The Halifax VE Day Riots, 7-8 May 1945

The population of Halifax nearly doubled during the war as service personnel poured into the port city by the tens of thousands. Many of the military resented the overcrowding and strained facilities, and the way they believed themselves ignored by Halifax's permanent residents. Bad feelings, combined with the poor preparations of military and local authorities for VE Day, turned spontaneous celebrations into a rampage. Liquor stores and restaurants had been closed so that everyone could enjoy the holiday, leading thousands of sailors and soldiers, along with many civilians, to "liberate" liquor and beer on a big scale. This in turn fuelled large-scale vandalism and looting, both in Halifax and next-door Dartmouth. 564 businesses suffered damage and 207 shops were looted. Three rioters died. Some of the rioters received lengthy prison sentences from the local criminal courts, but most sentences were later reduced. A federal inquiry later blamed the navy for poor discipline of its personnel. The navy's top officer on the east coast was fired.

Related Newspaper Articles

English Articles

• When to Celebrate, Halifax Problem
  The Globe and Mail, 21/09/1944
   
• Two Are Dead, Shops Looted, Liquor Stolen
  The Globe and Mail, 09/05/1945
   
• Cause Of Riots In Halifax Traced To Strains Of War
  The Hamilton Spectator, 12/05/1945
   
• One Phase Led by Naval Men
  The Hamilton Spectator, 18/05/1945
   
• Halifax Too War Conscious To Play the Genial Host
  The Globe And Mail, 22/05/1945
   
• Who's Really to Blame for the Halifax Riot?
  Saturday Night, 25/05/1945
   
• Navy's Laxity Blamed In Commission Report For Halifax VE Riots
  The Globe And Mail, 18/08/1945
   
• 12 of 16 Rioters, Freed After VE-Day Review
  The Globe And Mail, 05/10/1945
   

French Articles

• "18,000 'négligeants' à Halifax"
  Le Devoir, 01/03/1943
   
• L'armée à la place des grévistes de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 05/10/1943
   
• Est-ce que ceci dépasse vraiment les forces humaines?
  Le Devoir, 26/10/1943
   
• Des scènes de carnage se déroulent à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 09/05/1945
   
• Des enquêtes sont en cours à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 11/05/1945
   
• L'enquête sur les désordres de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 12/05/1945
   
• Faits divers. En marge des désordes survenus à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 14/05/1945
   
• Une enquête royale à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 17/05/1945
   
• L'enquête sur les désordres de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 18/05/1945
   
• Développement dans l'affaire de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 18/05/1945
   
• Les désordes de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 18/05/1945
   
• Bloc-notes. Les gens de la navy
  Le Devoir, 21/05/1945
   
• L'enquête se poursuit à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 22/05/1945
   
• L'enquête sur les désordres de Halifax
  Le Devoir, 22/05/1945
   
• L'enquête se poursuit à Halifax
  Le Devoir, 25/05/1945