On May 5th in Denmark, the Danes don’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Instead, they celebrate the end of World War II.
On the evening of May 4, 1945, as Danes sat behind their blackout curtains listening to outlawed radio sets, they heard the news from London. British Field Marshall Montgomery that day had taken the unconditional surrender of all German forces in Denmark, Holland and Northwest Germany.
The next day, May 5th, the Danes celebrated as they still do every year.
The west did not learn about the German surrender until May 8 which became known as “V-E Day” or Victory in Europe Day.
But the actual surrender of German forces spanned over a week. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30th. The next day, May 1, German forces surrendered in Italy. On May 2nd, German forces surrendered in Berlin. On May 4th, German forces surrendered in Denmark, Holland and Northwest Germany. On May 5th, U-Boats were ordered to cease operations. on May 6th, German forces in the beseiged town of Breslau surrendered. Finally on May 7th, all German forces were surrendered to the allies and Russians with all operations ceasing on May 8.
Considering that so many lives were lost in WW II, including so many Americans, maybe we should remember the German surrender as the Danes still do as we toss back our Cinco de Mayo beer. And maybe instead of drinking Coronas all night we might order one Carlsberg to honor and thank the Danes for making us remember.
