03,014 --> 00:14:04,913
But one sharp-eyed cameraman
243
00:14:04,913 --> 00:14:07,985
even spotted Hollywood
actor, David Niven,
244
00:14:07,985 --> 00:14:10,539
amongst the crowds
in London's West End.
245
00:14:12,437 --> 00:14:13,507
Emotion really,
246
00:14:15,475 --> 00:14:16,856
it wasn't until then really
247
00:14:16,856 --> 00:14:19,272
that I'd sort of appreciated
248
00:14:19,272 --> 00:14:23,241
what the local population
really thought about it all.
249
00:14:23,241 --> 00:14:25,865
Because they couldn't
do enough for you,
250
00:14:25,865 --> 00:14:27,418
in uniform, you know,
251
00:14:27,418 --> 00:14:30,904
if you went into a pub,
it never cost you a penny.
252
00:14:32,457 --> 00:14:35,495
Drinks were coming up
right, left and center.
253
00:14:35,495 --> 00:14:37,669
And if you walked along a street
254
00:14:37,669 --> 00:14:38,498
and there was a
street party going on
255
00:14:38,498 --> 00:14:40,362
then you were invited.
256
00:14:41,225 --> 00:14:42,985
It was great really.
257
00:14:42,985 --> 00:14:44,435
[Narrator] For a few hours
258
00:14:44,435 --> 00:14:47,921
people forgot about the
trauma of the last six years.
259
00:14:47,921 --> 00:14:50,406
Social constraints
were cast aside
260
00:14:50,406 --> 00:14:53,271
as everyone danced and sang.
261
00:14:53,271 --> 00:14:56,343
Pubs were given permission
to stay open longer.
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00:14:56,343 --> 00:14:59,243
And the dancehalls stayed
open until midnight.
263
00:15:00,623 --> 00:15:01,970
It may be surprising to know
264
00:15:01,970 --> 00:15:04,248
that beer wasn't
actually rationed
265
00:15:04,248 --> 00:15:07,492
although availability
was often restricted.
266
00:15:07,492 --> 00:15:09,494
Despite everything
that was going on
267
00:15:09,494 --> 00:15:11,980
on the other side
of the Channel,
268
00:15:11,980 --> 00:15:13,947
on the morning of
the 8th of May,
269
00:15:13,947 --> 00:15:16,950
Winston Churchill
still found the time
270
00:15:16,950 --> 00:15:19,228
to ensure that there was
enough beer available
271
00:15:19,228 --> 00:15:21,127
to fuel the party.
272
00:15:21,127 --> 00:15:23,888
[crowd cheering]
273
00:15:26,649 --> 00:15:29,342
When you go to drinking,
I was 17 at the time,
274
00:15:29,342 --> 00:15:31,275
but I had become a beer drinker.
275
00:15:32,276 --> 00:15:34,243
But, it was extraordinary
276
00:15:34,243 --> 00:15:39,248
and the fact that beer
seemed to be in free supply.
277
00:15:40,111 --> 00:15:41,319
But if you didn't have a glass
278
00:15:41,319 --> 00:15:42,631
you couldn't get a drink.
279
00:15:43,873 --> 00:15:46,152
Probably because
of the breakages
280
00:15:46,152 --> 00:15:48,223
that occurred during the war.
281
00:15:48,223 --> 00:15:49,741
So, if you,
282
00:15:49,741 --> 00:15:52,848
once you had a drink, you
kept hold of your glass
283
00:15:52,848 --> 00:15:55,333
to get the next one. [laughs]
284
00:15:56,438 --> 00:15:59,096
But the pubs, of
course, were crowded.
285
00:16:00,269 --> 00:16:03,100
You could hardly get
to the bar with people
286
00:16:04,825 --> 00:16:08,036
both before the war
ended and afterwards.
287
00:16:09,037 --> 00:16:11,832
[people singing]
288
00:16:14,456 --> 00:16:17,045
[bright music]
289
00:16:18,391 --> 00:16:21,049
[Narrator] News of the
surrender spread like wildfire
290
00:16:21,049 --> 00:16:22,533
all across Europe.
291
00:16:32,957 --> 00:16:35,753
In Paris, crowds
gathered in thanksgiving
292
00:16:35,753 --> 00:16:36,926
at the Arc de Triomphe.
293
00:16:44,693 --> 00:16:48,110
An armada of small
boats greeted King Olav
294
00:16:48,110 --> 00:16:50,250
returning from exile to Norway.
295
00:16:51,631 --> 00:16:55,186
Queen Wilhelmina of the
Netherlands also returned home
296
00:16:55,186 --> 00:16:56,739
where many of her subjects
297
00:16:56,739 --> 00:16:59,121
had endured a terrible famine
298
00:16:59,121 --> 00:17:01,296
in the last months of the war.
299
00:17:01,296 --> 00:17:05,024
And Brussels too, was the
scene of wild celebrations
300
00:17:05,024 --> 00:17:09,442
as the last symbols of Nazi
occupation were cast aside.
301
00:17:10,788 --> 00:17:14,412
Well I was on the
airfield in Brussels,
302
00:17:14,412 --> 00:17:16,587
which is now their airport, and
303
00:17:18,382 --> 00:17:19,797
most people had already gone
304
00:17:19,797 --> 00:17:21,178
down to the headquarters
305
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:24,146
for various reasons.
306
00:17:24,146 --> 00:17:26,390
And I got a telephone
call saying,
307
00:17:26,390 --> 00:17:29,565
"You better come to
Group Headquarters."
308
00:17:31,050 --> 00:17:34,570
So I rang up MT and
said I need a vehicle.
309
00:17:34,570 --> 00:17:36,400
And they said, "We
haven't got one.
310
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,435
"They're all out."
311
00:17:38,885 --> 00:17:40,266
And then they came back
to me a few minutes later
312
00:17:40,266 --> 00:17:43,372
and said, "We've got
a 1,500 white truck."
313
00:17:43,372 --> 00:17:46,444
So I said, "All right,
I'll have that."
314
00:17:47,376 --> 00:17:49,033
So I took this little truck
315
00:17:50,379 --> 00:17:53,279
and drove through Brussels
to the headquarters,
316
00:17:53,279 --> 00:17:55,281
which was in the old
Cavalry Barracks.
317
00:17:56,661 --> 00:17:58,836
And the first time I
stopped to the crossroads
318
00:17:58,836 --> 00:17:59,940
or lights or whatever,
319
00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:02,909
the back filled
up with Belgians.
320
00:18:04,393 --> 00:18:06,154
And every time I
stopped, some got out
321
00:18:06,154 --> 00:18:08,604
and more got in. [laughs]
322
00:18:08,604 --> 00:18:10,468
And they're all cheering
and jumping up and down
323
00:18:10,468 --> 00:18:15,266
and waving handkerchiefs
and having a marvelous time.
324
00:18:15,266 --> 00:18:19,615
And then when I eventually
pulled into the headquarters,
325
00:18:19,615 --> 00:18:22,998
they all got out and
said thank you very much.
326
00:18:22,998 --> 00:18:24,758
Quite remarkable, really.
327
00:18:24,758 --> 00:18:27,727
Then I went in and did
whatever I had to do
328
00:18:27,727 --> 00:18:29,108
and walked into the mess
329
00:18:29,108 --> 00:18:31,731
and there was a little
bit of a party going on.
330
00:18:32,939 --> 00:18:35,459
[Narrator] In Britain,
the 8th and 9th of May
331
00:18:35,459 --> 00:18:37,633
were declared public holidays.
