Eighty years ago, on May 8th, 1945, the guns across Europe finally fell silent after 6 years of war. A wave of celebration swept across Europe and the world. After nearly six years of destruction, sacrifice, and loss, the Allied forces had achieved victory over Nazi Germany. Victory in Europe Day—VE Day—marked the end of a conflict that had destroyed much of Europe, claimed millions of lives, and reshaped global politics and economics – the consequences of which reverberate to this day. Today, as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of this historic victory over the greatest manifestation of evil in our history, we are called not only to remember the events of that day but also to reflect on the immense sacrifices made by those who fought to secure the precious freedoms we continue to enjoy eight decades later.
VE Day 80 is more than a date in the calendar; it is a symbol of our national resilience, unity, and pride. It reminds us of the extraordinary courage displayed by our Armed Forces—soldiers, sailors, airmen and women—who risked everything in the defence of our liberty and to free the peoples of Western Europe from tyranny. This legacy of courage survives today. As a participant in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, I am honoured to meet with serving service men and women throughout the UK and am awestruck at their courage, professionalism and patriotism. As your MP, I will always do all I can to support our Armed Forces and veterans.
It is also a tribute to the strength of communities on the home front, who endured hardship and loss with dignity and determination.
As the memories of World War 2 pass from living memory. VE Day 80 is an opportunity to honour our history, to educate younger generations and to ensure that the stories of bravery and perseverance are never forgotten. In recent years our history has, to many, become a source of shame. Patriotism has become taboo, and the denigration of our history all too common. Our children are increasingly taught about the darker aspects of our history at the expense of extolling the immense contribution of the United Kingdom to securing the freedom and democratic rights of Europe (and, of course, much of East Asia) that endures to this day. English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh soldiers fought together to free Europe from a tyranny that had murdered 6 million Jews, and countless millions more gay people, gypsies, slavs and others.
In towns and villages throughout the country, street parties, ceremonies, parades, and moments of silence are being held to mark this solemn yet celebratory occasion. Flags fly high, wreaths are laid, and communities unite in remembrance and gratitude. On Monday, I was honoured to join the Royal British Legion’s Banstead & District Branch in Kingswood in my constituency, and I will be with them again in Banstead on Thursday to mark the occasion. The sense of pride in the courage of those who fought for our freedom is very palpable.
VE Day also serves as a warning from history: our freedom can never be taken for granted and we must be prepared to defend against aggression and tyranny. Just as in 1939, the spectre of war has returned to Europe. We honour the courage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are fighting not just for their liberty, but for the whole of Europe. We must continue to do all that we can to support them, and to ensure that we are prepared for the ever increasing threats against our own security.
But today, lets ensure above all that VE Day 80 serves as a powerful reminder: we are the inheritors of a legacy built on sacrifice. Let us be proud of our past, our nation, and of our Armed Forces who continue to stand watch over our freedoms.
