During one of our Sunday breakfasts my Dad told me his recollection about the end of World War Two in Europe.
As part of the 3rd/9th Armies, his Field Artillery Battalion pushed toward the Elbe river and gained control of the crossing. They then came to a halt for several very quiet days.
"Around the beginning of May, we were told they (commanders of the armies) were meeting in a school house." He remembered it clearly because his birthday is May 2nd.
"May saw the whole of Ninth Army's front reach the agreed demarcation point with the Russians, the advance ceased, ending The Battle of Berlin." (Source: Wikipedia)
We laughed when I found this photograph - both of us had literally pictured it as a little red school house! It was actually le College Moderne et Technique de Reims.
On May 7th time was allowed for the word of victory to spread through the Allied Forces. On May 8th, Winston Churchill announced the war in Europe was over - "V-E Day"!
History in his own words.
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