332
00:18:37,633 --> 00:18:40,636
But the celebrations were
to continue for weeks
333
00:18:40,636 --> 00:18:43,432
as thousands of soldiers,
sailors and airmen
334
00:18:43,432 --> 00:18:45,193
returned to their families.
335
00:18:47,402 --> 00:18:51,302
Well the end of the
war was a great relief
336
00:18:51,302 --> 00:18:53,270
to me and my father
337
00:18:53,270 --> 00:18:57,998
because we had spent the
war in England, in London
338
00:18:57,998 --> 00:18:59,759
whereas my brothers and
339
00:19:02,348 --> 00:19:05,592
brother-in-laws were
all in the Forces.
340
00:19:05,592 --> 00:19:08,837
So it was a great
relief to see that
341
00:19:08,837 --> 00:19:10,494
they'd all come home
342
00:19:10,494 --> 00:19:13,117
with the exception
of my eldest brother
343
00:19:13,117 --> 00:19:16,155
who had died on the HMS Eagle
344
00:19:17,363 --> 00:19:19,158
in the Java Seas.
345
00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:22,644
The most cheering
sound was the parades
346
00:19:22,644 --> 00:19:24,232
through the town.
347
00:19:24,232 --> 00:19:26,475
They seemed to happen
every Sunday, you know,
348
00:19:26,475 --> 00:19:29,098
every so often there
was another parade.
349
00:19:29,098 --> 00:19:33,137
And on one occasion I
was a Cub, a Cub Scout
350
00:19:33,137 --> 00:19:34,966
and I was pretty small
351
00:19:34,966 --> 00:19:39,178
and they invited me to lead
the parade to the church
352
00:19:39,178 --> 00:19:43,941
because the people who follow
wanted to take my steps.
353
00:19:45,149 --> 00:19:47,531
And there I was
put in the front.
354
00:19:47,531 --> 00:19:49,671
And behind me there
were two policemen,
355
00:19:49,671 --> 00:19:52,432
and behind the policemen
there was the bands,
356
00:19:52,432 --> 00:19:56,125
the boys brigade band
and then the army bands,
357
00:19:56,125 --> 00:19:58,024
the ATC band.
358
00:19:58,024 --> 00:20:01,061
And then there were
the Home Guard.
359
00:20:01,061 --> 00:20:04,582
And then all this strung all
the way down the high street.
360
00:20:04,582 --> 00:20:07,482
And there was I, right
in the front leading it.
361
00:20:07,482 --> 00:20:10,001
And my parents were so proud.
362
00:20:10,001 --> 00:20:12,728
[triumphal band music]
363
00:20:12,728 --> 00:20:14,765
[Narrator] Even though
there was so much work
364
00:20:14,765 --> 00:20:17,146
still to be done,
General Eisenhower
365
00:20:17,146 --> 00:20:19,390
was ordered back to
the United States
366
00:20:19,390 --> 00:20:21,427
to take part in celebrations
367
00:20:21,427 --> 00:20:24,533
including a ticker tape
parade through New York
368
00:20:24,533 --> 00:20:25,983
on June the 29th.
369
00:20:26,984 --> 00:20:29,918
[crowd applauding]
370
00:20:30,884 --> 00:20:33,370
[tense music]
371
00:20:36,235 --> 00:20:39,617
But there were many for
whom the road back home
372
00:20:39,617 --> 00:20:42,241
had been especially
long and arduous.
373
00:20:44,657 --> 00:20:47,384
As the Allied Forces
advanced into Germany
374
00:20:47,384 --> 00:20:51,319
they liberated tens of
thousands of prisoners of war.
375
00:20:51,319 --> 00:20:53,113
Some were out in the open,
376
00:20:53,113 --> 00:20:56,324
as many of the camps had
been emptied by their guards.
377
00:20:57,739 --> 00:21:00,569
Aimlessly, they were marched
around the countryside
378
00:21:00,569 --> 00:21:03,883
with little or no idea
what their fate might be.
379
00:21:05,471 --> 00:21:07,507
I mean, we knew it
was coming to an end,
380
00:21:07,507 --> 00:21:09,544
it was a matter of then,
381
00:21:09,544 --> 00:21:12,823
really, of what the
Germans were gonna do.
382
00:21:12,823 --> 00:21:15,412
And there were lots of
rumors would go around
383
00:21:15,412 --> 00:21:18,380
Germans were gonna shoot
all prisoners of war.
384
00:21:18,380 --> 00:21:21,521
And they were gonna move us
all up into Schleswig-Holstein
385
00:21:21,521 --> 00:21:26,526
where they would use as
bartering counters and so on.
386
00:21:27,286 --> 00:21:28,597
All this sort of thing.
387
00:21:28,597 --> 00:21:30,634
But this was rumors.
388
00:21:30,634 --> 00:21:31,842
We were a long line of
389
00:21:33,982 --> 00:21:35,880
kriegy, that's what
we called ourselves
390
00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,539
all muffled up in
whatever we could carry.
391
00:21:39,539 --> 00:21:41,610
And German guards
on each side of us
392
00:21:41,610 --> 00:21:44,372
with bayonets and guns.
393
00:21:44,372 --> 00:21:47,858
German officer at the front
394
00:21:47,858 --> 00:21:49,100
leading the way.
395
00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:51,724
He knew where he was
going, nobody else did.
396
00:21:51,724 --> 00:21:54,485
And, we just struggled
along as best we could.
397
00:21:54,485 --> 00:21:55,555
Sometimes we did
398
00:21:56,832 --> 00:21:58,869
20 kilometers in a day.
399
00:21:58,869 --> 00:22:00,353
Sometimes only 10.
400
00:22:00,353 --> 00:22:02,390
Sometimes we'd have a day
where we'd have to stop
401
00:22:02,390 --> 00:22:05,358
because there was so many
people falling out with bad
402
00:22:05,358 --> 00:22:09,328
feet and blisters and
bad legs and so on.
403
00:22:09,328 --> 00:22:12,538
They just couldn't go any
further so we had to stop.
404
00:22:12,538 --> 00:22:15,713
But mostly they
kept us on the move.
405
00:22:15,713 --> 00:22:18,164
And we had some
very long marches.
406
00:22:19,268 --> 00:22:22,237
And we just collapsed
at the end of it
407
00:22:22,237 --> 00:22:26,034
and tried to make some
food and get some sleep.
408
00:22:26,034 --> 00:22:30,625
We slept in pigsties and
rat-infested places and barns
409
00:22:30,625 --> 00:22:33,041
and all sorts of queer places.
410
00:22:33,041 --> 00:22:35,457
Slept in the open air
a couple of times.
411
00:22:35,457 --> 00:22:38,080
We were in the field,
living in the field
412
00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:39,979
an old farmer's field really.
413
00:22:39,979 --> 00:22:44,155
And the Germans one night
started disappearing.
414
00:22:44,155 --> 00:22:46,019
And we could hear the guns
415
00:22:46,019 --> 00:22:47,642
of the British Second
Army coming along.
416
00:22:47,642 --> 00:22:51,059
And by dawn, the camp
was empty of Germans.
417
00:22:52,198 --> 00:22:53,855
We looked around and
418
00:22:53,855 --> 00:22:54,787
oh by,
419
00:22:56,478 --> 00:22:58,584
10 o'clock, I would
say, that morning
420
00:22:58,584 --> 00:23:01,138
a tank had rolled
up, a British tank
421
00:23:01,138 --> 00:23:02,415
and we said, "Oh, for our sake
422
00:23:02,415 --> 00:23:03,692
"roll some more tanks up."
423
00:23:03,692 --> 00:23:05,901
And all the boys were
having tea down there,
424
00:23:05,901 --> 00:23:07,247
they can't [laughs]
425
00:23:07,247 --> 00:23:08,387
they're in no hurry.
