Removed unsourced POV regarding which rejection was most notable. See talk page. |
See talk page: all editors agree some Poles were invited, therefore they were not 'excluded', they were absent. |
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Though mainly a Commonwealth affair, most of the allies were represented, parading their national flag with an honour guard. The parade also included representatives from the USA, France, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway and Transjordan.<ref> http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/Victory_parade.html </ref> Of the internationally recognised governments sent invitations, the only ones which did not provide delegations were those of the USSR,<ref>[http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/687736 “No Soviet troops for London’s Victory Parade”] “The Canberra Times”, 29 May 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.</ref> Yugoslavia,<ref>[http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2685569 “Yugoslavia annoyed at British Note”] “The Canberra Times”, 7 June 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.</ref> and [[Provisional Government of National Unity|Poland]].<ref>[[Norman Davies|Davies, Norman,]] 1983. ''God's Playground''. Vol II. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. ISBN 0-231-05353-3 and ISBN 0-231-05351-7] p. 575</ref><ref name="The Victory Parade">Rudolf Falkowski, [http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/Victory_parade.html The Victory Parade]. Last accessed on 30 September 2009.</ref><ref> [[Władysław Anders]], “An Army in Exile” MacMillan & Co., London 1949. page 299</ref><ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?id=LkoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=poland+1946+london+victory+parade&source=bl&ots=_GcCLqn9h6&sig=4ZLmpesnd8Kk2j_TZlWL2Ogj4zI&hl=en&ei=N-zgSpblAcKntgfMyvTwDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCkQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false "London Victory Parade: Britain celebrates V-E holiday with pomp and fireworks."] ''Life'', 24 June 1946. Retrieved: 21 October 2009.</ref><ref>http://books.google.ca/books?id=LkoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA32&ots=_GcCLqn9h6&dq=poland%201946%20london%20victory%20parade&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=&f=false</ref> |
Though mainly a Commonwealth affair, most of the allies were represented, parading their national flag with an honour guard. The parade also included representatives from the USA, France, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway and Transjordan.<ref> http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/Victory_parade.html </ref> Of the internationally recognised governments sent invitations, the only ones which did not provide delegations were those of the USSR,<ref>[http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/687736 “No Soviet troops for London’s Victory Parade”] “The Canberra Times”, 29 May 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.</ref> Yugoslavia,<ref>[http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2685569 “Yugoslavia annoyed at British Note”] “The Canberra Times”, 7 June 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.</ref> and [[Provisional Government of National Unity|Poland]].<ref>[[Norman Davies|Davies, Norman,]] 1983. ''God's Playground''. Vol II. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. ISBN 0-231-05353-3 and ISBN 0-231-05351-7] p. 575</ref><ref name="The Victory Parade">Rudolf Falkowski, [http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/Victory_parade.html The Victory Parade]. Last accessed on 30 September 2009.</ref><ref> [[Władysław Anders]], “An Army in Exile” MacMillan & Co., London 1949. page 299</ref><ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?id=LkoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=poland+1946+london+victory+parade&source=bl&ots=_GcCLqn9h6&sig=4ZLmpesnd8Kk2j_TZlWL2Ogj4zI&hl=en&ei=N-zgSpblAcKntgfMyvTwDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCkQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=&f=false "London Victory Parade: Britain celebrates V-E holiday with pomp and fireworks."] ''Life'', 24 June 1946. Retrieved: 21 October 2009.</ref><ref>http://books.google.ca/books?id=LkoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA32&ots=_GcCLqn9h6&dq=poland%201946%20london%20victory%20parade&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=&f=false</ref> |
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The absence of the circa 228,000 [[Polish Armed Forces in the West | Polish armed forces]] who had served under [[Allied Forces Act 1940 | British High Command]] has proven controversial.<ref name="To Return To Poland Or Not To Return - The Dilemma Facing The Polish Armed Forces At The End Of The Second World War"> Dr Mark Ostrowski [http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/polisharmy/chapter1.html]</ref> After the British media put pressure on their government, only Polish [[RAF]] veterans were invited, but refused to attend, out of solidarity with the other Polish forces.<ref name="To Return To Poland Or Not To Return - The Dilemma Facing The Polish Armed Forces At The End Of The Second World War"> Dr Mark Ostrowski [http://www.angelfire.com/ok2/polisharmy/chapter1.html]</ref> |
