View source for Victory in Europe Day

{{Short description|Celebration of the end of World War II in Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Victory in Europe Day
| type         = international
| image        = Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall in London as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945. H41849.jpg
| caption      = [[Winston Churchill]] waving to the crowds in [[Whitehall]] (Parliament Street) on 8&nbsp;May celebrating the end of the war, showing the [[V sign|V of Victory]]
| nickname     = {{hlist |VE Day |V-E Day}}
| observedby   = {{UBL
 | '''European states'''
 | National holiday (8 May):
 | [[European Union]]
 | Observances (8 May):
 | [[Norway]]
 | [[Ukraine]]
 | [[United Kingdom]]
 }}
| significance = [[End of World War II in Europe]]
| date         = 8 May
| duration     = 1 day
| frequency    = Annual
| firsttime    = {{Date and age|8 May 1945}}
| relatedto    = [[Victory over Japan Day]], [[Victory Day (9 May)]] and [[Europe Day]]
}}
'''Victory in Europe Day''' is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the [[Allies of World War II]] of [[German Instrument of Surrender|Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender]] of [[Wehrmacht|its armed forces]] on Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the official surrender of all German military operations.

Most former [[Soviet]] countries, and some others, [[Victory Day (9 May)|celebrate on 9 May]], as Germany's unconditional surrender entered into force at 23:01 on 8 May [[Central European Summer Time]]; this corresponded with 00:01 on 9 May in [[Moscow Time]].

Several countries observe [[public holiday]]s on the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day, or Victory Day. In the UK, it is often abbreviated to '''VE Day''', a term which existed as early as September 1944,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=VE+Day |last1=Harper |first1=Douglas |title=VE Day |work=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> in anticipation of victory.

==History==
{{multiple image
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<!-- Image 1 -->
| image1    = VE DAY Piccadily 1945.jpg
| width1    = 244
| alt1      =
| caption1  = Crowds gathering in celebration at [[Piccadilly Circus]], London during VE Day on 8 May 1945
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| image2    = Field Marshall Keitel signs German surrender terms in Berlin 8 May 1945 - Restoration.jpg
| width2    = 244
| alt2      =
| caption2  = Field Marshal [[Wilhelm Keitel]] signing the final surrender terms on 8 May 1945 in Berlin
<!-- Image 3 -->
| image3    = Allied army positions on 10 May 1945.png
| width3    = 244
| alt3      =
| caption3  = Final positions of the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] armies, May 1945
<!-- Image 4 -->
| image4    = 4 US MPs reading about German surrender army.mil-2007-05-07-132957.jpg
| width4    = 244
| alt4      =
| caption4  = [[Military Police Corps (United States)|United States military policemen]] reading about the German surrender in the newspaper ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]''
}}
[[Adolf Hitler]], the [[Führer|Nazi leader]], had [[death of Adolf Hitler|committed suicide on 30 April]] during the [[Battle of Berlin]], and Germany's surrender was authorised by his successor, ''[[Reichspräsident]]'' [[Karl Dönitz]]. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the [[Flensburg Government]]. The act of military surrender was first signed at 02:41 on 7 May at the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Expeditionary Forces ([[SHAEF]]) in [[Reims]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Hamilton|first=Charles|title=Leaders & Personalities of the Third Reich, Vol. 2|publisher=R. James Bender Publishing|year=1996|isbn=978-0-912138-66-4|location=San Jose, CA|pages=285, 286}}</ref> A slightly modified document, considered the definitive [[German Instrument of Surrender]], was signed on 8 May 1945 in [[Karlshorst]], Berlin at 22:43 local time.

