Europe Marks 80th Anniversary of VE Day with Ceremonies and Reflection
France and Germany are leading the way in commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a public holiday in both countries. The day marks the anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 and is being observed with ceremonies, parades, and other events across Europe.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at the foot of Charles de Gaulle’s statue, walk up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and inspect the troops. The French defence ministry said in a statement that the 80th anniversary of the victory of 8 May 1945 implies “a double responsibility: to the last surviving witnesses of the war, and to the younger generation.” The ministry added that it is essential to “honour the sacrifices of those who fought and suffered – but also transmit their testimonies and their memories to the young people of today.”
According to The Guardian, Germany will for the first time make VE Day a public holiday, with a series of commemorations, exhibitions, witness accounts, theatre performances, public discussions, film screenings, concerts, and guided tours planned across the country. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend a remembrance ceremony in a war-damaged Berlin church, a wreath-laying ceremony, and the central anniversary event, a parliamentary commemoration in the Reichstag.
The 80th anniversary of VE Day comes at a time when Europe is facing significant security challenges. The continent is grappling with the changes eroding the post-war order that made it wealthy, stable, and unwaveringly democratic. The US, under President Donald Trump, no longer appears to share the same values as Europe, and the transatlantic alliance is under strain. Europe can no longer rely on the US to defend it, and the continent is radically increasing defence spending.
As The Guardian reports, Macron has set France a target of 3.5% of GDP for defence spending this year, an increase of €30bn (£26bn) a year. Merz has gone further, saying that Germany must also increase its defence spending to ensure the country’s security. Other European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states, and even Moscow-friendly Hungary and Slovakia, are among 16 EU states to trigger a budget exemption for significantly higher defence spending.
The way VE Day is commemorated varies across Europe. In western Europe, including the UK, VE Day largely heralded the return of liberty and the triumph of democracy. However, for much of central and eastern Europe, the end of the second world war means something very different: the beginning of life under a communist regime. Russia itself commemorates VE Day with a huge military parade on 9 May, while some other former east bloc states, from Belarus to Bosnia and Herzegovina, continue to mark Victory Day on 9 May.
As the German historian Oliver Hilmes noted, “Who will protect Europe? You can certainly say: the anniversary of 8 May 1945 is catching up with us with a vengeance.” The 80th anniversary of VE Day serves as a reminder of the importance of European security and the need for the continent to take responsibility for its own defence.
The commemorations are also a reminder of the differences between European countries in their approach to marking the end of the war. As The Guardian quotes Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, “The west, as we knew it, no longer exists.” The article also notes that “the closer countries are to Russia, the more alarmed they are and the more pressing they consider the problem.”
In conclusion, the 80th anniversary of VE Day is a significant event that serves as a reminder of the importance of European security and the need for the continent to take responsibility for its own defence. The commemorations across Europe are a testament to the continent’s commitment to honouring the sacrifices of those who fought and suffered during the war, while also reflecting on the current security challenges facing the continent. As The Guardian reports, the anniversary is a reminder that “peace in Europe is recent – and precarious.”
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