8 may 1945, May 8, 1945, official end of the Second World War in Europe
Just a small post showing some of the main WWII bayonets from my collection with my great-grandfather Iron cross and a british gas mask from 1944, along with my most prized possession: a French general mobilization poster announcing the beginning of the war following the invasion of Poland and the nationwide mobilization of men and equipment.
The first phase of the war in France saw around 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers killed in just six weeks, while nearly 1.5 million French soldiers were taken prisoner. A large number of them would never return, dying in the various German Stalags.
After several French regions were annexed by Germany, around 200,000 French men from Alsace-Lorraine were forcibly integrated into the Wehrmacht and sent to fight on the Eastern Front, including at Stalingrad and on the Polish and Ukrainian frontlines. They later became known as the “Malgré-nous” (“despite ourselves” / “against our will”), that explains the Iron cross part of that post.
If you were curious about the poster, here is what it is written on it :
FRENCH REPUBLIC : METROPOLITAN FRANCE
ORDER OF GENERAL MOBILIZATION
By decree of the President of the Republic, the mobilization of the Army, Navy and Air Force is hereby ordered, together with the requisitioning of animals, carts, harness equipment, aircraft, motor vehicles, ships, boats, handling equipment, and all means necessary to compensate for the insufficiency of the ordinary supply resources of these armed forces.
The first day of general mobilization is:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1939 AT MIDNIGHT (hand-written)
Every French citizen subject to military obligations must, under penalty of punishment with the full severity of the law, comply with the instructions contained in his mobilization booklet.
The present order applies to all men not currently serving under arms and belonging to the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including registered seamen, men serving in the colonial troops, and men assigned to auxiliary service.
Civil and military authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the present decree.”
The Minister of War The Minister of the Navy The Minister of the Air Force
Happy 8 may to everyone, feel free to post your ww2 collection today !