{{Blockquote|text=The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945...|author=[[German Instrument of Surrender]]|title=Article 2|source=<ref>{{cite journal |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= July 1945 |title= Unconditional Surrender of German Forces at Berlin |url= https://doi.org/10.2307/2213920 |journal= American Journal of International Law |location= Volume 39, Issue S3: Supplement Official Documents |publisher= Cambridge University Press |doi= 10.2307/2213920 |jstor= 2213920 |access-date= 4 May 2025|url-access= subscription }}</ref> }}

Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the [[Western world]], especially in the United Kingdom, in North America and in USSR. More than one million people celebrated in the streets throughout the UK to mark the end of the European part of the war. In London, crowds massed in [[Trafalgar Square]] and up [[The Mall, London|the Mall]] to [[Buckingham Palace]], where King [[George VI]] and Queen [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth]], accompanied by their daughters and [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Winston Churchill]], appeared on the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowds. Churchill went from the palace to [[Whitehall]], where he addressed another large crowd:{{sfn|Hermiston|2016|p=355}}

{{Blockquote|God bless you all. This is your victory. In our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best.}}
[[File:Ve Day Celebrations in London, 8 May 1945 HU41808.jpg|thumb|upright=1.18|Celebrations in London on 8 May 1945]]
[[File:VE Day celebrations on Bay Street 1945.jpg|thumb|upright=1.18|Celebrations in [[Toronto]] on 8 May 1945]]
Churchill asked [[Ernest Bevin]] to come forward and share the applause. Bevin said, "No, Winston, this is your day," and proceeded to conduct the people in the singing of "[[For He's a Jolly Good Fellow]]".{{sfn|Hermiston|2016|p=355}} Later, Princess [[Elizabeth II|Elizabeth]] (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Margaret]] were allowed to wander incognito among the crowds and take part in the celebrations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-elizabeth-ve-day-75-princess-margaret-celebrate-london-crowds-king-a9490676.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220817/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-elizabeth-ve-day-75-princess-margaret-celebrate-london-crowds-king-a9490676.html |archive-date=17 August 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |last=Barr |first=Sabrina |title=How Princess Elizabeth celebrated VE Day |work=The Independent |date=8 May 2020 |access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref>

In the United States, the event coincided with President [[Harry S. Truman]]'s 61st birthday.<ref name="TrumanBirthday"/> He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on 12 April.<ref name="VEDay">{{cite news |title=Victory Wreath From Truman Is Laid On Hyde Park Grave of War President |newspaper=New York Times |date=9 May 1945 |page=15 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Flags remained at [[half-staff]] for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period.<ref>{{cite news |title=Army Extends Mourning Period |newspaper=New York Times |date=12 May 1945 |page=13 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=30 Days of Mourning For Roosevelt Ended |newspaper=New York Times |date=15 May 1945 |page=4 |author=United Press}}</ref> Truman said of dedicating the victory to Roosevelt's memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day".<ref name="VEDay"/> Later that day, Truman said that the victory made it his most enjoyable birthday.<ref name="TrumanBirthday">{{cite news |title=Truman Marks Birthday |newspaper=The New York Times |date=9 May 1945 |page=6}}</ref> Great celebrations took place in many American cities, especially in [[New York City|New York]]'s [[Times Square]].{{sfn|Telfer|2015|p=75}}

Tempering the jubilation somewhat, both Churchill and Truman pointed out that the war against Japan had not yet been won. In his radio broadcast at 15:00 on 8 May, Churchill told the [[British people]], "We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing (as Japan) remains unsubdued".{{sfn|Telfer|2015|p=33}}{{sfn|Hermiston|2016|p=356}} In America, Truman broadcast at 09:00 and said it was "a victory only half won".{{sfn|Telfer|2015|p=76}}

== National celebrations ==
VE Day is celebrated across European nations as public holidays and national observances.

=== Austria ===
The Festival of Joy is an Austrian event held in honor of VE Day. The [[Austrian Mauthausen Committee]] (MKÖ) has organised the Festival of Joy since 2013, in cooperation with the [[Austrian government]] and the [[City of Vienna]]. The festival is held annually on [[Heldenplatz]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.festderfreude.at/en/organizer |title=Organizer &#124; Festival of Joy &#124; Day of liberation 8 May |website=www.festderfreude.at |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

On the eve of the 75th anniversary in 2020, [[Russian president]] [[Vladimir Putin]], at the request of Chancellor [[Sebastian Kurz]], gave a live address broadcast on Austrian TV channel [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tass.com/society/1154347 |title=Putin: Russia grateful to Austria for careful treatment of wartime burial sites |website=TASS |date=8 May 2020 |access-date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

=== France ===
France celebrates VE Day on 8 May, known as ''8 mai 1945'', being a national and [[public holidays in France|public holiday]]. 

