Commemorating the end of the Second World War

Today marks the 75th anniversary of ‘Victory in Europe Day’, the official end of World War Two in Europe. Final battles in Europe took place across April and May of 1945, with the cessation of hostilities and agreements and treaties taking place over the following months and years. 

Although British, Commonwealth and Empire forces and their American allies continued to fight in the East, VE Day became a celebration of the end of the war from a Western European perspective. The military and civilian populations of all countries involved had taken hard losses; the memory of all are commemorated.

The Collections present this series of posts as part of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, commemorating the end of this aspect of World War Two and reminiscing about the first VE Day.

MCM’s recollections of VE Day 1945

VE Day bonfire by Oliver van Oss

Churchill and Montgomery: Eighth Army’s North African campaign, 1943