426
00:23:09,664 --> 00:23:11,113
-[plane roaring]
-[guns firing]
427
00:23:11,113 --> 00:23:13,909
[Narrator] With so many
men out in the open,
428
00:23:13,909 --> 00:23:15,946
the danger of a tragic accident
429
00:23:15,946 --> 00:23:17,982
was never far away.
430
00:23:17,982 --> 00:23:22,228
Just after having been
issued with Red Cross parcels
431
00:23:22,228 --> 00:23:25,680
we were attacked by a
squadron of RAF Typhoons.
432
00:23:27,371 --> 00:23:30,409
One can't apportion
any blame to them.
433
00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:34,930
They saw this column
moving alongside a wood
434
00:23:34,930 --> 00:23:36,104
and I would never
435
00:23:37,761 --> 00:23:41,247
express any blame as far
as they were concerned.
436
00:23:41,247 --> 00:23:42,421
But there were
437
00:23:43,974 --> 00:23:46,286
39 people killed
438
00:23:46,286 --> 00:23:48,565
and 50 odd were injured
439
00:23:48,565 --> 00:23:51,050
some of whom died afterwards.
440
00:23:51,050 --> 00:23:53,397
And it was a
shocking experience.
441
00:23:56,435 --> 00:23:59,817
We lost quite a
number in one attack.
442
00:24:00,991 --> 00:24:04,304
I guess, their pilot saw
a long marching column
443
00:24:04,304 --> 00:24:07,238
and they were all
in khaki uniform
444
00:24:07,238 --> 00:24:09,482
or in uniform of some kind,
445
00:24:09,482 --> 00:24:11,553
and thought, "Well, we'll
have a go at these guys."
446
00:24:11,553 --> 00:24:12,416
And they did.
447
00:24:12,416 --> 00:24:14,314
They got the end of our,
448
00:24:14,314 --> 00:24:15,177
end of our march,
449
00:24:16,316 --> 00:24:18,836
a long line, a lot
of people at the end.
450
00:24:18,836 --> 00:24:21,632
I forgot, I think there
was about 17 killed.
451
00:24:21,632 --> 00:24:23,462
But I'm not sure of that number.
452
00:24:23,462 --> 00:24:24,463
And some wounded.
453
00:24:26,257 --> 00:24:27,707
We felt a bit sad
454
00:24:27,707 --> 00:24:31,331
because a lot of them had
been four years in prison camp
455
00:24:31,331 --> 00:24:34,403
and looked like they were
going to survive and get out.
456
00:24:34,403 --> 00:24:36,302
And then to have this happen.
457
00:24:36,302 --> 00:24:38,028
An armored car,
I suppose it was,
458
00:24:38,028 --> 00:24:42,619
sort of came after the
Fife and Forfar Regiment.
459
00:24:43,551 --> 00:24:45,104
They,
460
00:24:45,104 --> 00:24:46,864
British Army came up.
461
00:24:46,864 --> 00:24:50,489
Now we had already
been out down the road
462
00:24:50,489 --> 00:24:52,387
and put notices up saying,
463
00:24:52,387 --> 00:24:55,183
"British prisoners of
war, 500 yards ahead."
464
00:24:55,183 --> 00:25:00,050
Rather like you see out there
on the motorways. [laughs]
465
00:25:00,050 --> 00:25:01,983
So, um, and these guys,
466
00:25:01,983 --> 00:25:03,881
oh, of course, we absolutely
467
00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:08,092
climbed all over this.
468
00:25:08,092 --> 00:25:09,508
They said, "By god," they said,
469
00:25:09,508 --> 00:25:12,511
"damn good job you left those
notices out up out there
470
00:25:12,511 --> 00:25:15,306
"otherwise we'd have had
to have opened fire."
471
00:25:15,306 --> 00:25:17,377
So, anyway, it was great.
472
00:25:18,655 --> 00:25:19,897
That was the end of hostilities
473
00:25:19,897 --> 00:25:21,243
as far as we were concerned.
474
00:25:21,243 --> 00:25:24,177
The Germans gave
themselves up very happily.
475
00:25:24,177 --> 00:25:27,836
[men speaking indistinctly]
476
00:25:29,148 --> 00:25:31,633
[tense music]
477
00:25:33,290 --> 00:25:35,326
[Narrator] As the
prisoners were rounded up
478
00:25:35,326 --> 00:25:36,845
they were brought
back to Britain
479
00:25:36,845 --> 00:25:38,122
as quickly as possible.
480
00:25:43,818 --> 00:25:46,855
The RAF's mighty Avro
Lancaster Bombers
481
00:25:46,855 --> 00:25:49,237
were sent to bring
the prisoners home.
482
00:25:49,237 --> 00:25:52,067
Some arrived back
on VE Day itself.
483
00:25:54,380 --> 00:25:55,795
At the same time
as all the parties
484
00:25:55,795 --> 00:25:57,072
are beginning in Britain,
485
00:25:57,072 --> 00:25:59,765
in the background
is Operation Exodus.
486
00:25:59,765 --> 00:26:01,180
Launched on the
the 3rd of April,
487
00:26:01,180 --> 00:26:03,182
the plan is to fly
back to Britain
488
00:26:03,182 --> 00:26:06,875
all those POWs released
from camps in Europe.
489
00:26:06,875 --> 00:26:09,878
By the time Exodus
finished at the end of May,
490
00:26:09,878 --> 00:26:13,261
345,000 ex-prisoners of war
491
00:26:13,261 --> 00:26:15,815
had been repatriated
by Allied aircraft.
492
00:26:17,334 --> 00:26:19,405
We got back on VE Day and,
493
00:26:21,683 --> 00:26:23,858
we were just bundled in
like 20 in an old lank.
494
00:26:23,858 --> 00:26:25,411
But we couldn't care less.
495
00:26:25,411 --> 00:26:27,689
And we were going,
coming across the Channel
496
00:26:27,689 --> 00:26:29,380
the pilot said,
"Hey you guys look,
497
00:26:29,380 --> 00:26:30,865
"I'm gonna dip the old aircraft.
498
00:26:30,865 --> 00:26:33,039
"We're gonna fly along the
White Cliffs of Dover."
499
00:26:33,039 --> 00:26:34,558
So we did and we landed.
500
00:26:34,558 --> 00:26:39,425
The RAF were coming over to
fly prisoners of war back.
501
00:26:40,944 --> 00:26:44,568
And, you know,
people going on leave
502
00:26:45,396 --> 00:26:46,708
and we got priority.
503
00:26:48,089 --> 00:26:50,332
Which we thought was
our only, our due.
504
00:26:52,024 --> 00:26:55,924
But when we landed we
were given new uniforms,
505
00:26:55,924 --> 00:26:59,134
Tommy's uniforms and deloused
and all that kind of thing.
506
00:26:59,134 --> 00:27:01,412
And I was sent down
to the insolent
507
00:27:01,412 --> 00:27:02,517
from around Guildford,
508
00:27:03,829 --> 00:27:05,520
to our airbase there.
509
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:09,179
And, I guess, our COIs were
there, COO and these people
510
00:27:09,179 --> 00:27:10,525
they'd all gone home, of course,
511
00:27:10,525 --> 00:27:11,768
as soon as they could.
512
00:27:11,768 --> 00:27:15,185
And I, being a Canadian
was left there.
513
00:27:15,185 --> 00:27:17,739
And I went in thinking
I was well-dressed
514
00:27:17,739 --> 00:27:20,328
in my new Tommy's
uniform, into the mess.
