Event    From 8/5/1945  To 8/5/1945

VE Day

"Victory in Europe Day" actually lasted 2 days. Throughout Britain street parties were held. In the centre of London people celebrated by gathering in crowds in Trafalgar Square and surrounding streets.

On 1 May 1945 the BBC announced Hitler's suicide. On 7 May at 19.40 programmes were interrupted and Churchill made the announcement: German armed forces had surrendered unconditionally on 7 May. Hostilities in Europe ended officially at midnight, 8 May 1945. Victory in Europe celebrations to be on 8 May and 9 May. 

Sources: The BBC, International Churchill Society.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
VE Day

Commemorated ati

Dwight D Eisenhower - Kingston

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander, allied forces Europe, Genera...

Read More

Last V2 rocket in Kingston upon Thames

The plaque says that 8 people were killed but has the names of only five: fou...

Read More

The Island mural

This mural repays some examination. Firstly, looking at the buildings in the ...

Read More

Victory in Europe Day - Woolwich 1

The quotation is one of several variations on the same theme. Possible origin...

Read More

Victory in Europe Day - Woolwich 2

This tree was planted by Frank Lerner on 8th October 2011 to mark Victory in ...

Read More

Show all 6

Other Subjects

The Ashes

The Ashes

A test cricket series played between England and Australia. The name originated following a satirical obituary published in the British newspaper, The Sporting Times, after Australia's 1882 victory...

Event, Sport / Games, Australia

1 memorial
May Day demonstration in Hyde Park, 1890

May Day demonstration in Hyde Park, 1890

Paste Tense describes why and how the 1st of May became the International Workers' Day, how the first such day, in 1890, was planned in the United Kingdom, and goes on to describe: "The main demons...

Event, Community / Clubs, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II.  A London Inheritance's post 2nd June 1953 – Coronation Day In London has some great photos.

Event, Royalty, Tourism / Traditions

10 memorials
Holocaust / Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust / Holocaust Memorial Day

Events for this day (27 January every year) are organised by The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust which exists so that we learn the lessons of the past to build a better future now. It is responsible f...

Event, History, Tragedy, Austria, Germany, Poland

14 memorials