The Pittsburgh Press (May 2, 1941)
‘V’ FOR VICTORY
The London military correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor, R. Maillard Stead, reports that the people of several occupied countries are talking back to the German invaders by writing the letter “V” on walls, on the sand, and by underlining it in notices posted by the Germans.
The “V” is for victoire – British victory – in France and Belgium. Itb has become a symbol of all opposition to the Nazis. The first and second fingers of either hand, held up to form a “V,” is the sign of secret opposition to the conquerors.
Such opposition will make it more difficult for Hitler to win. But should he “win,” the ubiquitous letter “V” will mock his victory and in time brand it as hollow. Remember the trouble made for mighty England by little Ireland. How can Germany keep a dozen Irelands under the heel? How can the Nazis hope to rule the Dutch, Belgians, French, Italians, Danes, Norwegians, Poles, Czechs, Magyars, Romanians, Yugoslavs, Bulgarians, and Greeks – their present victims and “partners?”