515
00:27:20,328 --> 00:27:22,641
And they, with
their wing hollies
516
00:27:22,641 --> 00:27:23,952
and I went up to the bar
517
00:27:23,952 --> 00:27:25,436
and I thought the old commander
518
00:27:25,436 --> 00:27:26,645
was gonna have a heart attack.
519
00:27:26,645 --> 00:27:28,370
He was just red in
the face and he said,
520
00:27:28,370 --> 00:27:31,201
"You get out of here." [laughs]
521
00:27:31,201 --> 00:27:33,030
So, and I'm, "Well to
the hell with him."
522
00:27:33,030 --> 00:27:34,445
So I got out.
523
00:27:34,445 --> 00:27:35,757
I didn't feel very
comfortable there any way
524
00:27:35,757 --> 00:27:38,518
so I missed my drink there.
525
00:27:38,518 --> 00:27:41,763
And a steward came out from
behind the bar and said,
526
00:27:41,763 --> 00:27:43,144
"I'll lend you a white collar,
527
00:27:43,144 --> 00:27:46,181
"a white shirt and
collar and tie."
528
00:27:46,181 --> 00:27:47,838
So I said, "Fine,"
so I put that on
529
00:27:47,838 --> 00:27:49,391
with my Tommy's uniform,
530
00:27:49,391 --> 00:27:51,083
went down town to Portsmouth
531
00:27:51,083 --> 00:27:53,464
to have a drink
in the bar, a pub.
532
00:27:53,464 --> 00:27:55,777
And they were just
jammed, it was full of,
533
00:27:56,847 --> 00:27:58,331
full of people celebrating.
534
00:27:58,331 --> 00:27:59,781
The streets were full.
535
00:27:59,781 --> 00:28:01,334
So I said, "To heck
with it, I'll go home
536
00:28:01,334 --> 00:28:03,509
"and go to bed and have
a good night's sleep."
537
00:28:03,509 --> 00:28:06,098
First bed I'd been
in for five years.
538
00:28:06,098 --> 00:28:10,965
We got to Paris and then I
got stamped and deloused.
539
00:28:12,311 --> 00:28:13,415
And all that sort of stuff.
540
00:28:13,415 --> 00:28:15,521
And I was under control.
541
00:28:15,521 --> 00:28:18,800
See, before, I was
just wondering around
542
00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,906
doing what I wanted to do.
543
00:28:20,906 --> 00:28:21,734
And, uh,
544
00:28:22,631 --> 00:28:25,220
but after we got to Paris.
545
00:28:25,220 --> 00:28:27,498
And then I was sent to a...
546
00:28:27,498 --> 00:28:28,327
We had
547
00:28:29,777 --> 00:28:32,400
repatriation camps
for prisoners of war.
548
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,265
They were called Lucky
Strike, Chesterfield,
549
00:28:35,265 --> 00:28:37,612
all named after
cigarette brands.
550
00:28:37,612 --> 00:28:39,407
And I went to Camp Lucky Strike,
551
00:28:41,478 --> 00:28:42,306
waiting for,
552
00:28:43,342 --> 00:28:45,068
to go back home.
553
00:28:45,068 --> 00:28:47,208
And I bumped into
a buddy of mine
554
00:28:47,208 --> 00:28:50,521
that was shot down about
three months earlier than me.
555
00:28:50,521 --> 00:28:53,110
So we decided to go AWOL
556
00:28:53,110 --> 00:28:54,871
and hop a ride back to England
557
00:28:54,871 --> 00:28:56,010
and get back to the unit,
558
00:28:56,010 --> 00:28:57,597
thinking we'd be able to stay.
559
00:28:58,737 --> 00:29:01,463
The next day they sent
me by transport to B...
560
00:29:02,741 --> 00:29:03,707
Brussels.
561
00:29:03,707 --> 00:29:06,261
There we were interrogated again
562
00:29:06,261 --> 00:29:08,160
and put into a hotel.
563
00:29:08,160 --> 00:29:08,988
And we had to,
564
00:29:08,988 --> 00:29:10,265
I got a new uniform.
565
00:29:11,819 --> 00:29:13,682
Khaki army jump battledress.
566
00:29:13,682 --> 00:29:15,167
And that was VE Night.
567
00:29:16,271 --> 00:29:18,377
And they gave us so much franks.
568
00:29:18,377 --> 00:29:20,759
And we went into town.
569
00:29:20,759 --> 00:29:22,519
And then went to the pictures,
570
00:29:22,519 --> 00:29:24,383
I saw "Arsenic and Old Lace"
571
00:29:24,383 --> 00:29:26,557
and when I came out, everybody
was shouting for joy.
572
00:29:26,557 --> 00:29:27,489
It was VE Night.
573
00:29:28,421 --> 00:29:30,320
And we joined the celebrations.
574
00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:31,735
They deloused us.
575
00:29:33,461 --> 00:29:36,084
That's how we were received.
576
00:29:36,084 --> 00:29:38,777
They just grabbed
us, deloused us,
577
00:29:38,777 --> 00:29:41,193
gave us fresh uniform, fed us,
578
00:29:41,193 --> 00:29:43,851
gave us our dog tags back again.
579
00:29:43,851 --> 00:29:45,887
Got us to the nearest airport
580
00:29:45,887 --> 00:29:47,406
on a lank,
581
00:29:47,406 --> 00:29:48,890
pilots saying standing up even.
582
00:29:48,890 --> 00:29:50,064
There were no seats.
583
00:29:50,064 --> 00:29:52,583
We were just into a lank.
584
00:29:52,583 --> 00:29:54,965
Landed in the Midlands.
585
00:29:54,965 --> 00:29:56,656
One night there.
586
00:29:56,656 --> 00:29:58,935
There was a hospital
there, they checked us out.
587
00:29:58,935 --> 00:30:00,419
And then home.
588
00:30:01,972 --> 00:30:04,250
10 days I was home
at me own home.
589
00:30:04,250 --> 00:30:06,321
Yeah, wonderful, fantastic.
590
00:30:06,321 --> 00:30:09,083
So we hopped a ride on a B-17.
591
00:30:09,083 --> 00:30:13,156
And, got back to England,
made it up to Kings Cliffe.
592
00:30:13,156 --> 00:30:14,882
A big hello with everybody
593
00:30:14,882 --> 00:30:17,022
and telling our war stories
594
00:30:17,022 --> 00:30:19,507
and this sort of stuff.
595
00:30:19,507 --> 00:30:21,785
After about three
days we were told,
596
00:30:21,785 --> 00:30:23,166
"You gotta go back.
597
00:30:25,202 --> 00:30:28,619
"You can't stay because
you're labeled as a POW
598
00:30:28,619 --> 00:30:32,382
"and you have to go through
the bureaucratic process
599
00:30:34,142 --> 00:30:35,454
"of a POW."
600
00:30:36,420 --> 00:30:38,526
So we went back to Lucky Strike.
601
00:30:38,526 --> 00:30:41,701
And I was out on
the last convoy.
602
00:30:41,701 --> 00:30:45,153
I got back to the States
on the 1st of June.
603
00:30:46,361 --> 00:30:49,433
And I got married
on the 13th of June
604
00:30:49,433 --> 00:30:54,404
to my fiance, Josephine, who
my aircraft was named after.
605
00:30:55,439 --> 00:30:56,233
Then,
606
00:30:57,717 --> 00:30:59,443
I had to get my mother's
permission to get married
607
00:30:59,443 --> 00:31:01,135
because I hadn't turned 21 yet.
608
00:31:02,550 --> 00:31:04,448
[Narrator] The former
prisoners were, of course,
609
00:31:04,448 --> 00:31:05,898
glad to be home.
