Dancing in the streets

Eighty years after the country celebrated VE Day, RICHARD PURSEHOUSE and BEN CUNLIFFE look back through the Post & Mail archives to see how Brummies took to the streets to mark the end of six hard years of war in Europe.

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N May 8 1945, a colourful carnival exploded on the streets of Birmingham as crowds celebrated the end of Germany's Third Reich's evil reign.

Couples jitterbugged and flags were unfurled. Fireworks exploded and even hedges were pulled up to make bonfires.

Hostilities officially ended at one minute after midnight on Tuesday May 8, 1945.

But in order to save lives the cease fire was actually sounded the day before.

The surrender was signed at 2.41am on Monday, May 7 at General Eisenhower's headquarters.

The following day, The Birmingham Daily Post reported: “While the suburbs remained quiet, having almost a ‘Sundayish’ air, the old, the young and the very young began to come into the city centre.

“Such places as Victoria Square, New Street, Stephenson Place, High Street and the Bull Ring seemed to attract crowds like a magnet, and long before lunchtime, carefree crowds began to throng the pavements and overflow into the carriage ways.

“By early afternoon it was almost impossible for vehicular traffic to get through.

“They were good-natured, happy crowds, seeking any little amusement or incident which would help them to extract the maximum enjoyment and make them feel that this was their great day.