On This Day 70 Years Ago - The Second World War Ends in Europe On VE Day

Celebration scene in  London at Buckingham Palace

On this day 70 years ago, on May 8, 1945, Germany surrendered to the allies and the brutal Second War was over in Europe. VE (Victory in Europe) day was proclaimed as a result.

On VE Day the allies knew that they has won the war, and that Japan would ultimately surrender. Huge celebrations broke out in every major allied city. These photographs show what the celebrations were like in the main cities of the Big Three Allied Powers, the U.K. (London), U.S.A. (New York), and Moscow (the Soviet Union, now Russia)

 Celebrating VE Day in Moscow at the Kremlin

 An estimated 60 million people died during the war in Europe, including 25 million Russians and other nationalities in the Soviet Union. These totals do not include those maimed and wounded, and displaced from their homes during the conflict.

The Second World War would not end until three months later on August 15, 1945, with the announcement of surrender by the Empire of Japan after the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

To find our more about VE Day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day

 Celebrating VE Day at Times Square, New York

The video below shows the wild celebration scenes in London

Opening today in Britain is A Royal Night Out, based on a true story. On VE Day, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen) and her sister, Princess Margaret partied in London like normal people for the first time in their lives. It looks like a fun movie to see, the trailer is below: