VICTORY DRINKS AT THE READY

IN VICTORIA SQUARE

- RICHARD PURSEHOUSE & BEN CUNLIFFE Sunday Mercury Historians

It was the day the people of Birmingham had been yearning for after nearly six years of war. Although the Second World War was still being played out in the Far East, the evil Nazi Germany tyranny across Europe had finally been vanquished. Birmingham had played its part admirably, churning out Spitfires, guns and armaments while suffering terribly at the mercy of the Luftwaffe in the Blitz.

Yet, it was a very different story in the first week of May 1945 when, finally, Birmingham could prepare for a mass party. But reports from that momentous week reveal the actual date and time of the celebration would not be known until the eve of the big event.

The Birmingham Daily Post of May 2 reported: "Last night's Home Office circular, following close on what the Prime Minister had said in the House of Commons, makes it plain that the time is very near for celebrating European victory - this is to be VE Day, not V Day plain. The time is at hand and yet, even now, no man knows the day and the hour, not even the Prime Minister."

When the date was given, bonfires would be lit and pubs opened later, the Post revealed. "So far as necessary economies of fuel and power allow, we may flood light our buildings and light our bonfires.

"Our places of public entertainment are asked to remain open for their usual times."