VE Day, 8 May 1945
Victory in Europe Day. The end of the war in Europe was the unconditional surrender of the German armies and marked the formal end of Hitler's war.
The final documents of unconditional surrender was signed at General Dwight Eisenhower's headquarters in Reims on 7 May. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI wanted Monday 7 May to be VE Day, but in the event, bowing to American wishes, victory was celebrated on 8 May.
VE Day in New Zealand, 9 May 1945
Germany surrendered in the early afternoon of the 7 May, New Zealand time. The news became know the next morning, with screaming headlines in the morning papers. But the acting Prime Minister, Walter Nash, insisted that celebrations should wait until British Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the peace, which would not be heard in New Zealand until 1:00am on the 9 May.
Churchill takes the helm as Germans advance, 10 May 1940
In London, it was announced that Winston Churchill will lead a coalition government after Prim Minister Neville Chamberlain said he was stepping aside.
Battle for Crete, 20 May 1941
The Battle for Crete in May 1941 is the most dramatic battle in which New Zealand forces have participated. For twelve days, with British, Australian and Greek troops, assisted by Cretan civilians, they battled to repel airborne assault on a scale never before attempted. They almost succeeded.
On the 20 May the Germans invaded Crete. The focus was on the airfield at Maleme and the Canea area. The glider-borne troops and paratroopers were badly mauled where they landed in or near the defenders.
This year in May New Zealand veterans will travel to Crete.
For more information about Crete, please contact Veterans Affairs New Zealand
Contact form for more information.