610
00:31:05,898 --> 00:31:09,764
But they would need a period
of adjustment to peace.
611
00:31:09,764 --> 00:31:12,180
Everyone was so glad to see me.
612
00:31:12,180 --> 00:31:13,941
It was just fantastic.
613
00:31:13,941 --> 00:31:17,116
And we had a big
welcoming in Halifax.
614
00:31:17,116 --> 00:31:18,359
They made us,
615
00:31:18,359 --> 00:31:20,257
they took us down
to the mayor's hall
616
00:31:22,915 --> 00:31:24,813
and made a big feast there.
617
00:31:24,813 --> 00:31:27,575
And we were welcomed
home by the mayor
618
00:31:27,575 --> 00:31:28,507
and all the rest of them,
619
00:31:28,507 --> 00:31:29,749
they made a big fuss of us.
620
00:31:29,749 --> 00:31:30,578
Yeah.
621
00:31:32,787 --> 00:31:34,789
Yes, it was a good time.
622
00:31:34,789 --> 00:31:39,000
And I was glad to be
on my own for a bit.
623
00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,657
A bit quiet, yeah,
624
00:31:40,657 --> 00:31:42,866
after prison camp.
625
00:31:42,866 --> 00:31:45,558
I'd really judge, I think,
626
00:31:45,558 --> 00:31:48,596
I found concentrating difficult.
627
00:31:48,596 --> 00:31:51,564
And I found my
memory was poorer too
628
00:31:51,564 --> 00:31:53,083
for some time.
629
00:31:53,083 --> 00:31:56,776
So I'd had no
responsibility for anything
630
00:31:56,776 --> 00:31:58,882
for four and a half years.
631
00:31:58,882 --> 00:32:01,609
I was taken prisoner, I was
exactly 20 years of age.
632
00:32:01,609 --> 00:32:03,335
Now I was damn near 25.
633
00:32:04,923 --> 00:32:06,372
And I was still 20 years old.
634
00:32:08,892 --> 00:32:11,964
Because I had no
experience of the world.
635
00:32:13,103 --> 00:32:17,073
So, yes, I did have
some trouble adjusting.
636
00:32:18,212 --> 00:32:20,110
[Narrator] VE Day
meant different things
637
00:32:20,110 --> 00:32:21,663
to different people.
638
00:32:21,663 --> 00:32:25,219
For some, especially for
those in the Armed Services,
639
00:32:25,219 --> 00:32:28,256
it was the relief that
they had survived.
640
00:32:28,256 --> 00:32:30,327
For others, it
meant the resumption
641
00:32:30,327 --> 00:32:32,536
of the normality of daily life
642
00:32:32,536 --> 00:32:34,814
without the fear
of being attacked.
643
00:32:37,956 --> 00:32:39,854
We were glad it was over
644
00:32:39,854 --> 00:32:41,407
for all sorts of reasons.
645
00:32:42,443 --> 00:32:43,237
And...
646
00:32:45,791 --> 00:32:48,104
relieved, I suppose,
to be there.
647
00:32:48,104 --> 00:32:50,899
I mean, I had served right
through, from day one.
648
00:32:52,694 --> 00:32:54,662
And so I was lucky,
649
00:32:54,662 --> 00:32:55,904
very, very lucky.
650
00:32:58,769 --> 00:33:02,256
Army had set up a
sort of field kitchen
651
00:33:02,256 --> 00:33:05,190
and I had the most
memorable meal of my life,
652
00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:07,675
white bread and jam
and a cup of tea.
653
00:33:07,675 --> 00:33:08,572
Sweet tea.
654
00:33:10,436 --> 00:33:12,991
After three years,
black German bread,
655
00:33:12,991 --> 00:33:14,993
that was memorable.
656
00:33:14,993 --> 00:33:17,823
All we did think of
was food, of course.
657
00:33:17,823 --> 00:33:22,172
I can remember once they
took us to a canteen where
658
00:33:23,622 --> 00:33:25,106
they were feeding us.
659
00:33:25,106 --> 00:33:27,488
And there was a long line,
of course, marching up.
660
00:33:27,488 --> 00:33:29,593
And that line never stopped.
661
00:33:29,593 --> 00:33:31,940
It went on and on till
all the food was gone.
662
00:33:31,940 --> 00:33:34,046
In the end I had to say, "I'm
sorry, there's just no more.
663
00:33:34,046 --> 00:33:36,221
"You've eaten
everything we've got."
664
00:33:36,221 --> 00:33:37,463
And it just kept,
665
00:33:37,463 --> 00:33:38,809
if you finished you went
round again, you see.
666
00:33:38,809 --> 00:33:40,087
You went round and round.
667
00:33:41,226 --> 00:33:42,675
You were lucky if
you got two helpings.
668
00:33:42,675 --> 00:33:44,539
But I always remember that.
669
00:33:44,539 --> 00:33:47,508
We just ate everything in sight.
670
00:33:48,612 --> 00:33:50,062
I spent three
quarters of an hour
671
00:33:50,062 --> 00:33:51,857
standing under a hot shower
672
00:33:51,857 --> 00:33:55,309
'cause I hadn't had a
bath in god knows when.
673
00:33:56,413 --> 00:33:57,621
And,
674
00:33:57,621 --> 00:33:58,898
and had a sleep.
675
00:33:58,898 --> 00:34:02,350
Then we were given
travel warrants
676
00:34:02,350 --> 00:34:04,042
and so on and so forth.
677
00:34:05,836 --> 00:34:08,701
And clothes, did
we get any clothes?
678
00:34:08,701 --> 00:34:10,117
Yeah, you must've been,
679
00:34:10,117 --> 00:34:12,188
you must've been given
battledress, I think.
680
00:34:12,188 --> 00:34:13,672
I can't remember.
681
00:34:13,672 --> 00:34:15,536
Battledress and a kit bag.
682
00:34:15,536 --> 00:34:16,364
That's right.
683
00:34:17,365 --> 00:34:18,194
And,
684
00:34:19,609 --> 00:34:21,818
you had a travel
warrant to go home.
685
00:34:21,818 --> 00:34:25,546
I remember looking forward to
686
00:34:25,546 --> 00:34:27,548
bananas coming.
687
00:34:27,548 --> 00:34:31,655
I had never eaten a banana until
688
00:34:31,655 --> 00:34:33,933
I was six or seven years old.
689
00:34:33,933 --> 00:34:37,282
And my mother came home
triumphantly with this thing,
690
00:34:37,282 --> 00:34:38,421
unpeeled it for me.
691
00:34:38,421 --> 00:34:41,389
And I thought it was dreadful.
692
00:34:41,389 --> 00:34:45,152
I'd been really looking
forward to it for years.
693
00:34:45,152 --> 00:34:46,808
A banana!
694
00:34:46,808 --> 00:34:48,224
From the Caribbean.
695
00:34:48,224 --> 00:34:51,986
And there was this thing
without any taste whatsoever.
696
00:34:51,986 --> 00:34:55,093
[crowd cheering]
697
00:34:55,093 --> 00:34:56,956
[Narrator] For the crowds
happily celebrating
698
00:34:56,956 --> 00:34:58,613
the victory in Europe,
699
00:34:58,613 --> 00:35:00,615
there was a cloud
on the horizon.
700
00:35:01,823 --> 00:35:03,066
[poignant music]
701
00:35:03,066 --> 00:35:05,793
There were many for whom
the Second World War
702
00:35:05,793 --> 00:35:07,795
was far from over.
703
00:35:07,795 --> 00:35:11,109
In the Far East, the
war raged against Japan.
