The 20th Century, 1900 - 1999 The European Union

1945 End of World War 2

Everybody knew, as the new year began in 1945, that this year would bring the end of the war.

300,000 German refugees arrived from the earlier German areas. The last came May the 4th in 2 submarines.

The Danish people were happy when the news of Hitler and Mussolini were dead May the 1st 1945. The German general in command in Denmark said that it was every Germans duty to fight to the last cartridge. The danes got anxious if he really ment what he said.

The Danes hoped that the English would arrived first.

On the evening the 4th of May 1945 at 8:30 pm everyone was listening to the broadcasts from BBC - the radio in London, England.

Suddenly it was announced that the Germans in Northern Germany, The netherlands, and Denmark would surrender to General Montgomery May the 5th at 8:00 am.

The Danes were enthusiasmed, so extremely happy. 5 dark years had ended. The Danes couldn't wait for the British army to arrive.

They arrived but not to the Danish island - Bornholm. Bornholm is placed east of the border, which was arranged after a negotiation between USSR and the Western allied.

The Germans are happy because now the war is over - they are waiting for some english soldiers to come to Bornholm, so the Germans can surrender.

No englishmen are coming Suddenly, Monday the 7th of May, the Russians flew over the island and bombed the 2 cities, Rønne and Nexø.

The bombing was to force the Germans to surrender to the Russians. First after a 2nd bombing the next day the Germans surrender.

The Russians occupied Bornholm, but as the only country occupied by the Russians after the 2nd World War, they left Bornholm in 1946.

The 10th of May 1945 the king opened the Danish Parliament - life was beginning to be normal again.

It is because of the English Denmark became part of the western world.