70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe

Friday 8 May 2015 marks the seventieth anniversary of VE Day – Victory in Europe Day – the end of the Second World War in Europe.

The Second World War was the most devastating conflict in human history. At least 60 million lives were lost in the war, the equivalent of one person dying every three seconds for six years. Among the recorded dead are some 40,000 Australians.

Beginning with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, the war became a truly global conflict, fought across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, as well as in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

VE Day marks the day of Germany’s surrender, bringing to an end the Second World War in Europe and marking the Allies defeat of Nazism and fascism.

On 7 May 1945 the German High Command authorised the signing of an unconditional surrender on all fronts: the war in Europe was over. The following day, 8 May, was declared VE Day. On Soviet insistence, a second signing ceremony also took place in Berlin on 8 May.

Although the news of Nazi Germany’s defeat was met in Australia with great rejoice, a somber mood existed owing to the continuing war against Japan which was being fought close to home in Asia and the Pacific and in which Australian forces were playing a major role. It was not until VP Day, 15 August, that the Second World War finally came to a close.

Almost one million Australian men and women served in the Australian forces during the Second World War. More than half a million served overseas. The names of over 40,000 Australians killed in the conflict are commemorated at Australian War Memorial on the Roll of Honour and Commemorative Roll.

Over 9,500 Australians were killed in the war against Germany. This figure includes more than 5,000 members of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Over 8,000 Australians became prisoners of war of the Germans in the Second World War.

Read more about VE Day
See Collection Items related to VE Day
Footage of VE Day at The Australian War Memorial 1945

Download high resolution images for 70th Anniversary of Victory in Europe

London, England. 1945-05-08. Crowds gathered in Piccadilly Circus during Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations.

Lincolnshire, England. C. 1945-05. Crews of No. 463 (Lancaster) Squadron RAAF and No. 467 (Lancaster) Squadron RAAF, who throughout the day had flown more than 500 Allied liberated prisoners of war (POWs) in German camps back to England, celebrate a belated Victory in Europe (VE) day (1945-05-08) in their station mess, RAF Station Waddington. Flight Lieutenant M. F. Colvin, of Edinburgh; 280728 Wing Commander Kemp, of Hampton, Vic; 417351 Flying Officer (FO) R. G. Douglass, of Renmark, SA; 35963 FO L. M. Field, of Forbes, NSW; 415904 FO R. Iddon, of Perth, WA; Squadron Leader J. Burkhard, of Sydney, NSW; 422932 FO J. Cole, of Sydney, NSW.

MELBOURNE, VIC. 1945-05-09. TWO MOTOR TRANSPORT DRIVERS ON VE DAY, READING THE NEWS OF VICTORY IN EUROPE OUTSIDE THE QUEENSBRIDGE HOTEL, WHICH WAS CLOSED, AS WERE MOST OF THE HOTELS IN THE CITY AND SUBURBS.

LONDON, ENGLAND. 1945-05-08. COLLAGE OF FRONT PAGES FROM ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED AROUND THE TIME OF VE DAY

Marshal Zhukov signing the German unconditional surrender on behalf of the USSR.

Lincolnshire, England. C. 1945-05. VE (Victory in Europe) day (1945-05-08) was no holiday for these crews of No. 463 (Lancaster) Squadron RAAF and No. 467 (Lancaster) Squadron RAAF. They are being briefed for a flight into Germany to pick up Australian and Allied liberated prisoners of war (POWs).

SYDNEY, NSW. 1945-05-09. CELEBRATION IN THE COMPOSITE SERGEANTS' MESS IN THE GENERAL DETAILS DEPOT AT THE SHOWGROUND ON THE NIGHT PRECEDING THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF VE DAY (VICTORY EUROPE).

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