704
00:35:12,317 --> 00:35:14,457
Even as the parties
in London and Paris
705
00:35:14,457 --> 00:35:16,321
continued into the night,
706
00:35:16,321 --> 00:35:19,289
US forces were locked
in a deadly battle
707
00:35:19,289 --> 00:35:21,222
for the Island of Okinawa.
708
00:35:23,224 --> 00:35:25,468
It was to be one of
the major battles
709
00:35:25,468 --> 00:35:28,126
of the Allies' Pacific Campaign.
710
00:35:28,126 --> 00:35:31,577
Because if the Americans
succeeded in capturing it,
711
00:35:31,577 --> 00:35:33,821
they would have
access to airfields,
712
00:35:33,821 --> 00:35:36,306
which were just over 300 miles
713
00:35:36,306 --> 00:35:38,446
from the Japanese home islands.
714
00:35:40,828 --> 00:35:43,279
For 82 days the battle raged
715
00:35:43,279 --> 00:35:44,866
as the Japanese defenders
716
00:35:44,866 --> 00:35:46,937
mounted a desperate resistance.
717
00:35:48,353 --> 00:35:51,597
Finally, on June the 22nd,
the Japanese surrendered
718
00:35:51,597 --> 00:35:53,220
what little there was left.
719
00:35:53,220 --> 00:35:56,154
It seemed that the
battle to defeat Japan
720
00:35:56,154 --> 00:35:58,121
was only going to be achieved
721
00:35:58,121 --> 00:36:00,848
by a monstrous cost
in human lives.
722
00:36:02,125 --> 00:36:05,024
[gravel crunching]
723
00:36:05,024 --> 00:36:07,613
Britain and her allies
were also fighting
724
00:36:07,613 --> 00:36:10,306
equally bitter battles in Burma.
725
00:36:10,306 --> 00:36:12,756
It looked like more forces
were going to be needed
726
00:36:12,756 --> 00:36:14,689
to defeat the Japanese army.
727
00:36:18,659 --> 00:36:21,144
In the end, they
were not needed.
728
00:36:21,144 --> 00:36:23,905
On August the 6th,
a lone US bomber
729
00:36:23,905 --> 00:36:28,116
dropped an atomic bomb
on the City of Hiroshima.
730
00:36:28,116 --> 00:36:29,532
Two days later,
731
00:36:29,532 --> 00:36:32,259
a second bomb was
dropped on Nagasaki.
732
00:36:36,711 --> 00:36:40,025
At the same time, the
Russians invaded Manchuria.
733
00:36:41,199 --> 00:36:43,511
Japan's resources
were exhausted.
734
00:36:43,511 --> 00:36:45,789
And it's will to fight, crushed.
735
00:36:47,964 --> 00:36:50,863
On September the
2nd, Japan signed
736
00:36:50,863 --> 00:36:52,555
an unconditional surrender.
737
00:36:53,487 --> 00:36:55,868
The Second World War was over.
738
00:36:59,217 --> 00:37:02,323
Although the victory
over Japan was celebrated
739
00:37:02,323 --> 00:37:05,844
the event was for many a
more personal experience
740
00:37:05,844 --> 00:37:08,536
than the wild fervor of VE Day.
741
00:37:08,536 --> 00:37:10,711
[crowd cheering]
742
00:37:10,711 --> 00:37:13,231
I was wounded, of course.
743
00:37:13,231 --> 00:37:14,059
I'd very.
744
00:37:15,233 --> 00:37:17,821
But that was on the
first day of peace.
745
00:37:17,821 --> 00:37:21,722
What happened was, I was tour
expired on the 29th of June.
746
00:37:23,033 --> 00:37:27,072
But, getting out of
Burma was difficult.
747
00:37:27,072 --> 00:37:30,075
So I was waiting for
transport with my navigator
748
00:37:31,421 --> 00:37:33,527
and we were on the squadron
for another two months
749
00:37:33,527 --> 00:37:35,598
waiting for a transport.
750
00:37:35,598 --> 00:37:39,498
So by this time the
squad moved from Kinmagon
751
00:37:39,498 --> 00:37:43,261
to Hmawbi, which was in Rangoon,
752
00:37:43,261 --> 00:37:45,090
just north of Rangoon.
753
00:37:45,090 --> 00:37:46,160
And when we got there
754
00:37:47,644 --> 00:37:49,025
I mean, I wasn't doing anything,
755
00:37:49,025 --> 00:37:50,613
I wasn't flying anything.
756
00:37:50,613 --> 00:37:53,857
But the war ended with
the atom bomb thing.
757
00:37:55,031 --> 00:37:58,345
And, of course, a big
celebration in the mess.
758
00:37:58,345 --> 00:37:59,277
And...
759
00:38:03,867 --> 00:38:06,387
The non-drinkers, now
I don't drink you see,
760
00:38:06,387 --> 00:38:09,114
there were five of
us who didn't drink.
761
00:38:09,114 --> 00:38:11,530
When they start
singing songs that,
762
00:38:11,530 --> 00:38:13,014
ah, it's
763
00:38:13,014 --> 00:38:14,084
boring.
764
00:38:14,084 --> 00:38:15,845
So we went back to our tents.
765
00:38:17,295 --> 00:38:19,607
And we, each of us, had a
bomb thrown in the tent.
766
00:38:20,712 --> 00:38:21,885
What happened was, there was
767
00:38:21,885 --> 00:38:24,509
a raiding party of
Japanese in the jungle.
768
00:38:24,509 --> 00:38:26,511
They didn't know
the war was over.
769
00:38:26,511 --> 00:38:28,892
They attacked the airfield.
770
00:38:28,892 --> 00:38:30,860
They had damaged aircraft.
771
00:38:30,860 --> 00:38:33,103
And we had no defenses.
772
00:38:33,103 --> 00:38:36,831
They withdrew all
arms on the first day
773
00:38:36,831 --> 00:38:40,352
because of the celebrations
after the First World War,
774
00:38:40,352 --> 00:38:42,768
caused so many accidents
775
00:38:42,768 --> 00:38:45,323
that they withdrew all arms.
776
00:38:45,323 --> 00:38:47,566
So we were undefended.
777
00:38:47,566 --> 00:38:50,328
[poignant music]
778
00:38:51,570 --> 00:38:53,089
[Narrator] Meanwhile in Europe,
779
00:38:53,089 --> 00:38:56,679
there was the formidable task
of building a lasting peace.
780
00:38:58,405 --> 00:38:59,923
The last days of the war
781
00:38:59,923 --> 00:39:02,616
had created millions of refugees
782
00:39:02,616 --> 00:39:06,792
as those that could, left
their bombed out cities.
783
00:39:06,792 --> 00:39:08,898
The straggling
groups of civilians
784
00:39:08,898 --> 00:39:11,279
burdened down by what
they could carry,
785
00:39:11,279 --> 00:39:14,869
joined German soldiers on
the roads heading west,
786
00:39:14,869 --> 00:39:18,045
desperate to escape the
advancing Russian armies.
787
00:39:21,393 --> 00:39:23,775
Thousands of German
prisoners of war
788
00:39:23,775 --> 00:39:26,225
were held in pens
to be processed
789
00:39:26,225 --> 00:39:27,917
before they could be released.
790
00:39:29,090 --> 00:39:31,507
It had already been
decided by the Allies
791
00:39:31,507 --> 00:39:33,060
that those responsible
792
00:39:33,060 --> 00:39:36,650
for some of the most appalling
crimes in human history
793
00:39:36,650 --> 00:39:39,411
would be put on trial
for their crimes.
