V-E Day in Chicago-- Part 5: Fears and Optimism as End Nears

There were definitely anxieties fostered by V-E Day and the coming of V-J Day.  The Chicago Tribune ran articles alternating between pessimistic to cautiously optimistic peace prospects.

The president of Borg-Warner, a major defense contractor told the Tribune: "The gradual transition to peacetime production after V-E Day will be the most difficult period we have yet faced.  Secretary of State Edward Stettinius reminded farmers of what happened after World War I when the market for wheat nosedived and thousands of farmers lost their homes and farms.

Tribune front page headlines:

APRIL 30:  TRAMPLE SLAIN DUCE

Munish Falls; Patton Frees 27,000 Captives

Mussolini Shot and Dumped in a Public Square

Capture Nazi Party's Beer Hall Shrine

The last headline might be of interest.  I imagine it is where Hitler's Beer Hall Putch took place.

--GreGen