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Week 36 • 2019/20www.classroomready.com LeVeL 2

WORD POWER

Weekly NewsCelebrating VE Day

On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany was defeated. After almost six years of

hard, bitter, and terrible war, the Germans surrendered to the Allies. This ended a war that had claimed millions of lives.

The Nazi surrender is commemorated as VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day. It didn’t mark the end of World War II as Japan continued to fight in Asia for months before they too were defeated. However, it was a major moment that signalled hope for freedom-loving people around the world.

Germany’s defeat continues to be remembered around the world, especially in countries that were the Allies in World War II. These include Great Britain, Canada, Russia, and the United States. This year was a major milestone: the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

In Great Britain, Queen Elizabeth gave a speech. She was a teenager at the time and remembered the “joyous

celebrations” on the streets. More than one million took to the streets throughout Great Britain when Germany’s surrender was announced.

This year, large gatherings such as veterans’ parades were planned to commemorate the anniversary. They were cancelled due to COVID-19. However, people around the nation observed a two-minute silence to remember those who fought and died in the war. As well, many families held 1940s-style tea parties in their homes. The U.K. government also launched a website where people could find resources about VE Day and how to celebrate—including how to make posters and decorations.

In Canada, an online ceremony was held in Ottawa. It included a performance of “O Canada” by the Royal Canadian Artillery Band that was streamed on the Canada Remembers Facebook page. As well, some small groups of veterans held wreath-laying ceremonies. More than 1.1 million Canadian men and women

served in World War II. Of those, only 30,000 are still alive. The youngest are in their 90s.

In the United States, eight veterans of World War II—now aged 96 to 100—joined President Trump in a ceremony in Washington D.C.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier laid wreaths at Berlin’s Memorial to the Victims of War and Dictatorship.

When the war ended, Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret wandered incognito among the crowds so they could join the celebrations.

DID YOU KNOW?

COmmEmOratE: To remember and show respect for someone or something.

WrEath: An arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems arranged in a ring—used for decoration or for showing respect to those who have passed away.

InCOgnItO: When someone’s true identity is hidden.

LEVEL 2 CLASSROOM READY WEEKLY NEWS • WEEK 36 • 2019/20

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Celebrating VE Day1. What happened on May 8, 1945?

2. Did VE Day mark the end of World War II?

3. Who were the Allies in World War II?

4. What celebrations were planned in Great Britain for the 75th anniversary of VE Day?

5. How was VE Day celebrated in Canada?

CRITICAl THINKING1. Why is it important to remember events like Victory in Europe Day?

2. What does the Canadian military mean to you? Explain your answer.

Weekly news Q & a



Canada and World War II• For Canada, the Second World War officially began on September 10, 1939, with a declaration of war against Germany.

This followed the declaration of war made by England and France on September 3rd.

• The Dieppe Raid occurred on August 19, 1942. Known as Operation Jubilee, it involved more than 6000 men, including almost 5000 Canadians. The soldiers went ashore at five different points along a 16-kilometre stretch of heavily defended coastline.

• The Italian Campaign began when Allied Forces, including Canada, went ashore in Sicily on July 10, 1943, during Operation Husky. The Allies fought for more than four weeks before defeating the Italians. The fall of Sicily cleared the way for the Allies’ next step on September 3, 1943: landing in mainland Italy.

• D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, when the Allies went ashore on the heavily fortified beaches of Normandy, France. More than 14,000 Canadians participated in what was known as Operation Overlord. Ground, sea, and air forces rehearsed endlessly for over a year before the landings to make sure their timing and coordination were perfect.

• At least 3000 Aboriginal Canadians volunteered to serve in the Second World War.

• The Royal Canadian Navy began the war with 13 vessels and 3500 sailors, and ended it as one of the largest navies in the world with 373 ships and more than 110,000 sailors.

• More than one million Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Second World War. More than 45,000 gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded.

• The Second World War officially ended on May 8, 1945, in Europe (V-E Day) and on August 15, 1945, in the Pacific (V-J Day).

1. When did World War II begin for Canada?

2. When did Operation Jubilee take place?

3. Where did the Allied Forces go ashore on July 10, 1943?

4. When did D-Day occur?

5. How many Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in the Second World War?



Word PowerUsing the words listed below, fill in the blanks in the following sentences. All of the words have been used in the article.

1. Napoleon was at the Battle of Waterloo.

2. The senior class went to a of les Misérables.

3. Great Britain and Russia were in World War II.

4. The alarm that there was something wrong at the office building.

5. The police arrested the thief before he could .

allies, bitter, cancelled, decorations, defeated, dictatorship, memorial, milestone, performance, signalled, surrender, veterans

Quiz1. On May 8, 1945, Russia was defeated.

True False

2. The Allies in World War II included Great Britain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

True False

3. VE Day didn’t mark the end of World War II as continued to fight in Asia for months

before they too were defeated.

4. This year in the UK, large gatherings such as ’ parades were planned to commemorate

the anniversary.

5. In Canada, an online ceremony was held in .

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