Victory in Europe Day

Victory in Europe Day
Winston Churchill waving to the crowds in Whitehall on 8 May celebrating the end of the war, showing the V of Victory
Also called	VE Day V-E Day
Observed by	European states National holiday (8 May): European Union Observances (8 May): Norway Ukraine United Kingdom
Type	International
Significance	End of World War II in Europe
Date	8 May
Frequency	Annual
First time	8 May 1945; 79 years ago (8 May 1945)
Related to	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 Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the official surrender of all German military operations. On May 25, 1945 the Battle of Odžak ended in a Yugoslav Partisan victory marking the end of World War II in Europe. On the Eastern Front, the last known shots were fired on 11 May.

Russia and some former Soviet countries 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 holidays 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,^[1] in anticipation of victory.