As of 3 September 2018, at least 523 street names "''Rue (du) 8-Mai-1945''" are recorded in the 18 regions, as well as in the 36,700 French [[Communes of France|''communes'']] (equivalent of civil parishes in England).

[[Orléans]] simultaneously celebrates both VE Day and the anniversary of the [[Siege of Orléans]] being lifted on this date by French forces led by [[Joan of Arc]], patron saint of France, in 1429, during the [[Hundred Years War]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marine|first=Protais|date=8 May 2021|editor-last=France Bleu Orléans|editor-first=|editor-link=France Bleu|title=8 mai : le retour de la messe en l'honneur de Jeanne d'Arc à Orléans, malgré les polémiques|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/8-mai-le-retour-de-la-messe-en-l-honneur-de-jeanne-d-arc-a-orleans-1620464609|access-date=26 May 2021|website=|language=fr}}</ref>

=== Germany ===
Events in [[Berlin]] occur on 8 May to commemorate those who fought against Nazism in the [[German resistance to Nazism|German Resistance]] and died in World War II. In 2020, a regional holiday in Berlin occurred on 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of surrender.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schereck|first=Sabine|date=8 May 2020|title=Berlin marks end of WW2 with unprecedented holiday|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52574748|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> [[East Germany]] celebrated 8 May as its ''Tag der Befreiung'' (Liberation Day), first celebrated under [[Walter Ulbricht]]'s government in 1950 and repeated annually until the [[fall of communism]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=May 8, 1945: Total defeat or day of liberation? {{!}} DW {{!}} 5 May 2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/may-8-1945-total-defeat-or-day-of-liberation/a-53340869|website=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com)|language=en-GB|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> Between 1975 and 1990, it was ''Tag des Sieges'' (Victory Day).{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

=== Poland ===
The 8th May is known in [[Poland]] as "Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa" (National Victory Day), and this has been the officially recognised date since a decision on 24 April 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mamy nowe święto państwowe. Po raz pierwszy obchodzimy Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa|url=https://www.tvn24.pl/r/540368|access-date=6 May 2019|website=TVN24.pl}}</ref> From 1945 until 2014, Poland officially recognised 9 May, in line with Russia. 

On 8 May 1945, a meeting of the Council of Ministers was held, debating whether to establish the holiday on 8 May (proposed by [[Marshal of Poland|Marshal]] [[Michał Rola-Żymierski]]) or 10 May (proposed by the government).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jak Moskwa narzuciła nam 9 maja jako Dzień Zwycięstwa i jak świętowaliśmy ten dzień tuż po wojnie &#124; Szczęść Boże Stalinowi – strona 1 – Polityka.pl|date=9 May 2015|url=http://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/historia/1618801,1,jak-moskwa-narzucila-nam-9-maja-jako-dzien-zwyciestwa-i-jak-swietowalismy-ten-dzien-tuz-po-wojnie.read|agency=www.polityka.pl|access-date=22 November 2017|language=pl}}</ref> Finally, the "National Day of Victory and Freedom" was established on 9 May by decree. 

From 1946 to 1989, it was celebrated with Russian traditions, as Poland was a [[Polish People's Republic|socialist state]] at the time. The main celebrations were carried out at Plac Zwycięstwa (Victory Square) or [[Plac Defilad]] (Parade Square) in [[Warsaw]] (most notably in [[1985 Warsaw Victory Day Parade|1985]]). 

