Eighty Years Since VE Day

Countries across Europe, the United States and Canada are marking the end of World War II in Europe today, as the Allies accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, and began the healing which, eighty years later, is still felt by the participating countries.

 

Part of that process was the creation of both NATO which was established to defend Europe from communist aggression, and the establishment of the Unit⁶ed Nations, which was created, ultimately, from the failed League of Nations. But both these entities have moved beyond their original missions.

NATO's primary mission is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through both political and military means, including collective defense and cooperative security. It aims to prevent conflict, manage crises, and ensure the security of its member states by working together on security issues and cooperating with other international actors.

NATO's founding member countries were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Presently, there are thirty-one members of the Organization, many of which were once part of the Warsaw Pact, which was dominated by the former Soviet Union.

The United Nations (UN) aims to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, support sustainable development, and uphold international

law. It was founded in 1945 to prevent future world wars and promote international cooperation. The UN achieves its mission through various activities, including conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding.

The UN had 51 founding members. These included the five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, the Soviet Union (now Russia), the United Kingdom, and the United States. The other 46 nations who signed the Charter of the United Nations on June 26, 1945, along with Poland (who signed on October 15, 1945) also became founding members. 

Currently made up of 193 Member States, virtually all nations, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.

Sadly, with the ongoing “hot wars” which still rage around the world, both entities have come up short in meeting their original objectives.

However, since August, 1945, fortunately, no country has used atomic or nuclear weapons in fighting skirmishes or wars. So, at least, both entities have been successful to bring the boiling points down to a simmer to prevent total annihilation of all living beings and destruction of the planet.

So, let us celebrate the Good which was begun this day, and continue to move forward in our quest for total peace on earth, which was the cause for celebration on May 8, 1945.

The lesson we learned that day was: At least if nations are speaking, the chance for war is minimized.