[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: VE Day

[Shaun Hately]

On 9 May 2005 at 20:33, Geoff Bannister wrote:

> There were still UK troops in action but after the attacks on 
> Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, VJ Day followed surprisingly 
> quickly. We shall mark the 60th anniversary of this event here in
> Britain as well because there are many veterans still who help to
> remind us of those who fought in the Far East. But that is why I think
> you will find that the 8th May date chimes more with Europeans than
> perhaps it does in the US because of the different ways in which the
> war impinged on folk. No insults are intended.....

Speaking as a citizen of Australia, whose studied the history of 
warfare, and particularly Australian attitudes to World War II over 
the years, let me also point out to people that VE Day is quite a big 
deal here in Australia as well - and I think very, very few people 
would have any problem with the recent focus on VE Day, even if the 
fact that the war was continuing elsewhere was pushed into the 
background.

Now bear in mind that Australians have good reason to remember the 
war in the Pacific as far more significant than the war in Europe. 
Australia faced Japanese invasion. The Battle for Australia lasted a 
full year. Australia's northern cities were bombed repeatedly - 
nothing like the blitz that hit England, but nonetheless, Darwin 
alone was bombed 64 times. Towns on the east coast were shelled. 
Ships were attacked by submarine - and one was sunk - in Sydney 
Harbour.

Australians were fighting in Africa and in Britain, and later in 
Europe - but certainly for us, the main focus after 1941 was the 
Pacific War.

Yet, when Germany surrendered, there was wild euphoria in Australia - 
virtually nobody said "Hey, this isn't the end of the war." Everybody 
knew that Japan still needed to be defeated - and people got on with 
the job of that after a day or so - but Victory in Europe meant 
Victory over Japan, was now inevitable. American forces, split 
between two theatres would become available for the Pacific. Very 
significant British forces would become available as well. The 
Russians might well become involved.

The war wasn't over - and nobody knew how many lives might still be 
lost - but it was now clearly understood that all the lives lost 
would serve an ultimate purpose.

Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
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facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
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Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia