The death of Adolf Hitler on 30 April and the surrender of all German forces a week later brought an end to the war in Europe.
The announcement of the end of hostilities sparked celebrations on the streets across the nation but particularly in London, where estimated 50,000 people were packed into Piccadilly Circus by midnight, singing and dancing.
Celebrations in the streets of London on VE Day 1945 (Photo: Getty)
Victory in Europe Day or VE Day is on Thursday 8 May and is the same date each year.
This was broadcast on the radio to the British people on the evening of 7 May, with a news flash stating the following day would be VE Day and a national holiday.
Is VE Day a bank holiday?
In 1995 and 2020, the early May bank holiday was moved from the preceding Monday to the 8 May to commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day respectively
King George VI and the Queen with Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day 1945 (Photo: Culture Club/Getty)
The Red Arrows are a stalwart of military celebrations, and will be taking to the skies on Monday 5 May for a flypast.
They’ll carry on over Colchester, then Witham in Essex before arriving from the east to London City Airport.
After this the planes will return over London, arriving to The Mall at around 1.45pm to coincide with the end of a military procession has taken place at Buckingham Palace.
What VE Day celebrations are taking place across the country?
Across the UK, there will be events both national and local to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Monday 5 May – London
More than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces, uniformed services and youth groups will march from Parliament Square at midday to Buckingham Palace in London. Military musicians including The Band of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, The Band of HM Royal Marines and a military band from the Royal Corps of Army Music will join the parade. the procession finishes at Buckingham Palace and culminates with a flypast by the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic military aircraft including a Voyager transport aircraft, a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft, Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets. The public are encouraged to host a garden or street party as part of the Great British Food Festival.Tuesday 6 May – London
The Tower Remembers – a commemorative display of almost 30,000 of the original poppies, made for the 2014 installation, “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red”, return inside the Tower’s walls, marking the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War. They will be on display until 11 November 2025. This is a ticketed event. VE Day 80th anniversary flags will be raised across the UK (Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty)Thursday 8 May – Nationwide
9am – town criers will take to the streets to make the VE Day proclamation and VE Day 80 flags will be raised on public buildings. Midday – pipers will play a unique tune written for the occasion entitled ‘Celebratum’ from the top of the UK’s four highest peaks: Ben Nevis (Scotland), Snowdon (Wales), Scafell Pike (England) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland) Midday – an 80th anniversary service will be held at Westminster Abbey, which will be broadcast live on the BBC. 6.30pm – cathedrals and churches will ring out in united celebration throughout the nation 8pm – a live concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, presented by Zoe Ball, with performances from stars of stage and screen. Veterans will tell their stories of love, loss and resilience and an orchestra will help channel the spirit of the original VE Day with special performances of “The White Cliffs of Dover” and “We’ll Meet Again“. 9.30pm – more than a thousand of beacons and hundreds of Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit across the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man representing the light of peace.Regional Celebrations
Scotland Salutes: VE80 – Tuesday 6 May at Usher Hall, Edinburgh from 7.30pm-9.30pm. A musical extravaganza telling the events which led to victory in Europe and featuring The Band of HM Royal Marines, Scotland, The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal British Legion Scotland Dunfermline and District Pipes and Drums, Amy Hawthorn and The Military Wives Choirs’ Scotland. This is a ticketed event. VE Day Celebration Picnic – Monday 5 May at Cardiff Castle, Cardiff from 11am-5pm. The family-friendly event will feature a range of entertainment including music from the bandstand, circus and puppet shows as well as children’s craft activities. No tickets required. VE Day Celebration Tea Dance – Thursday 8 May at Belfast City Hall, Belfast from 1pm-3pm. Organised by Belfast City Council in collaboration with the BBC, Radio Ulster’s Hugo Duncan will host this live broadcast event, with performances from Swing Gals, Tony Allen (from Foster and Allen), Curtis Magee, Boxcar Brian and Country Harmony. This is a ticketed event.What does VE Day commemorate?
The Germans had surrendered to the Allies in Europe and conflict there had ceased.
But it would be another three months before Japanese would surrender and the war would finally come to an end.
VE Day commemorates this victory by the Allied Forces in Europe.
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