794
00:39:40,378 --> 00:39:41,586
Not surprisingly,
795
00:39:41,586 --> 00:39:44,243
many tried to slip
through in disguise.
796
00:39:47,108 --> 00:39:49,421
Children played
amongst the ruins.
797
00:39:51,699 --> 00:39:53,529
Many had been badly traumatized
798
00:39:53,529 --> 00:39:54,806
by what they had seen.
799
00:39:58,913 --> 00:40:01,847
As so many able-bodied
men were gone,
800
00:40:01,847 --> 00:40:04,505
it was left to the
women and the old men
801
00:40:04,505 --> 00:40:07,059
to begin the grim
task of rebuilding
802
00:40:07,059 --> 00:40:08,198
stone-by-stone.
803
00:40:09,579 --> 00:40:12,030
Although the Russians
had captured Berlin,
804
00:40:12,030 --> 00:40:15,482
it was agreed that it would
be divided into four zones,
805
00:40:15,482 --> 00:40:18,036
each under the control
of the Americans,
806
00:40:18,036 --> 00:40:20,314
British, French and Russians.
807
00:40:27,079 --> 00:40:29,875
Montgomery and the
7th Armored Division
808
00:40:29,875 --> 00:40:31,498
was tasked with overseeing
809
00:40:31,498 --> 00:40:33,845
the reconstruction of
the British sector.
810
00:40:35,294 --> 00:40:37,849
When they arrived at
the beginning of July,
811
00:40:37,849 --> 00:40:39,885
even the
battle-hardened veterans
812
00:40:39,885 --> 00:40:41,542
of the famous Desert Rats
813
00:40:41,542 --> 00:40:43,544
were shocked by what they found.
814
00:40:46,305 --> 00:40:48,687
The stench of death
was everywhere.
815
00:40:48,687 --> 00:40:51,897
Below the rubble
lay rotting corpses.
816
00:40:51,897 --> 00:40:54,900
The civilians had been
reluctant to disturb anything
817
00:40:54,900 --> 00:40:56,902
in case they released disease.
818
00:40:58,145 --> 00:41:00,975
Building the peace was
not going to be easy.
819
00:41:14,092 --> 00:41:16,646
[steady music]
820
00:41:18,441 --> 00:41:20,236
In Britain there
was the challenge
821
00:41:20,236 --> 00:41:23,377
of not only rebuilding the
physical damage of war,
822
00:41:23,377 --> 00:41:25,621
but also how to demobilize
823
00:41:25,621 --> 00:41:28,589
millions of
servicemen and women.
824
00:41:28,589 --> 00:41:31,143
With over five
million in uniform,
825
00:41:31,143 --> 00:41:33,111
a release program was devised
826
00:41:33,111 --> 00:41:35,354
that gave priority to age
827
00:41:35,354 --> 00:41:37,322
and the number of months served.
828
00:41:37,322 --> 00:41:39,048
There aren't gonna be
some problems for me
829
00:41:39,048 --> 00:41:40,532
when I get out of E and O.
830
00:41:40,532 --> 00:41:41,844
-I'll say.
-There's me job,
831
00:41:41,844 --> 00:41:43,362
I've grown out of
the one I was in.
832
00:41:43,362 --> 00:41:44,571
Beside, I want a better one,
833
00:41:44,571 --> 00:41:46,193
now I've got a wife
and kid to keep.
834
00:41:46,193 --> 00:41:47,505
-Well, there's an answer.
-Well suppose
835
00:41:47,505 --> 00:41:49,679
that I start up on me own.
836
00:41:49,679 --> 00:41:51,578
A small shop or
something like that.
837
00:41:51,578 --> 00:41:52,682
How would I go about it?
838
00:41:52,682 --> 00:41:54,339
-There's a--
-And the wife.
839
00:41:54,339 --> 00:41:55,996
She must be full of problems.
840
00:41:55,996 --> 00:41:57,584
What with trying
to find a new house
841
00:41:57,584 --> 00:42:00,034
and making a claim for the
old one that was blitzed
842
00:42:00,034 --> 00:42:01,449
and getting furniture.
843
00:42:01,449 --> 00:42:03,417
-Well there's a--
-And honestly pal
844
00:42:03,417 --> 00:42:04,798
I still don't know what I get
845
00:42:04,798 --> 00:42:06,903
-for my bit in this war.
-Well listen,
846
00:42:06,903 --> 00:42:08,318
in Civvy Street now.
847
00:42:09,699 --> 00:42:11,114
Blow me, that's quick ain't it.
848
00:42:11,114 --> 00:42:13,772
[Narrator] There's a
resettlement advice service
849
00:42:13,772 --> 00:42:14,877
in all areas.
850
00:42:14,877 --> 00:42:17,017
There's one in your district.
851
00:42:17,017 --> 00:42:18,881
This is what it looks like.
852
00:42:18,881 --> 00:42:20,607
It's run by the
Ministry of Labor.
853
00:42:22,678 --> 00:42:24,300
This is what it's like inside.
854
00:42:26,923 --> 00:42:28,546
You can discuss your
problems in private.
855
00:42:28,546 --> 00:42:31,549
[calm music]
856
00:42:31,549 --> 00:42:33,827
[Narrator] In the search
for a lasting peace,
857
00:42:33,827 --> 00:42:36,692
delegates representing
50 countries
858
00:42:36,692 --> 00:42:39,004
had been meeting
in San Francisco
859
00:42:39,004 --> 00:42:41,559
for the first United
Nations Conference
860
00:42:41,559 --> 00:42:43,699
on International Organization.
861
00:42:44,941 --> 00:42:47,495
Their objective was
to find a mechanism
862
00:42:47,495 --> 00:42:49,049
that could prevent wars,
863
00:42:49,049 --> 00:42:51,569
like the one the world
was just emerging from.
864
00:42:53,225 --> 00:42:55,849
In the last six terrible years,
865
00:42:57,471 --> 00:42:59,956
unnumbered men have died
866
00:42:59,956 --> 00:43:02,441
to give humanity another chance;
867
00:43:04,582 --> 00:43:06,238
unnumbered men have died
868
00:43:07,446 --> 00:43:09,207
because they felt
869
00:43:09,207 --> 00:43:11,589
there was a job of
work to be done.
870
00:43:12,693 --> 00:43:16,524
We too, have a job of work to do
871
00:43:16,524 --> 00:43:18,526
if we are not to fail these men.
872
00:43:19,907 --> 00:43:24,843
Let us do it with courage,
modesty and dispatch.
873
00:43:25,603 --> 00:43:27,639
Let us do it now.
874
00:43:27,639 --> 00:43:30,815
[audience applauding]
875
00:43:31,988 --> 00:43:35,026
[Narrator] They agreed
to a new UN Charter
876
00:43:35,026 --> 00:43:37,753
marking the birth of
the United Nations.
877
00:43:40,618 --> 00:43:42,171
On June the 24th,
878
00:43:42,171 --> 00:43:45,726
two days before the United
Nations Conference ended
879
00:43:45,726 --> 00:43:47,797
the Russians mounted the longest
880
00:43:47,797 --> 00:43:49,937
and largest military parade
881
00:43:49,937 --> 00:43:52,526
ever held in
Moscow's Red Square.
882
00:43:52,526 --> 00:43:54,562
[crowd cheering]
883
00:43:54,562 --> 00:43:57,289
Over 40,000 Red Army soldiers
884
00:43:57,289 --> 00:44:00,776
and 1,850 military vehicles
885
00:44:00,776 --> 00:44:03,882
joined the parade that
lasted over two hours.