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==Associated festivities== |
==Associated festivities== |
Revision as of 09:45, 3 April 2010
The London Victory Celebrations of 1946 were British Commonwealth & Empire[1] victory celebrations held after the defeat of Nazi Germany and Empire of Japan in World War II. It took place in the United Kingdom capital of London, on June 8, 1946,[2] mainly encompassing a military parade through the city and a night time fireworks display.[1]
Victory parade
The first part of the parade was the Chiefs of Staff's procession, featuring the British Chiefs of Staff together with the Supreme Allied Commanders. This was followed by a mechanised column which went from Regent’s Park to Tower Hill to The Mall (where the saluting base was)[2][2][3][4]and then back to Regent’s park. It was more than four miles long and contained more than 500 vehicles from the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, British Civilian Services and the British Army (in that order).[5][2]
Next came a Marching Column, which went from Marble Arch to The Mall to Hyde Park Corner[3][2]. This was headed by the flags of the Allied nations which took part in the parade, each with an honour guard (see photo on right of Greek honour guard). Next came units of Navies, the air forces, Civilian Services and armies of the nations of the British Empire. They were followed by units from the Royal Navy, followed by British Civilian Services, the British Army, more of the British Civilian Services, representatives of certain Allied air forces and then the Royal Air Force. This was then followed by a fly-past of RAF planes. The parade was 9 miles long and stretched from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.[citation needed] In the aftermath, 4,127 persons needed medical attention and 65 were taken to hospital. [1]
Though mainly a Commonwealth affair, most of the allies were represented, parading their national flag with an honour guard. The parade also included representatives from the USA, France, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway and Transjordan.[6] Of the internationally recognised governments sent invitations, the only ones which did not provide delegations were those of the USSR,[7] Yugoslavia,[8] and Poland.[9][3][10][11][12]
The absence of the circa 228,000 Polish armed forces who had served under British High Command has proven controversial.[13] After the British media put pressure on their government, only Polish RAF veterans were invited, but refused to attend, out of solidarity with the other Polish forces.[13]
Associated festivities
After sunset of the same day, the principal buildings of London were lit by floodlights, and crowds thronged the banks of the Thames and Westminster Bridge to watch King George VI and his family proceed down the river in the Royal barge. The planned festivities ended with a fireworks display over Central London. However, crowds continued to throng London and surrounded Buckingham Palace even after the Royal family had retired from the festivities. Many festival goers could not return home that night and spent the rest of the night in public parks and other public areas around London.[1]
See also
Polish contribution to World War II
Polish participation at the London Victory Parade of 1946
References
- ^ a b c d “Colourful London Victory Parade” “The Canberra Times”, 10 June 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d The Official Programme of the Victory Celebrations on 8th June 1946 in London, England Part 1 Published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1946
- ^ a b Rudolf Falkowski, The Victory Parade. Last accessed on 30 September 2009.
- ^ "London Victory Parade: Britain celebrates V-E holiday with pomp and fireworks." Life, 24 June 1946. Retrieved: 21 October 2009.
- ^ Gaumont British NewsreelLast accessed on 23 October 2009.
- ^ http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/Victory_parade.html
- ^ “No Soviet troops for London’s Victory Parade” “The Canberra Times”, 29 May 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.
- ^ “Yugoslavia annoyed at British Note” “The Canberra Times”, 7 June 1946. Retrieved: 23 October 2009.
- ^ Davies, Norman, 1983. God's Playground. Vol II. New York: Columbia Univ. Press. ISBN 0-231-05353-3 and ISBN 0-231-05351-7] p. 575
- ^ Władysław Anders, “An Army in Exile” MacMillan & Co., London 1949. page 299
- ^ "London Victory Parade: Britain celebrates V-E holiday with pomp and fireworks." Life, 24 June 1946. Retrieved: 21 October 2009.
- ^ http://books.google.ca/books?id=LkoEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA32&ots=_GcCLqn9h6&dq=poland%201946%20london%20victory%20parade&pg=PA32#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- ^ a b Dr Mark Ostrowski [1]