UPDATE: |The day Manchester partied in the streets – Do you remember VE Day? News

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe – let us know your memories

This year will mark the 80th anniversary of VE [Victory in Europe] Day – the date the Second World War ended in Europe.

With Berlin surrounded by Allied forces, Nazi Germany signed an unconditional surrender. Following the suicide of Adolf Hitler a week earlier, his successor, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, had negotiated an end to the war with the Allies in the hope of saving as many Germans as possible from the advancing Soviet forces.

In Britain, the news of a German surrender had been anticipated for some time. Late on May 7, 1945, the BBC interrupted its scheduled radio programme with the announcement that, after five long and terrible years, war in Europe had ended.

To mark the momentous day, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill declared the following day a public holiday – VE Day.

After years of rationing and blackouts, many people in Britain didn’t wait to celebrate the next day, and walked out of their homes and into the streets to dance and drink in the local pubs.

It’s estimated over a million people took to the streets of Britain to celebrate by gathering in public places and holding street parties on VE Day.

In Manchester, thousands of joyous people flocked to Albert Square to hear the Prime Minister address the nation via a national radio broadcast.

Elsewhere in the city, bunting was strewn from house to house across the terraces. Neighbours brought out spare chairs and tables which they placed on the cobbled streets for parties with cakes and biscuits.

Addressing the nation at 3pm on VE Day (May 8, 1945), Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe, but added a note of caution: “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.”

He knew the war was not over as Japan was still yet to be defeated. That news came on September 2, 1945 – a month after the Allies had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Decades later we still celebrate the spirit and sacrifice of a generation on VE Day.

This year, the 80th anniversary of falls on Thursday, May 8. To mark the anniversary, the Manchester Evening News would like to hear the memories of anyone who remembers VE Day back in 1945.

Most likely, it will be the children and grandchildren of those in Greater Manchester who were alive to witness VE Day, who heard the stories and now hold those memories.

If you would like to share those memories, and perhaps have one of our journalists contact you to speak further, please enter your details below. If you can’t see the form, click here to open in your browser.