US EditionVE Day in Kirkcaldy: parades, bonfires with effigies of Hitler, but a sense of restrained celebration
- On May 7, 1945, senior German military leaders finalized their unconditional surrender, leading the Allied forces to officially mark May 8 as Victory in Europe Day, signifying the end of the conflict with Nazi Germany.
- The surrender followed six years of fighting in Europe and the Mediterranean, resulting in about 10,000 deaths, at least 10,000 wounded, and 8,000 captured as prisoners of war.
- In Australia, celebrations included large public gatherings and church services, such as 100,000 attendees at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance, though the mood remained subdued due to ongoing war in the Pacific and families awaiting news of missing soldiers.
- Private Lawrence Saywell, who died on May 8, 1945, after being shot by a German SS soldier during the disorderly Nazi withdrawal, was the final Australian soldier confirmed to have lost his life in World War II; he is laid to rest in the Prague War Cemetery.
- Despite official peace in Europe, sporadic fighting continued, families faced delayed confirmation about missing troops, and solemn remembrance reflected awareness of the Holocaust’s immense human cost and the impact of restrictive policies like the White Paper on Jewish immigration.
15 Articles
15 Articles
May 8th and 9th. Memories for after a war
On May 8, 1945, General Alfred Jodl signed Germany’s unconditional surrender at the Allied headquarters in Reims. Thousands of people took to the streets in London, Paris, New York and other cities to celebrate it. The next day, and at Stalin’s demand, the ceremony was repeated in Berlin, in the presence of the laureate Marshal Georgui Zhukov and representatives of the rest of allied countries. The Red Army had conquered the capital of the Reich…
Triumph and tragedy: How Australians celebrated VE Day
It was 80 years ago today when six years of fighting in World War II came to a close, sparking wild celebrations in Australia and across the globe.Top German generals signed the unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, and the Allied nations declared Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945, bringing to a close the war against Nazi Germany.Australians from each of the three armed services and the merchant navy served in the European war.READ MORE: '…
VE Day in Kirkcaldy: parades, bonfires with effigies of Hitler, but a sense of restrained celebration
Eighty years ago this week, Britain celebrated victory in World War Two. On May 8, 1945, the UK and its allies formally accepted Nazi Germany's surrender after almost six years of war.
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