After 1990 and the [[fall of the Soviet Union]], no official ceremonies were organized; however, many cities and military units together with local governments organized their own festivities. The [[Russian minority in Poland]] continues to celebrate 9 May traditions to this date. At the end of March 2015, due to the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the president of the Institute of National Remembrance Łukasz Kamiński sent a letter to the [[Marshal of the Sejm]] requesting a change from 9 to 8 May.<ref>{{cite web|title=Informacja o działalności Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej Komisji Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w okresie 1 stycznia 2015 r. – 31 grudnia 2015 r., Warszawa 2016, s. 107 i 109|url=https://ipn.gov.pl/download/1/66091/SPRAWOZDANIEIPN2015.pdf|access-date=7 May 2018|language=pl}}</ref> On 24 April, the [[Sejm]] adopted the Act on National Victory Day to be celebrated on 8 May, at the same time abolishing the National Day of Victory and Freedom celebrated on 9 May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20150000622|title=Ustawa z dnia 24 kwietnia 2015 r. o ustanowieniu Narodowego Dnia Zwycięstwa|website=isap.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
In the United Kingdom, although a major national event, VE Day is not an annual [[Public holidays in the United Kingdom|public holiday]]. In 1995 and 2020, the early May bank holiday was moved by the government from the preceding Monday to 8 May to commemorate the 50th and 75th anniversaries of VE Day, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/08/ve-day-2020-75-anniversary-celebrations-live-latest-news/|title=VE Day 2020: Britons celebrate 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day|first1=Verity|last1=Bowman|first2=Georgina|last2=Hayes|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=8 May 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2020-may-bank-holiday-will-be-moved-to-mark-75th-anniversary-of-ve-day |title=2020 May bank holiday will be moved to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day |website=GOV.UK |date=7 June 2019 |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
===United States===
Victory Day is not a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]] in the United States. However, on 8 May 2025, President [[Donald Trump]] issued a proclamation designating the day as "Victory Day for World War II".<ref>{{cite web |title=Victory Day for World War II, 2025 |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/vcitory-day-for-world-war-ii-2025/ |website=whitehouse.gov |date=8 May 2025 |access-date=18 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gangitano |first1=Alex |title=Trump aims to rename Veterans Day 'Victory Day for World War I' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5279160-trump-vets-day-world-war/ |access-date=18 May 2025 |date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

=== Commemorative events ===
*{{flag|Belgium}}: In Belgium, the commemoration of the termination of [[World War II]] since 1974 has been part of the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918]] (Dutch: Wapenstilstandsdag), an annual national holiday. Every year on this day, a truce-ceremony is held in the presence of the king at the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]] near the [[Congress Column]] in [[Brussels]]. It was first intended to commemorate the victims of the [[First World War]] and subsequently those of [[World War II]] and all other wars worldwide.{{fact|date=February 2023}}
*{{flag|Czech Republic}}: Since the [[Dissolution of Czechoslovakia]] in 1993, the [[Public holidays in the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]] has officially recognized 8 May as Victory Day (''Den vítězství'') Liberation Day (''Den osvobození'').<ref>{{Cite web|title=8. květen – Den vítězství {{!}} Svátky Centrum.cz|url=http://svatky.centrum.cz/clanek/8-kveten-den-vitezstvi/9/|website=svatky.centrum.cz|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays in Czech Republic in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/czech-republic/2020|website=Office Holidays|date=January 2020 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> In recent years the liberation of [[Plzeň]] by American forces has been commemorated on 5 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=World War II Liberation Commemorations Culminate in Pilsen{{!}} U.S. Embassy in The Czech Republic |url=https://cz.usembassy.gov/world-war-ii-liberation-commemorations-culminate-in-pilsen/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=U.S. Embassy in The Czech Republic |date=7 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Morning |first1=Prague |title=Czechs Commemorate Anniversary of Prague Uprising |url=https://www.praguemorning.cz/czechs-commemorate-anniversary-of-prague-uprising-qf4py3uxee/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |work=Prague Morning |date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Czech and Slovak Republics: Czech and Slovak Republics |date=2013 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-4654-1265-2 |page=28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uG3OMue7q2wC&q=5+may+Prague+Czech&pg=PA28 |language=en}}</ref> From 1948 to 1993, the [[Czechoslovak Republic]] celebrated 9 May, which was marked with a military parade of the [[Czechoslovak People's Army]] (ČSLA) on [[Letná]] every five years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lidovky.cz/domov/praha-zazila-vojenskou-prehlidku-po-23-letech.A081028_130928_ln_praha_mtr|title=Praha zažila vojenskou přehlídku, po 23 letech {{!}} Domov|date=28 October 2008|website=Lidovky.cz|language=cs|access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/415142-prahou-ma-buracet-velkolepa-vojenska-prehlidka.html|title=Prahou má burácet velkolepá vojenská přehlídka|website=Novinky.cz|date=21 September 2016 |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> 
*{{Flag|European Union}}: 9 May is [[Europe Day]] which celebrates "peace and unity in Europe", on the anniversary of the 1950 [[Schuman Declaration]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe Day|url=https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/symbols/europe-day_en|last=Anonymous|date=16 June 2016|website=European Union|language=en|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Estonia}}{{Flagicon|Latvia}}{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Baltic states]]: [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] officially commemorate 8 May, but do not commemorate 9 May since it marked the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet occupation]] in 1944 for these states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baltic ambassadors snub Moscow victory day event|url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1406122/baltic-ambassadors-snub-moscow-victory-day-event|website=LRT|date=10 May 2021|access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> Despite this, the local [[Russians in the Baltic states|Russian communities]] still informally celebrate 9 May. Russian diplomats, other representatives from the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]], and local politicians of Russian origin usually take part.<ref>{{cite news |title = Thousands mark Soviet Victory Day in Riga |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url = https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/thousands-mark-soviet-victory-day-in-riga.a128864/ |date=9 May 2015 |access-date=9 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Crowds mark Soviet 'Victory Day' in Rīga |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |url = https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/history/crowds-mark-soviet-victory-day-in-riga.a277718/ |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref>

