Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) – marks the day of World War Two (WW2) when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.
In the UK Monday 5th May is a bank holiday and the day will feature a flyover of Buckingham Palace by the famous Red Arrows and other military aircraft to celebrate VE Day on 8th May.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on 8 May 1945 at 3pm made an announcement on the radio that the war in Europe had come to an end, following Germany’s surrender the day before. On hearing this news, many people were extremely happy that the fighting had stopped and there were big celebrations and street parties as well as moments of sadness and reflection, as so many people had lost their lives or lost loved ones in the conflict.
In January 1945 the Russians launched an attack and broke into Germany from the east. In March the British and Americans crossed the Rhine river to Germany from the west. Hitler refused to leave Berlin. In a political testament to the German nation, he laid the blame for the disastrous war on others and expressed neither regret nor remorse for what had happened. He appointed Karl Dönitz as his successor and Joseph Goebbels as chancellor.
An Army private is shown breaking the news of the end of the war in Europe to other Soldiers after receiving an Associated Press news flash – circa May 8, 1945. Image: HUM Images/Universal Images Group 
Children during VE day celebrations, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Dated 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
King George VI, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill on V.E. Day. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
London May 1945. Crowd celebrates VE day marking the German surrender in World war two. Image: Photo12/Universal Images Group 
Red Arrows Royal Air Force RAF Hawk T-1s in the flying-display with red, white and blue smoke at the Farnborough Airshow 2008. Image: Aviation Images/Universal Images Group 
Crowd of General Dwight Eisenhower Supporters converge on Times Square after Parade, New York City, New York, USA, Dick Demarsico, New York World-Telegram, June 19, 1945. Image: GHI/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
VE Day celebrations, Paris, 8 May 1945. A soldier smothered with kisses by jubilant women. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
World War II (1939-1945) showing images of a free Europe after the defeat of Nazi Germany; British General Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976) is celebrated in Copenhagen as he rides through the streets in a car waving to the people. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall in London as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
World War II (1939-1945) showing Paris on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, 8 May 1945. A large crowd of people gather at the Place de L’Opera in the afternoon. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
World War two: Women, with a child in a pram, standing near the government buildings, Wellington, New Zealand, on VE day, May 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
Victory in Europe Day (VE- Day) celebrated in New York at the end of the war 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
A trumpeter marks the beginning of two minutes of silence to honour the fallen in front of the War Memorial in the centre of Harrogate. Image: Loop Images/Ernesto Rogata 
VE Day – Soldiers hold up the Stars and Stripes newspaper in celebration of the end of WWII in Europe May 8, 1945. Image: HUM Images/Universal Images Group 
Winston churchill, London, 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
Veterans and members of the public observe two minutes of silence to honour the fallen in front of the War Memorial in the centre of Harrogate while maintaining social distancing. Image: Loop Images/Ernesto Rogata 
Italian Soldiers During The Celebrations For The End Of The War, Rome 1945. Image: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
People celebrating end of second world war; 1945. Image: RDB by Dukas/Universal Images Group 
U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower waves from automobile during ticker tape parade, New York City, June 19, 1945. Image: GHI/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
Young men celebrating the end of second world war; 1945. Image: RDB by Dukas/Universal Images Group
In the early hours of April 29, Hitler married his mistress, Eva Braun, and is understood to have shot himself on the afternoon of April 30. Goebbels committed suicide the following day and Heinrich Himmler shortly afterward. Göring, Speer, Ribbentrop and most of the other Nazi leaders were captured by the Allies.
Karl Dönitz attempted to negotiate with the Western powers, but the Allies insisted upon an unconditional surrender, and this was signed at Reims in France on May 7, 1945, coming in to effect at midnight May 8. With the unconditional surrender, Hitler’s Third Reich came to an end.
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Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/ckg25gwy635o
https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich/The-beginning-of-defeat#ref1256251