[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2767-H2768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H2767]]
RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN EUROPE (V-E) DAY DURING
WORLD WAR II
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 233) recognizing the 60th
Anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day During World War II, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 233
Whereas on May 7, 1945, at General Dwight Eisenhower's
headquarters in Reims, France, a representative of the German
High command signed the document of surrender,
unconditionally surrendering all air, land and sea forces to
the Allies on May 8, ending the war in Europe;
Whereas Western Europe and the United States have
traditionally celebrated May 8 as the day of the Allied
``Victory in Europe'' over Germany, or ``V-E Day'' ;
Whereas May 8, 2005, marks the 60th anniversary of V-E Day;
Whereas V-E Day was a day for which millions had worked and
fought and prayed and died during that terrible war;
Whereas this day marked the end of six years of misery,
suffering, courage, and endurance across the world;
Whereas the United States Armed Forces fought with their
Allies to free occupied nations and their victory in Europe
represented the triumph of good over unspeakable evil, and
the promise of a peaceful future for a Europe ravaged by the
bloodiest war in its history;
Whereas V-E Day marked the culmination of the efforts of
many different nations in the Allied forces who were united
by the common quest for peace and justice and who fought
valiantly to liberate occupied countries and to prevent
Hitler's onslaught;
Whereas the more than 4,000,000 members of the United
States Armed Forces deployed in Europe, the largest United
States military force ever committed to any theater of
operation, were joined by millions of members of the armed
forces of other Allied nations, and together provided the
essential strength and made innumerable sacrifices to end the
war in Europe;
Whereas almost 200,000 members of the United States Armed
Forces gave their lives in battle and hundreds of thousands
were wounded in the European theater during World War II;
Whereas European countries have erected many monuments and
plaques commemorating their liberation by the United States
and its Allies during World War II;
Whereas the 60th anniversary of V-E Day in 2005 will be
marked by many commemorative events by citizens of the United
States and many other nations; and
Whereas the courage and sacrifice of the members of the
United States Armed Forces and of many other nations who
served with distinction to save the world from tyranny and
aggression should always be remembered: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the
60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, joins
with a grateful Nation in expressing respect and appreciation
to the men and women who served in the European theater
during World War II, and remembers and pays tribute to those
Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their life
for their country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
H. Res. 233, Madam Speaker, as the Clerk just pointed out, is a
resolution that recognizes the 60th anniversary of victory in Europe
during World War II.
This resolution, Madam Speaker, reiterates a simple but powerful
message that our Nation honors and deeply appreciates the men and women
who served in the European Theatre during World War II and that we
especially remember and pay tribute to those Americans who made the
ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Madam Speaker, 60 years ago, at General Eisenhower's headquarters in
Reims, France, a representative of the German high command
unconditionally surrendered all land, air, and sea forces to the allies
ending the war in Europe.
General Eisenhower, in his order of the day to the troops on May 8,
1945, V-E Day, declared, and I quote him in part: ``The crusade on
which we embarked in early summer of 1944 has reached its glorious
conclusion. It is my special privilege, in the name of all nations
represented in this theatre of war, to commend each of you for the
valiant performance of duty. Though these words are feeble,'' General
Eisenhower went on to say, ``they come from the bottom of a heart
overflowing with pride in our loyal service and admiration for you as
warriors. Your accomplishments at sea, in the air and on the ground,
and in the field of supply, have astonished the world. Even before the
final week of the conflict, you had put 5 million of the enemy
permanently out of the war. You have taken in stride military tasks so
difficult as to be classified by many doubters as impossible.
``You have confused and defeated and destroyed your savagely fighting
foe. On the road to victory you have endured every discomfort and
privation and have surmounted every obstacle, ingenuity and desperation
could throw in your path. Full victory in Europe has been attained,''
he concluded.
President Truman in his radio address to the Nation that same day
declared: ``Much remains to be done. The victory won in the West must
now be won in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil
from which half the world has been freed.
General Truman went on to say: ``For the triumph of spirit and of
arms, which we have won, and for the promise of the peoples everywhere
to join us in the love of freedom, it is fitting that we as a Nation
give thanks to Almighty God, who has strengthened us and given us the
victory.''
He then went on to say that May 13, 1945, would be a day of prayer.
And he called upon the people of the United States, whatever their
faith, to unite, offering joyful thanks to God for the victory that we
have won and to pray, to quote him again: ``That He will support us to
the end of our present struggle and guide us into the way of peace.''
How fitting, Madam Speaker, that we continue to commemorate a
national day of prayer this Thursday, May 5, as we bring before God our
thanks for the many blessings He has bestowed upon this great Nation
and petition for help in the ongoing challenges we face.
H. Res. 233, Madam Speaker, recognizes the enormous sacrifice of the
young men and women who fought in the European theatre. During World
War II, more than 4 million members of the United States Armed Forces
fought in Europe. This is the largest military force ever committed by
the United States in any theatre of operation.
And almost 200,000 American troops were killed in the European
theater. In addition, H. Res. 233 recognizes the sacrifice of the
millions of members of the armed forces of allied nations in defeating
Nazi Germany, liberating Europe, and putting to an end an unspeakable
crime and crimes perpetrated by the Nazi regime.
