Year 6 Reading Comprehension about Visit the Creative Primary Literacy store for more Literacy resources including playscripts, creative writing ideas and close reading activities. Thanks to Educlips for the clipart! VE Day - The Surrender of the Axis Powers in Europe - 1945 The famous D-Day landings, in Normandy, on the 6th June 1944 began the liberation of German- occupied France (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 German army further and further back through mainland Europe, whilst the Soviet forces pushed them back from the east. By early 1945, Germany's military situation was on the verge of total collapse. Presiding over a rapidly disintegrating Third Reich, Hitler retreated to his bunker in Berlin 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 suicide on the 30th April 1945, to avoid being caught. On May the 8th 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 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 United Kingdom, 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 Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. In the United States, 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 Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy © If you liked the activity book, why not lsave some money and ook at one of our other books? Our Influential US Presidents Collection contains four individual close reading activities – all for just $3.00. Our Non- Fiction Collection contains ten close reading activities for just $4.50. And, our, World War II Collection contains ten activities for just $4.50 that timeline the war and the key battles and events. Could you please leave us a review of the product at: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy We are always grateful for feedback, many thanks for buying the product and I hope your students enjoyed it! Keep an eye out for free resources, and sales by following us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidsplayscripts Facebook: Creative Primary Literacy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativeprimaryliteracy/?hl=en Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.es/creativeprimaryliteracy/ Creative Primary Literacy www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Creative-Primary-Literacy ©.