[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.

                          ____________________