7057 - Victory in Europe Day: Christian Science Monitor Newspaper from May 7, 1945, Announcing “Germans Surrender”

Victory in Europe Day: Christian Science Monitor Newspaper from May 7, 1945, Announcing “Germans Surrender” Partial issue of The Christian Science Monitor, Atlantic Edition, Boston, dated Monday, May 7, 1945, Volume 37, No. 137, comprising the front leaf (pages 1-2), 16.25 x 22.75. The front page carries the banner headline “Germans Surrender,” with the subhead “Tuesday Set as VE-Day, Great Britain Announces,” and the War Editor’s lead story, in part: “Germany has signed a preliminary instrument of surrender to the Allies. Tomorrow will be observed as V-Day in Europe...In a brief ceremony, the greatest and most destructive war in history virtually came to an end.” The story reports the signing at Eisenhower’s headquarters in a schoolhouse at Rheims, where Gen. Alfred Jodl signed for Germany, with Lt. Gen. Walter Bedell Smith for the Allies, Gen. Ivan Susloparoff for the Soviet Union, and Gen. François Sevez for France, who signed as a witness. Additional front-page coverage includes “Truman Holds Fire; Why Nazi Reich Fell,” the “Text of Statement by Dönitz Declaring End of Fighting,” “Boston a Wee Bit Skeptical,” and a brief report of four million killed at the Oświęcim (Auschwitz) camp. The front also features a large illustration of the Statue of Liberty beneath a lighted map of Europe, captioned with a verse from James 1:25. Page 2 includes a photograph of Joe Rosenthal showing Spencer Tracy the Seventh War Loan poster made from his photograph of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. In fragile condition, with extensive splits along the folds threatening separation, and chipping and small losses to the edges.