James Holland

And that's going to happen at one minute past midnight on the 9th of May. But then the Germans broadcast about the surrender and the cat's out of the bag and everyone starts partying on the 7th of May. So, Churchill and Truman agree that victory in Europe Day will be celebrated on the 8th of May. But actually, ironically, it's the one day there isn't a surrender. And reactions are really mixed.

And that's going to happen at one minute past midnight on the 9th of May. But then the Germans broadcast about the surrender and the cat's out of the bag and everyone starts partying on the 7th of May. So, Churchill and Truman agree that victory in Europe Day will be celebrated on the 8th of May. But actually, ironically, it's the one day there isn't a surrender. And reactions are really mixed.

For the Western allies, there's euphoria and street parties and ticker taking in Times Square and all the rest of it. There's a kind of mild celebration in a lot of the troops in Europe. And then there's a kind of sort of, well, what was the point in the first place then if we've got to this? Then there is the anxiety about Japan. Plenty of people still fighting in the Pacific.

For the Western allies, there's euphoria and street parties and ticker taking in Times Square and all the rest of it. There's a kind of mild celebration in a lot of the troops in Europe. And then there's a kind of sort of, well, what was the point in the first place then if we've got to this? Then there is the anxiety about Japan. Plenty of people still fighting in the Pacific.

For the Western allies, there's euphoria and street parties and ticker taking in Times Square and all the rest of it. There's a kind of mild celebration in a lot of the troops in Europe. And then there's a kind of sort of, well, what was the point in the first place then if we've got to this? Then there is the anxiety about Japan. Plenty of people still fighting in the Pacific.

I mean, you know, there's people still fighting on Okinawa. You know, there's no victory day for them. They're still fighting the Japanese. And ditto, you know, British troops in Burma and so on. So... It's a completely mixed reaction. And for those people who've... I remember talking to a lady who lived in my village who'd lost her fiancé who'd been shot down in his bomber.

I mean, you know, there's people still fighting on Okinawa. You know, there's no victory day for them. They're still fighting the Japanese. And ditto, you know, British troops in Burma and so on. So... It's a completely mixed reaction. And for those people who've... I remember talking to a lady who lived in my village who'd lost her fiancé who'd been shot down in his bomber.

I mean, you know, there's people still fighting on Okinawa. You know, there's no victory day for them. They're still fighting the Japanese. And ditto, you know, British troops in Burma and so on. So... It's a completely mixed reaction. And for those people who've... I remember talking to a lady who lived in my village who'd lost her fiancé who'd been shot down in his bomber.

And she said she spent the whole of the day just in tears. Right. Because that was that. And it's very interesting. When you look at Truman's... victory speech that he gives on the morning of the 8th of May, coincidentally his 61st birthday that day. It's pretty muted. Yeah, I can read it. There's a job still to be done.

And she said she spent the whole of the day just in tears. Right. Because that was that. And it's very interesting. When you look at Truman's... victory speech that he gives on the morning of the 8th of May, coincidentally his 61st birthday that day. It's pretty muted. Yeah, I can read it. There's a job still to be done.

And she said she spent the whole of the day just in tears. Right. Because that was that. And it's very interesting. When you look at Truman's... victory speech that he gives on the morning of the 8th of May, coincidentally his 61st birthday that day. It's pretty muted. Yeah, I can read it. There's a job still to be done.

It really, really is. And the other thing is, is he knows he's a new president. He hasn't been in office quite a month by that point. Yeah. And he knows there's all sorts of problems brewing with the Soviet Union. You know, there is a complete clash of worldview. Yeah. And there is a huge burden of the Japan. Yeah.

It really, really is. And the other thing is, is he knows he's a new president. He hasn't been in office quite a month by that point. Yeah. And he knows there's all sorts of problems brewing with the Soviet Union. You know, there is a complete clash of worldview. Yeah. And there is a huge burden of the Japan. Yeah.

It really, really is. And the other thing is, is he knows he's a new president. He hasn't been in office quite a month by that point. Yeah. And he knows there's all sorts of problems brewing with the Soviet Union. You know, there is a complete clash of worldview. Yeah. And there is a huge burden of the Japan. Yeah.

Oh, Don, thank you for having me on. I really appreciate it.

Oh, Don, thank you for having me on. I really appreciate it.

Oh, Don, thank you for having me on. I really appreciate it.