886
00:44:08,024 --> 00:44:09,992
The Big Three Wartime Allies
887
00:44:09,992 --> 00:44:12,926
of Russia, Britain
and the United States,
888
00:44:12,926 --> 00:44:15,791
met just one more
time in Potsdam
889
00:44:15,791 --> 00:44:18,552
in July the 17th, 1945.
890
00:44:19,760 --> 00:44:22,521
Their objective was
to reach an agreement
891
00:44:22,521 --> 00:44:26,042
as to how a post-war
Germany might look.
892
00:44:26,042 --> 00:44:28,666
But the old chemistry
that had seen them through
893
00:44:28,666 --> 00:44:31,254
previous conferences
and disagreements
894
00:44:31,254 --> 00:44:32,600
was no longer there.
895
00:44:33,981 --> 00:44:36,604
Although they agreed to
continue fighting as allies
896
00:44:36,604 --> 00:44:38,814
in the war against Japan,
897
00:44:38,814 --> 00:44:41,506
the lack of a common
enemy in Europe
898
00:44:41,506 --> 00:44:43,370
meant that there
was little consensus
899
00:44:43,370 --> 00:44:45,648
as to how to deal with Germany.
900
00:44:47,270 --> 00:44:49,583
It seemed as if the old mistakes
901
00:44:49,583 --> 00:44:51,240
of the Treaty of Versailles
902
00:44:51,240 --> 00:44:53,725
that marked the end
of the First World War
903
00:44:53,725 --> 00:44:55,037
had been forgotten.
904
00:44:56,348 --> 00:44:57,833
They did agree, however,
905
00:44:57,833 --> 00:45:00,042
to redraw Germany's borders
906
00:45:00,042 --> 00:45:03,459
and divide the country up
into four zones of control
907
00:45:03,459 --> 00:45:06,565
under the Russians,
Americans, British
908
00:45:06,565 --> 00:45:07,532
and the French.
909
00:45:11,501 --> 00:45:14,988
Industrial capability
was also limited
910
00:45:14,988 --> 00:45:18,716
as it was hoped that the country
could rebuild its economy
911
00:45:18,716 --> 00:45:22,167
on a more ruralized
and crafts model;
912
00:45:22,167 --> 00:45:24,514
a plan that was soon abandoned.
913
00:45:28,311 --> 00:45:30,486
By the summer of 1945,
914
00:45:30,486 --> 00:45:32,315
much had changed in Europe.
915
00:45:33,213 --> 00:45:35,180
Roosevelt had died in office,
916
00:45:35,180 --> 00:45:37,010
Churchill had been
swept from power
917
00:45:37,010 --> 00:45:38,632
in the general election.
918
00:45:38,632 --> 00:45:41,704
Stalin was left
to rule the roost.
919
00:45:41,704 --> 00:45:45,018
The old wartime alliances
were starting to crumble.
920
00:45:45,018 --> 00:45:48,124
And a new world order
was taking shape.
921
00:45:48,124 --> 00:45:51,162
The Cold War was about to begin.
922
00:45:51,162 --> 00:45:54,337
[marching band music]
923
00:46:00,033 --> 00:46:01,724
[Narrator] The split
between the Allies
924
00:46:01,724 --> 00:46:03,208
led to controversy
925
00:46:03,208 --> 00:46:06,902
over Britain's last
victory parade in 1946.
926
00:46:08,110 --> 00:46:09,663
The decision was taken
927
00:46:09,663 --> 00:46:12,804
to mark the end of the war
against Germany and Japan
928
00:46:12,804 --> 00:46:15,358
with one final parade.
929
00:46:15,358 --> 00:46:18,154
All the countries that had
fought alongside Britain
930
00:46:18,154 --> 00:46:21,571
were to be represented
and duly honored.
931
00:46:21,571 --> 00:46:24,471
But the Poles were not invited.
932
00:46:24,471 --> 00:46:27,923
The date chosen was
June the 8th, 1946.
933
00:46:27,923 --> 00:46:30,511
And thousands flocked
to watch the parade.
934
00:46:34,757 --> 00:46:36,345
Well it was just
general knowledge
935
00:46:36,345 --> 00:46:39,003
that there was going
to be this huge parade.
936
00:46:39,003 --> 00:46:43,145
And we knew that it was going
to be a mass attendance.
937
00:46:44,525 --> 00:46:47,528
So I had a friend I
worked with at that time,
938
00:46:47,528 --> 00:46:49,461
David Packnall.
939
00:46:49,461 --> 00:46:52,810
And we decided that
we'd stay out all night
940
00:46:52,810 --> 00:46:56,123
in order to get a prime
position in the Mall
941
00:46:56,123 --> 00:46:57,780
to watch the parade.
942
00:46:57,780 --> 00:46:59,057
And we did that.
943
00:46:59,057 --> 00:47:00,921
[band music]
944
00:47:00,921 --> 00:47:02,440
[Narrator] The Victory Parade
945
00:47:02,440 --> 00:47:05,823
perhaps lacked the excitement
of the VE Day celebrations.
946
00:47:07,134 --> 00:47:09,481
There wasn't the
exuberance and spontaneity
947
00:47:09,481 --> 00:47:12,174
that had been the hallmark
of events the year before.
948
00:47:14,866 --> 00:47:18,042
The parade itself
went on and on and on.
949
00:47:18,042 --> 00:47:20,665
It was, seemed hours long.
950
00:47:20,665 --> 00:47:24,876
And I don't think we stayed
to the end to be honest.
951
00:47:24,876 --> 00:47:27,637
But we went off then to
find something to eat.
952
00:47:27,637 --> 00:47:30,192
[bright music]
953
00:47:31,849 --> 00:47:33,505
[Narrator] There had been time
954
00:47:33,505 --> 00:47:36,094
to reflect on the
cost to Britain.
955
00:47:36,094 --> 00:47:37,785
And it was becoming clear
956
00:47:37,785 --> 00:47:40,202
that the cost had
been very high,
957
00:47:40,202 --> 00:47:42,169
with very little to show for it.
958
00:47:43,274 --> 00:47:45,241
It would take
Britain a long time
959
00:47:45,241 --> 00:47:47,105
to recover from victory.
960
00:47:47,105 --> 00:47:49,142
Almost as long as it
would take the Germans
961
00:47:49,142 --> 00:47:50,522
to recover from defeat.
962
00:47:52,973 --> 00:47:54,975
But over one million people
963
00:47:54,975 --> 00:47:56,874
had packed the streets of London
964
00:47:56,874 --> 00:47:59,877
on May the 8th, 1945.
965
00:47:59,877 --> 00:48:02,086
For many it was
just the sheer joy
966
00:48:02,086 --> 00:48:04,951
and relief that the war
was, at least for them,
967
00:48:04,951 --> 00:48:06,193
finally over.
968
00:48:10,784 --> 00:48:15,271
There had been the sacrifices,
fear and uncertainty.
969
00:48:15,271 --> 00:48:16,721
But they had survived.
970
00:48:17,584 --> 00:48:19,931
Whatever difficulties lay ahead
971
00:48:19,931 --> 00:48:23,072
they knew that Britain
had done the right thing.
972
00:48:23,072 --> 00:48:26,006
It alone had held
the moral leadership
973
00:48:26,006 --> 00:48:28,491
to stand up against the Nazis
974
00:48:28,491 --> 00:48:31,736
at a time when everyone
else was willing to cave in.
975
00:48:39,778 --> 00:48:43,092
Some celebrating may
have even found a moment
976
00:48:43,092 --> 00:48:45,992
to reflect on what
the future might hold.
977
00:48:45,992 --> 00:48:48,063
That after two world wars,
978
00:48:48,063 --> 00:48:51,342
this time really had
to be the last time.
67762
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