Australians acknowledge 80th anniversary of VE Day

It was 80 years ago today that the Allies celebrated Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day.

Finally, after nearly 6 years of brutal conflict, the Second World War in Europe was over. On 8 May 1945, a week after Hitler had suicided in his Berlin bunker, the German High Command accepted Allied demands for unconditional surrender and signed the Instrument of Surrender. The surrender officially took effect at midnight 8–9 May 1945.

More than a million people crowded the streets of London to celebrate. Times Square in New York was just as busy, Paris celebrated right through the night, and in Moscow, fireworks exploded over the Kremlin.

In Australia, celebrations were more subdued as the war in the Pacific had yet to be won. However, all were overjoyed that the end of the war was a step closer. Churches around the country held thanksgiving services throughout the day.

 In Sydney, crowds gathered in many public spaces such as Martin Place, and by 11:00 pm in Kings Cross there were some 15,000 people singing, chanting, dancing, kissing and banging pots and pans in the streets. Extra police were called in as the exuberant crowds brought both vehicle and tram traffic in the city to a standstill. 

The next day was declared a national public holiday. So, on the Wednesday morning, despite the lack of public transport, large crowds made their way to open-air thanksgiving services conducted in the nation’s capitals. In Melbourne, more than 100,000 people attended the service at the Shrine of Remembrance. The Age described the service as a ‘mighty gathering’ where ‘a spirit in which pride and humility and a sense of great achievement and great responsibility were mingled.’

Australia played an important role in the Allied victory from the very beginning of the war. More than 140,000 personnel took part in the war against Germany, serving in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Atlantic, including about 9,000 who lost their lives, more than 9,000 who were wounded, and nearly 8,000 more who became prisoners of war.

After Germany’s surrender, the war in the Pacific continued for another three months until the Japanese surrender in August 1945.

Today, we honour the sacrifices of the brave men and women who served throughout the Second World War, and the families who stayed at home supporting them. 

To find out more about VE Day, go to Victory in Europe Day 8 May - Anzac Portal.

Image

100,000 people attended the VE Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on 9 May 1945.

Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial, 089865.