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75th Anniversary of VE Day
Posted: May 6, 2020 by: Mrs Parker (NHemingway) on: Class 6
8th May 2020
What an exciting day this is today!
8th May 1945 marked the formal conclusion of the war with Germany and brought to an end six years of suffering, courage and endurance across the world. On VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) people ran out on to the streets, hanging bunting and banners and began dancing. People organised impromptu street parties, shared rationed food with the neighbours and listened to the wireless for updates. This was and is still such a poignant moment in our country’s history.
Did you know that The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, ventured out with a group of friends, including her sister Princess Margret, to experience the excitement in London? They had to do this in secret and The Queen described it as “one of the most memorable nights of my life”. This photo shows Sir Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the Royal Family. (Princess Elizabeth, who is currently The Queen, is seen on the left)
Here are some activities that you can de relating to this:
PowerPoint and a link to a video with information about VE Day:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/history-ks2-ve-day/z7xtmfr
Recipe booklet with recipes in from when rations were in place.
Try World War Two classics from Glenn Miller, Vera Lynn or The Andrew Sister on this Spotify playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xlanGMn1tpaJE1iadmW2A
Design a bug! In the Second World War the Squander Bug urged people not to waste money but to save it for the war effort:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/meet-the-squander-bug
German troops sent their messages in code. Learn how to send a secret message by mixing up letters!
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-in-Code
Make your own war-time party hat out of newspaper:
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Newspaper-Hat
Make some bunting to hang around your house!
Have a look at this information from English Heritage – you can make special wartime recipes or even learn to swing dance!
On the television, there are many different events happening as well, here are some that the BBC are televising:
11am – Two-minute Silence
At 11am, BBC One will lead a poignant two-minute silence to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Secord World War. This national moment of remembrance will pay tribute to heroes’ past and present.
2.45pm – Sir Winston Churchill’s famous victory speech
At 2.45pm BBC One will broadcast a pre-recorded programme including Sir Winston Churchill’s famous victory speech in which he addressed the nation to announce the end of the war in Europe, which he made from 10 Downing Street on May 8th 1945. This will give everyone in the UK an opportunity to come together, to pay tribute to the Second World War generation and show our gratitude to them for their service and sacrifice during the war.
3pm – Tribute to Sir Winston Churchill
At the heart of the broadcast will be a specially created film to celebrate and remember Sir Winston Churchill’s famous radio address that he made to the nation at 3pm on VE Day. This will be a poignant and emotional piece, reminding both those who were there and other generations of this monumental day in our history. Throughout the event, stirring music from military performers will evoke the wartime spirit and the joy that music could bring even in the darkest of days.
9pm – Special Address from The Queen
At the exact time her father addressed the nation three-quarters of a century ago, Her Majesty The Queen will make a special address to everyone. Here, there will be a national sing-a-long to Dame Vera Lynn’s song ‘We’ll Meet Again’. The song found its fame during the Second World War, as it resonated with soldiers who had to leave their families and fight for Britain. Here are the lyrics to this song so you can practise.
Remember to send us your pictures of how you are commemorating the special day!
Say safe!
Miss H
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