H. Res. 233 was approved by the European Emerging Threats
Subcommittee, and I hope that every Member of the House will support
its passage this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I welcome this resolution marking the 60th anniversary of the allied
victory in Europe at the end of World War II, which was introduced by
the chairman of the Europe Subcommittee, the gentleman from California
(Mr. Gallegly).
I also want to thank our chairman, my good friend, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for moving it so quickly through the committee and
to the consideration by this House.
In just a few days, Mr. Speaker, the President will mark this
important historic anniversary by visiting Holland and Russia for
special events commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe.
I remember well the events that we are commemorating. I was a
teenager in Budapest, Hungary. And as a 16-year-old, I witnessed the
military occupation of Hungary by Nazi troops in March 1944.
For part of that year, Mr. Speaker, I was in and out of Hungarian
labor camps forced to repair a rail bridge on the main railroad line
between Budapest and Vienna, across one of the tributaries of the
Danube River. We cheered as American aircraft from bases in Italy
bombed the bridge, although we knew that as soon as those planes were
gone we would be forced rebuild it.
But we cheered because we knew that American participation in the
war, and the heroic deeds of the American military, would ultimately
bring about the
[[Page H2768]]
defeat of the monstrous Nazi war machine. Ultimately, German forces
retreated into Austria, the Soviet Army arrived liberating Budapest.
Mr. Speaker, in a more direct and perhaps more personal sense than
some of my colleagues here in the House, I have the greatest respect
and admiration for the sacrifices of American soldiers and American
pilots, many of whom give their lives in this epic battle against the
evil forces of Adolph Hitler. In many ways, Mr. Speaker, victory in
Europe in May 1945 marked more a beginning than an end.
It marked the end of the Nazi threat to freedom, but marked the
beginning of a new United States involvement in Europe. As the Cold War
began even before the guns of the Second World War became silent, the
United States worked with our European allies to defend freedom from
the Soviet Union with the Berlin airlift, the establishment of NATO,
and strong American support for European cooperation which finally led
to the establishment of the European Union.
As we look back on May 1945, at the exhilaration and camaraderie that
we all shared at that time, I regret that some of that unity and
cooperation has vanished. I regret that some of the countries that were
liberated by the shedding of American blood in Normandy, and hundreds
of other battlefields across the continent, are now cynically critical
of our actions and obstructive of our efforts.
Our fight against terrorism is no less a struggle for our common
freedom and democratic way of live than was the fight against Nazi
Germany.
Mr. Speaker, I owe my life to the American military, and to the
military forces of the other allied countries who liberated Europe at
an enormous cost. I am honored to join in paying tribute to the men and
women who served in Europe during World War II and in remembering them
on this 60th anniversary of the liberation of Europe.
This was truly the Greatest Generation. And I urge my colleagues to
support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, before yielding back, I just want to thank the gentleman
from California (Mr. Lantos) again for his eloquent statement. He
truly, he and his wife, Annette, are the personification of liberation.
They are survivors of the Holocaust; and he just has been a great
champion for human rights.
And so many Members of this body have served in World War II as well,
including the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished
chairman of the full Committee on International Relations, who served
in the Pacific theatre and was very active in the liberation,
obviously, against Imperial Japan.
But, again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) for his leadership and his very eloquent statement.
Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago the guns and bombs in Europe
fell silent, and President Truman announced victory over Europe to a
proud and free world.
I rise today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of this great and
very important day, and to recognize the sacrifices and accomplishments
of the men and women who so bravely served to defeat hate and
aggression.
I join millions of people participating in thousands of events, in
New York City, all across the United States, and around the world, in
observing and honoring the courage of American service-members, allied
soldiers, and home front workers.
During April 1945, allied forces led by the United States overran
Nazi Germany from the west while Russian forces advanced from the east.
On April 25, American and Russian troops met at the Elbe River. After 6
years of war, suffering, and devastation, Nazi Germany was formally
defeated a few days later on May 8, 1945.
It was a bittersweet victory. Over 400,000 American soldiers died in
World War II; 350, 000 British soldiers gave their lives; and a
staggering 20 million Russian soldiers and civilians perished in the
war fighting German aggression on their home soil. The war also brought
about the most horrendous systematic murder which humanity has ever
known, the Holocaust.
In memory of all the victims of World War II, it is our duty to raise
our voices as one and say to the present and future generations that no
one has the right to remain indifferent to anti-Semitism, xenophobia
and racial or religious intolerance.
This is an occasion to remember and commemorate. We must remember why
the war was fought, remember the victims and heroes, and thank those
who fought so hard and sacrificed so much.
V-E Day marked the promise of a peaceful future for a Europe ravaged
by unspeakable horror and war. Although freedom did not come to every
European nation following the defeat of Nazi Germany, today we stand at
the threshold of a very hopeful future based on sovereignty, democracy,
freedom and cooperation.
Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to honor those individuals who
gave their lives during the liberation of Europe, to thank the veterans
of World War II, and to commemorate the defeat of Nazism and Fascism by
freedom-loving people.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of our time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gilchrest). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 233, as
amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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