VE Day

 
Victory in Europe (VE) Day was declared on Tuesday 8 May 1945. It marked the formal end of war in Europe. With it came the end of six years of misery, pain, courage and endurance across the world.
 
Everybody reacted in very different ways to the end of the war: some celebrated with parties, while others spent the day in quiet reflection. And some were too busy carrying out the tasks of victory to do either. Ultimately nothing would be quite the same again.

The end of the World War One on 11 November 1918 had come as a shock to many soldiers and civilians because the collapse of the German army had been so sudden. In contrast, it was clear - since the beginning of 1945 - that the end of European hostilities was in sight following a series of Nazi capitulations. The German forces in Italy surrendered on 2 May. On the following day a high-ranking German delegation, including a senior admiral and a senior general, arrived at the headquarters of Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, near Lubeck in northern Germany.    

Montgomery is reported to have barked, 'Who are these men? What do they want?' They had come to offer surrender of the German forces in Northern Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. 
 
 
The final document of unconditional surrender was signed in Reims, at General Dwight Eisenhower's headquarters, on 7 May. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI wanted Monday 7 May to be VE Day, but in the event, bowed to American wishes, victory being celebrated on 8 May. The USSR waited an extra day before beginning their own celebrations.