8th May, 1945

Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the  of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe.

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Several countries observe public holidays on the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day or Victory Day. In the UK it is often abbreviated to VE Day, or V-E Day in the US.

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Several former Soviet bloc countries including Russia and Belarus, and Serbia celebrate on 9 May as the end of all actions was specified at 23:01 Central European Time, which was already 9 May in the Soviet Union. Israel also marks VE Day on 9 May, as a result of the large number of immigrants from the former Soviet area, but it is not a public holiday.

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After Adolf Hitler commited suicide on April 30th, Germany's surrender was authorised by his successor, Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz.

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The act of military surrender was first signed at 02:41 on 7 May in SHAEF HQ at Reims,France and a slightly modified document, considered the definitive 'German Instrument of Surrender', was signed on 8 May 1945 in Karlshorst, Berlin at 21:20 local time.

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The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945...

German Instrument of Surrender, Article 2

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Celebrations erupted throughout the western world, especially in the UK and North America. More than one million people took to the streets throughout the UK 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 their daughters and Prime Minister Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. Churchill went from the palace to Whitehall where he addressed another large crowd....

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God bless you all. This is your victory. In our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best.

Winston Churchill

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At this point he asked Ernest Bevin to come forward and share the applause. Bevin said: "No, Winston, this is your day", and proceeded to conduct the people in the singing of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.

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Later, Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.

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In the United States, the event coincided with 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, on April 12th. Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day". Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday. Great celebrations took place in many American cities, especially in New York's Times Square.

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Tempering the jubilation somewhat, both Churchill and Truman pointed out that the war against Japan had not yet been won. In his radio broadcast at 15:00 on 8 May, Churchill told the British people that...

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"We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing

(as Japan) remains unsubdued".

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In America, Truman broadcast at 09:00 and said it was...

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"a victory only half won"

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The UU celebrates Victory in Europe Day on the 8th May as a national commemorative holiday. VE Day is not an annual public holiday because of the proximity of the May Day bank holiday on the first Monday in May. In 1995 and 2020 the bank holiday was moved from the preceding Monday to 8th May to commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day, respectively.

Source: Wikipedia

Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signing the final surrender terms on 8 May 1945 in Berlin.

Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall in London as they celebrate VE Day.

Crowds celebrate at Piccadilly Circus.

Trafalgar Square.