Year 6 Reading Comprehension about

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Thanks to Educlips for the clipart! VE Day - The Surrender of the in - 1945

The famous D-Day landings, in , on the 6th June 1944 began the liberation of German- occupied (and later Europe) from Nazi control, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front. During the following months the Allies forced the further and further back through mainland Europe, whilst the Soviet forces pushed them back from the east. By early 1945, 's military situation was on the verge of total collapse. Presiding over a rapidly disintegrating Third Reich, Hitler retreated to his bunker in on the 16th January 1945. It was clear to the Nazi leadership that the battle for Berlin would be the final battle of the war in Europe. Berlin was bombarded by Soviet artillery for the first time on the 20th April (Hitler's birthday). By the evening of the 21st, Soviet tanks reached the outskirts of the city. Hitler committed on the 30th April 1945, to avoid being caught.

On May the 8th VE Day () was celebrated to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of 's unconditional surrender of its armed forces. It thus marked the end of World War II in Europe. Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the western world. From Moscow to Los Angeles, people celebrated.

In the , more than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace, where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister , appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. In the , the victory happened on President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died less than a month earlier. Massive celebrations also took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and especially in New York's Times Square.

Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy © The Surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe - 1945

Comprehension 1 - What began the liberation of Europe? (1)

2 - What happened in the months following the D-Day landings? (1)

3 - Where did Hitler go on the 16th January 1945? (1)

4 - What battle would be the final battle of WW2 in Europe? (1)

5 - When and why did Hitler commit suicide? (2)

6 - When and what is VE Day? (2)

7 - How did people celebrate in the United Kingdom? (2)

8 - Who appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace? (2)

9 – Where else did massive celebrations take place? (2)

Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy © The Surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe - 1945

Grammar

10 – How many cities or countries are mentioned in the final paragraph? Why do all of these start with a capital letter? (2)

11 – 11 – Copy the main clause: By the evening of the 21st, Soviet tanks reached the outskirts of the city. (1)

Extension

12 – Write a newspaper article celebrating the last day, make some quotes up from key people mentioned in the text. (3)

Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy © The Surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe - 1945

Questions

Comprehension Questions 1 – What began the liberation of Europe? (1) 2 – What happened in the months following the D-Day landings? (1) 3 – Where did Hitler go on the 16th January 1945? (1) 4 – What battle would be the final battle of WW2 in Europe? (1) 5 – When and why did Hitler commit suicide? (2) 6 – When and what is VE Day? (2) 7 – How did people celebrate in the United Kingdom? (2) 8 – Who appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace? (2) 9 – Where else did massive celebrations take place? (2)

Grammar – 10 – How many cities or countries are mentioned in the final paragraph? Why do all of these start with a capital letter? (2) 11 – Copy the main clause: By the evening of the 21st, Soviet tanks reached the outskirts of the city. (1)

Extension Task – 12 – Write a newspaper article celebrating the last day, make some quotes up from key people mentioned in the text. (3)

Answers

1 – The D-Day landings 2 – The Allies forced the German army further and further back through mainland Europe, whilst the Soviet forces pushed them back from the east 3 – Hitler retreated to his bunker in Berlin 4 – The battle for Berlin 5 – Hitler committed suicide on the 30th April 1945, to avoid being caught. 6 – VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was celebrated to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender 7 – More than one million people celebrated in the streets to mark the end of the European part of the war / crowds massed in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to Buckingham Palace 8 – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Prime Minister Winston Churchill 9 – Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York 10 – Seven / Because they are all proper nouns 11 – Soviet tanks reached the outskirts of the city 12 – 1-3 marks awarded depending on detail

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