Algoma and V-E Day, May 8, 1945

 

A few days ago – May 8 - marked the 80^th anniversary of V-E Day, Victory in Europe.

The end of the war in Europe brought rejoicing in Algoma, but it was not a wild celebration. When the end came, prayers for a rapid conclusion to the war in the Pacific were also called for. Those in factories kept working while downtown businesses closed their doors at noon. The bank, post office and schools were kept open, however taverns closed immediately. It was in response to Council’s resolution that when President Truman officially declared V-E Day, Algoma would observe the day with reverence, thanksgiving and prayer. Truman was following the late FDR’s plea for greeting peace with prayer. Wisconsin Governor Walter Goodland echoed Truman. Church bells pealed with the announcement and flags almost instantly appeared along the streets of downtown Algoma.

Streets were nearly deserted until evening – it was Tuesday - when they were filled with folks on their way to special church services.  While changes resulting from the end of the war in Europe would be slow, Wisconsin Public Service Algoma manager Carl Ackerman said the brown-out would be lifted immediately. Streetlights and store window lights were again turned on, and the midnight curfew was abolished.

Men and women from Kewaunee County were among the more than 16 million Americans serving in uniform during the war. They fought in the battles such as the invasion of Normandy (known as D-Day) in June 1944 and battles in France, Luxembourg and Belgium six months later. Men of Kewaunee County were among the quarter million American troops killed in Europe. When the Allies landed on Normandy beaches, it was the beginning of the end. In less than a year, Hitler was dead and Germany surrendered. It was ironic that President Harry Truman was celebrating his birthday on V-E Day. 

GM 2c Raymond Gerhart and HA 1c Melvin Nessinger were shipmates aboard the battleship  USS Nevada and took part in the Battle of Normandy, thebombardment of Cherbourg and the incavsion of southern France.Gerhart was on the ship when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Tje Nevada took a hit but was the only battleship to take a torpedo and get underway, thus escaping the harbor.

The repaired ship mopped up on Attu in the Aleutians before serving on convoy duty in the Atlantic. Following V-E day, the Nevade returned to the Pacific. 

GM 2c Gerhart talked about shelling Normand while the beaches along the coast were flooded by the Germans in an effort to protect them from invasion. The Nevade stayed along the coast for 79 hours before it returned to England for more ammunition. Then it was back to the battle zone. Gerhart spoke about Germany's new radio-controlled bombs but since the Nevada carried a new secret defense, German bombs were harmless. 

Lt. General Jimmy Doollittle had assumed command of the Eighth Air Force in January 1944. Among the 185,000 men and women in his command whome he congratulated on V-E Day were six Algoma men who contributed to the success of the aerial offensive: 1st Lt. James Kohlbeck, Tech Sgt. John N. Beiltling, Pfc. Lawrence VanHaren, St. Sgt. RadioMechanic Robert H. Knapmiller, Pfc. Zeb Shaw and Pfc. Joseph Feuerstein.

Formed in 1942, Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the Eighth dropped more than 700,00 tons of bombs on enemy targets, shot down 5,250 Nazi planes and destroyed 4,250 more on the ground. Bombers shot 6,000 German interceptors out of the air and dropped a ton of bombs every minute between June ’44 and V-E Day.

The airmen were the first Americans to attack Germany and at first flew unescorted against the Luftwaffe, proving it was possible for precision daylight bombing over Germany. As the Eighth grew in strength, it was tasked with crushing the German air force.

Lt. Richard L Kohrt served as a B-17 navigator and as part of the 486^th Bomber group in England, Kohrt was taking part in the missions before V-E Day was declared.

Leading up to V-E Day, Staff Sgt Robert Kramer of Maplewood was one in a crew who completed 13 missions on a B-17 in the European theater. Frank Peroutky, Jr. of East Maplewood was a member of the ground crew in Italy. He told his parents they had “more work now than before V-E Day” and that he didn’t expect to get home for some time. 1^st Lt. Allen Kinnard was also in the Air Force flying the missions leading up to V-E Day.

On Sunday May 20, 1945, St. John church, Rankin, joined the entire Missouri Synod with a special V-E thanksgiving offering.

Forestville’s Victory School gave student’s a half day vacation in honor of V-E Day and St. Peter’s church held special services that same Tuesday evening.

Children at Gregor School observed V-E Day by writing letters of appreciation to soldiers and Slovan Rosebud 4-H started their meeting with the Pledge of Alliegence and the club’s pledge and followed that with a prayer for the boys overseas because of V-E. Day.

Eventually there was a wild celebration. When President Harry S. Truman announced the unconditional surrender of Japan a few monthslater on August14, 1945, the U.S. joined most of the rest of the war-weary world in celebration.  

 

Sources: Algoma Record Herald; Wikipedia. Painting fron NLJ ART.