Kia ora everybody, and I hope you’re as happy as Daredevil fighting The Hand. For today’s rant, I want to talk about a very special event that occurred on 8th May. I was sitting on the fence about whether to talk about this, but after the world’s most famous 78 year-old convicted felon decided to give the world a history lesson about it, the die was cast and he forced my hand.
His explanation about 8th May was a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, because he was like the class bully who had secured the answers to a history test, but still managed to copy the answers down wrong.
To understand why I’m losing sleep and my hair turning grey over this, I’m referencing VE Day, which is known as Victory in Europe Day. This day is commemorated on 8th May every year, where it marks the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, on the 8th May 1945.
To clarify, when Nazi Germany surrendered on 8th May 1945, this brought the theatre of war in Europe during the Second World War to a close, but not the actual war. The fighting in Europe had ended; hence the term, Victory in Europe, however, the Allies still needed to deal with Japan.
World War Two continued until the surrender of Imperial Japan on 15th August 1945, which is known as VJ Day, otherwise known as Victory over Japan Day. The official surrender of the Japanese forces was held on 2nd September 1945.
Credit: Charnwood Borough Council
Because you’re keen followers of New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website, you would have realised that 8th May 2025 was the 80th anniversary of VE Day. To say VE Day changed the world is like saying Salt and Vinegar chips are just a snack. You can look at it from various angles, but in my humble opinion and without trying to glorify war, because I’m not, but World War Two was for the world; it was about saving the world, and VE Day meant the job was half done.
In all seriousness, the 80th anniversary of VE Day is still relevant and important, not only to Europe but also to the world. The Nazis were defeated, and the world rejoiced and partied like it was 31st December 1999, bringing much-needed peace to the continent.
I did not witness the moment when Germany’s surrender was announced. I cannot imagine the range of emotions that people from different countries, religions, ages, backgrounds, and political ideologies experienced that day.
However, since different governments have honoured the 80th anniversary of VE Day, I searched through the land of the internet, to find some photos taken on 8th May 1945, regardless of their origin, to show what it was like. It must have been a hell of a party because it’s still within the living memory of the world’s population.
As you know, I’m a New Zealander, so it will come as no surprise that I’ll start with photos in Godzone, then I’ll move on to other countries, in alphabetic order. If I have missed your country, I’m very sorry, as I can only do as much as I can, within the limits of being conscious. Enjoy.
New Zealand
A group of women in party mode carrying flags and steamers near the Ballance Street/Lambton Quay corner, Wellington, New Zealand to celebrate VE Day. Credit: Alexander Turnbull Library reference 1 / 4-001508-F
Crowds outside Parliament in Wellington on VE Day. Credit: Alexander Turnbull Library reference 1 / 4-001525-F.
Crowds celebrate VE Day in Queen St, Auckland. Credit: FAIRFAX NZ / Sunday-Star-Times
Australia
Celebrating Victory in Europe: 8 May 1945 | Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney. Credit: Anzac Memorial.
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.
Belorussian S.S.R(Belarus)
Belarusians celebrate victory in central Minsk. More than a quarter of the entire population of the Belorussian S.S.R. were killed during World War II. Credit: Emmanuil Yevzerikhin
Canada
VE Day in Toronto. Credit: City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1257, Series 1056, Item 195
V-E Day celebrations on Bay Street, Toronto, Canada. Credit: John H. Boyd.
Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic)
German tanks in Prague’s Old Town Square in May, 1945 (via Prague City Archives)
Denmark
German troops on a midget retreat through the Town Hall Square in Copenhagen after VE Day. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
France
A group watches from the top of Paris’s Arc de Triomphe as crowds gather. Credit: AFP.
Crowds gather at the Arc de Triomphe on 7 May 1945 to celebrate the end of the second world war. Photograph: AP
Parisians march through the Arc de Triomphe jubilantly waving flags of the Allied Nations as they celebrate Germany’s surrender, May 8 1945. Credit AP
The Netherlands
Amsterdam, 8 May, 1945. Heavy allied trucks, loaded with cheering ‘Amsterdammers’ drive through the city in the vicinity of ‘de Munt’. Colour: ColourisedPieceofJake Source: NIMH
Raucous celebrations on Moscow’s Red Square. A witness recalled “everyone had fun, although some had tears in their eyes…. At the American Embassy, we saw diplomats and employees throwing chocolate, sweets, and toys from the balcony.” Credit: Boris Kudoyarov
A British sergeant being thrown into the air by a crowd of youngsters in Moscow. The Soviet Union celebrated one day after most Allied countries because Germany’s high command signed a second surrender document, as demanded by Josef Stalin, late on May 8. Due to time-zone differences, the signing in Berlin took place in the small hours of the following morning in Moscow. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images
Moscow’s Red Square, packed with people as fireworks explode around the Kremlin. One man who was there later told Russian media “Strangers kissed each other. I don’t remember such a unity of people as it was on May 9, 1945; we were all one and the same — Russians, Tatars, Uzbeks, and Georgians — we were all united as never before.” Credit: Nikolai Sitnlkov
Moscow Victory Day, 1945: Soviet soldiers throwing the banners of defeated Nazi armies at the foot of Lenin’s Mausoleum. Credit: Центральная студия документальных фильмов, ЦСДФ
United Kingdom
Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall in London as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945. From the the balcony of the Ministry of Health, Prime Minister Winston Churchill gives his famous ‘V for Victory’ sign to crowds in Whitehall on the day he broadcast to the nation that the war with Germany had been won, 8 May 1945 (VE Day). To Churchill’s left is Sir John Anderson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. To Churchill’s right is Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour. Credit: Major W. G. Horton
London celebrated the end of World War Two across the capital – including in Trafalgar Square. Credit: Getty Images
Crowds spilled out on to the Mall all the way to Buckingham Palace.
An estimated 50,000 people headed to Piccadilly Circus and nearby Trafalgar Square to celebrate the end of the Second World War on 8 May 1945, which was declared a national holiday in a radio broadcast the day before. (Getty)
A victory street party to celebrate VE Day in Brockley, South London
United States of America
Hundreds of thousands gather to celebrate V-E Day in Times Square. Credit: NY Times
Crowds celebrate VE day in Times Square, New York. Hulton Archive, Getty Images
A parish priest waves a newspaper with news of Germany’s unconditional surrender to pupils of a Roman Catholic parochial school in Chicago. Credit: Corbis/Getty Images.
Wall Street is jammed as Financial District workers celebrate the reported end of the war in Europe. Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Arthur Moore of Buffalo, N.Y., who was wounded in Belgium, stands near New York’s Grand Central Station on May 7, 1945 as New Yorkers celebrate news of the Allies’ victory over Nazi Germany. Associated Press
We owe them a debt we can never repay. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me, and I’ll see you next week.
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