==List of associated holidays==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!Holiday name
!Date
!Type
!Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flag|Armenia}}
|[[Victory and Peace Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Victory Day around the world in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/victory-day|website=Office Holidays|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[Shushi Liberation Day]]
|8 May
|National public
|It is celebrated jointly with VE Day
|-
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{flag|Bailiwick of Guernsey}}
|[[Liberation Day (Channel Islands)|Liberation Day]], Guernsey
|9 May
|Regional public
|British [[Channel Islands]] have three [[Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands|Liberation Days]]: 9 May in [[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]];<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The History of Liberation Day in Guernsey|url=https://www.visitguernsey.com/magazine/learn-more-about-liberation-day/|website=www.visitguernsey.com}}</ref> 10 May in [[Sark]];<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Sark celebrates Liberation Day|url=https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2019-05-10/sark-celebrates-liberation-day/|website=ITV News|date=10 May 2019}}</ref> and 16 May in [[Alderney]]
|-
|[[Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands|Liberation Day]], Sark
|10 May
|Regional public
|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|[[Liberation of the German-occupied Channel Islands|Liberation Day]], Alderney
|16 May
|Regional public
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|{{flag|Belarus}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays, Belarus {{!}} Belarus.by|url=https://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/national-holidays|website=www.belarus.by|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|Regional public
|Public holiday only in [[Republika Srpska]] but celebrated across the nation<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Holidays 2019|url=https://publicholidays.eu/bosnia-and-herzegovina/2019-dates/|website=PublicHolidays.eu|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Croatia}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National commemorative
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Croatia Marks Victory Day|website=HINA|url=https://www.hina.hr/vijest/4191657 }}</ref>
|-
|{{Flag|Czech Republic}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|8 May
|National public
|as "[[:cs:Den osvobození|Den osvobození]]" 
|-
|{{flag|Denmark}}
|[[Liberation Day (Denmark)|Liberation Day]]
|5 May
|National commemorative 
|as "''Befrielsesdag''" (Liberation Day), an official [[flag flying day]], not a public holiday.<ref>[https://danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/befrielsen-1945/ Befrielsen] ''danmarkshistorien.dk'' {{in lang|da}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}}
|Remembrance Day
|8 May
|National commemorative
|Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.valitsus.ee/en/news/statement-government-republic-estonia|title=Statement by the Government of the Republic of Estonia|website=Government of the Republic of Estonia}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Georgia}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory over Fascism Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|As "ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე" (Victory over Fascism Day)<ref>{{Cite web|title=9 მაისი, როგორც ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე, საქართველოშიც აღინიშნა|url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/1528347.html|website=რადიო თავისუფლება|date=9 May 2003 |language=ka|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays in Georgia in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/georgia/2020|website=Office Holidays|date=January 2020 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Israel}}
|[[Victory in Europe Day (Israel)|VE Day]]
|9 May
|National commemorative 
|Considered a national day of remembrance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Knesset Creates Victory in Europe Day|url=https://knesset.gov.il/spokesman/eng/PR_eng.asp?PRID=13547|website=Knesset|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}
|[[Liberation Day (Italy)|Liberation Day]]
|25 April
|National public 
|Public holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://presidenza.governo.it/ufficio_cerimoniale/cerimoniale/giornate.html|website=Italian Government|access-date=10 May 2021|title=Governo Italiano – Dipartimento per il Cerimoniale dello Stato }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Jersey}}
|[[Liberation Day (Channel Islands)|Liberation Day]]
|9 May
|Regional public
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Government of Jersey|url=http://www.gov.je:80/News/2020/Pages/Liberation75Plans.aspx|last=Jersey|first=States of|website=gov.je}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays in Kazakhstan in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/kazakhstan/2020|website=Office Holidays|date=January 2020 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Latvia}}
