Yesterday Russia celebrated its victory over Germany. It is 80 years since the German Instrument of Surrender was signed in Berlin Karlshorst.
Wilhelm Keitel signed on behalf of Germany and Georgy Zhukov signed on the dotted line on behalf of the Soviet Union.
But for the Soviet Union Germany would have been able to fight on much longer. Had the Red Army not defeated them at Stalingrad vast oilfields would have been at the disposal of the Germans.
The brutality and dictatorship of Stalin can never be forgotten or airbrushed out of the history books.
'Beyond the Wall' by Katie Hoyer gives a brilliant description about some of the terror inflicted by Stalin with special reference to the former GDR.
But why did Russia commemorate the event yesterday, May 9 when in fact the Karlshorst signing took place on May 8, 1945?
Maybe a read has the answer?
2 comments:
The first surrender act was signed in Reims, France, on May 7, 1945 (Western Allied HQ), effective May 8 at 23:01 CET.
However, Stalin demanded a second, more formal signing in Berlin (Karlshorst) on May 8 at 22:43 CET (already May 9 at 00:43 Moscow Time due to the time difference).
Thus, when the surrender took effect (May 8 in Europe), it was already May 9 in the USSR.
Thank you Andi. I should have known that, and I thought I did, confused. But you explain it perfectly clearly and succinctly. German thoroughness, Russian exactness.
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