|Remembrance Day
|8 May
|National commemorative
|As ''Nacisma sagrāves un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena'' (The Crushing of Nazism and Commemoration Day of Victims of World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/about-the-ministry/state-protocol/latvia-s-national-holidays-and-remembrance-days |title=Latvia's National holidays and Remembrance days – MFA of Latvia |website=www.mfa.gov.lv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117053352/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/about-the-ministry/state-protocol/latvia-s-national-holidays-and-remembrance-days |archive-date=2016-11-17}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Lithuania}}
|Remembrance Day
|8 May
|National commemorative
|As ''Antrojo pasaulinio karo aukų atminimo diena'' (Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the World War II).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://genocid.lt/centras/en/511/c/|title = Memorable dates and anniversaries – Genocid.lt}}</ref> Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held by the President and other officials.
|-
|{{flag|Moldova}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe Day around the world in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/luxembourg/europe-day|website=Office Holidays|language=en|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|[[Liberation Day (Netherlands)|Liberation Day]]
|5 May
|National commemorative 
|as "''Bevrijdingsdag''" (Liberation Day), a public holiday held once every year on 5 May.<ref>[https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/tweede-wereldoorlog/bevrijdingsdag-5-mei Bevrijdingsdag 5 mei] ''www.rijksoverheid.nl'' {{in lang|nl}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Norway}}
|[[German occupation of Norway#Liberation|Liberation Day]]
|8 May
|National commemorative 
|as "''Frigjøringsdagen''" (Liberation Day) and ''The National Veterans Day'', an official [[flag flying day]], not a public holiday.<ref>[https://snl.no/frigj%C3%B8ringen Frigjøringen] ''[[Store norske leksikon]]'' {{in lang|no}}</ref>
|-
|{{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Poland]]
|National Victory Day
|8 May
|National commemorative
|Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://sejm.gov.pl/Sejm10.nsf/komunikat.xsp?documentId=BE84D2611C53360AC1258C840034710C |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Russia}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|as "День Победы" (Victory Day)<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays in Russia in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/russia/2020|website=Office Holidays|date=January 2020 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Победа! 75 лет – официальный сайт|url=https://www.may9.ru/|website=www.may9.ru|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Serbia}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|as "''Дан победе''" / "''Dan pobede''" (Victory Day), a public working holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe Day in Serbia in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/victory-day |website=Office Holidays|language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National and religious holidays in Serbia |url=https://www.minrzs.gov.rs/sr/ministarstvo/drzavni-i-verski-praznici-republike-srbije |website=www.minrzs.gov.rs |language=sr|access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Slovakia}}
|Victory over Fascism Day
|8 May
|National public
|as "Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom" <ref>{{Cite web|title=National Holidays in Slovakia in 2020|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/slovakia/2020|website=Office Holidays|date=January 2020 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Tajikistan}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
|[[Victory Day (9 May)|Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3035|title=Turkmenistan Marks Day of Remembrance of the Fallen in World War II |website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=13 June 2020|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190905/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/3035|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}}
|[[Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945]]
|8 May
|National public 
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rada adopts law on Day of Remembrance, Victory over Nazism in Second World War |url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/913258.html |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Interfax-Ukraine |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Uzbekistan}}
|[[Day of Remembrance and Honour]]
|9 May
|National public
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memorial Day in Uzbekistan in 2020 |url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/uzbekistan/uzbekistan-memorial-day|website=Office Holidays |language=en |access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref> Known as ''Xotira va qadrlash kuni''; before 1999, it was known as ''Gʻalaba kuni'' (Victory Day).{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
|}

===Soviet Victory Day===
{{main|Victory Day (9 May)}}
The instrument of surrender signed 7 May 1945 stipulated that all hostilities must cease at 23:01 ([[Central European Time|CET]]), 8 May 1945. Since that point in time would be on 9 May in local time in the [[Soviet Union]], most Soviet states including Russia celebrated [[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]] on 9 May.<ref>[[Earl F. Ziemke]], 1990, Washington DC, CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY, CHAPTER XV:The Victory Sealed Page 258 last 2 paragraphs</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11594959/Russias-Victory-Day-Parade-marks-new-East-West-divide.html |title= Russia's Victory Day Parade marks new East-West divide |work= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |first= Tom |last= Parfitt |date= 9 May 2015 |access-date= 9 May 2016}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center" perrow="5" heights="200" widths="200">
File:Victory Day Parade 2005-36.jpg|Fireworks in [[Moscow]], Russia ([[2005 Moscow Victory Day Parade|Victory Day 2005]])
File:Cérémonie commémorative du 8-mai-1945 Strasbourg 8 mai 2013 26.jpg|Ceremony in [[Place de la République, Strasbourg]], France (2013)
File:In 5mei2014 096.jpg|Concert in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands ([[Bevrijdingsdag]] 2014)
File:Т-72Б Вооружённых Сил Казахстана.JPG|A [[T-72 tank]] in the Victory Day parade, [[Astana]], Kazakhstan ([[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]] 2015)
File:Парад в честь 70-летия Великой Победы - 19.jpg|The [[Moscow Victory Day Parade|Victory Day Parade]], [[Red Square]], Moscow, Russia ([[2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade|Victory Day 2015]])
File:День Победы в Армении 04.jpg|Ceremony at the [[Mother Armenia]] monument, [[Yerevan]], Armenia ([[Victory Day (9 May)|Victory Day]] 2018)
File:75th Anniversary of VE Day decorations, Poplar Avenue, Wetherby (8th May 2020) 001.jpg|A street in [[Wetherby]] with decorative bunting, United Kingdom (2020)
File:The 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (49882960996).jpg|Ceremony at the [[World War II Memorial]], Washington D.C., United States (2020)
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of timelines of World War II]]
* [[Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War]]
* [[Victory Day]]
* [[Victory Day Parades]]
* [[Victory over Japan Day]]
* ''[[Zero hour (1945)]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Hermiston |first=Roger |title=All Behind You, Winston — Churchill's Great Coalition, 1940–45 |year=2016 |publisher=Aurum Press |location=London |isbn=978-17-81316-64-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Telfer |first=Kevin |title=The Summer of '45 |year=2015 |publisher=Aurum Press Ltd |location=Islington |isbn=978-17-81314-35-7 }}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|VE Day}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/yourcountry/collections/ve-day/ Records from the UK Parliament Collections]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090508074451/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/26162/wwii-ve-day-may-8-1945 WWII: VE Day, May 8, 1945] — slideshow by ''[[Life (magazine)|Life magazine]]'' (archived)
*[http://dlo5.narod.ru/The_Russian_History_In_Audio.pdf Rare audio speeches of the famous historical persons] of the USSR, etc.
*{{YouTube|98nNVTVW8Hc|50th Anniversary Celebration of VE Day in Moscow}} by [[Leon Charney]] on The Leon Charney Report.

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1945 in Europe]]
[[Category:End of World War II]]
[[Category:May observances]]
[[Category:Norwegian flag flying days]]
[[Category:Victory days]]