The red arrows fly over the crowd gathered in front of the Buckingham Palace in the center of London on Monday after a military procession to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory to Europe, marking the day the allies announced the surrender of Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
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London – Eighty years ago, the Allies announced that they had accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
What became known as victory in Europe marked the end of the Second World War in Europe, before the end of the whole war, with the surrender of Japan almost four months later, on September 2, 1945.
There are commemorative monuments and moments of silence across Europe. But there are also fears for the future security of Europe, in the midst of the war of Russia in Ukraine and relations with the United States.
What’s going on in Europe?
People go up the shopping center to the Buckingham Palace before a Flypast of the Red Arrows, after a military procession celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe in London on Monday.
Andrew Matthews / AFP via Getty Images
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Andrew Matthews / AFP via Getty Images
In Great Britain, there were four days of commemorations, from Monday with a military parade. King Charles III was standing for attention by saluting the troops and the cavalry, in black fur hats and red coats. The parade included soldiers from Ukraine this year. Sitting in a parade stand, the Royals and the politicians were mixed with veterans of the Second World War, many of whom with wheelchairs and walking sticks.
“The courage of this generation at the heart of Lion. The greatest victory in the history of this great nation. A victory not only for Great Britain,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a speech at a defense conference. “But for the good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil.”
On Thursday, there is a commemorative service at the Westminster Abbey, followed by a moment of national silence, and an evening concert at the Westminster Palace, a complex that also houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The districts through the United Kingdom organize teapots in the street. And the pubs remain open two hours later as usual, because people raise glasses to what many call the “greatest generation”.
In Paris, there is a ceremony for the laying of crowns in front of a statue of the general of war Charles de Gaulle. But in Germany, the commemorations are darker, with speeches on the horrors of fascism.
It’s darker in Germany
People visit an exhibition on the Second World War during the 80th anniversary of the day, the Allies announced the surrender of the Nazis, at the Porte de Brandenburg in Berlin on Thursday.
Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
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Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
In Germany, May 8 is celebrated as a release day. But this concept has carried out a meticulous exam in recent years, explains the German historian Katja Hoyer, author of Beyond the wallA story of the former Eastern Germany.
“This concept also exempts ordinary Germans to a certain extent, because the concept of liberation implies that they were retained captive by their own Nazi regime and were then released by it – rather than having supported it in the first place,” explains Hoyer.
She says that the Germans are still struggling with the way of taking responsibility for the fact that many of their ancestors supported the Nazis.
“The historical responsibility of this betrayal of civilization and the memory of the millions of victims of the Second World War, launched by Nazi Germany, are making responsibility for us to resolutely defend peace and freedom in Europe today,” German Minister Johann Wadephul said on Thursday.
New threats to Europe’s security
Five years ago, Ve Day’s 75th anniversary looked like a celebration, even if it took place under the cocovio locking, explains the British historian Timothy Garton Ash, author of Homelands, a personal history of Europe.
But the 80th anniversary of this year feels tinted with fear, threats, abandonment of the United States and the world order after the Second World War, says Garton Ash. He cites three unprecedented challenges for Europe: the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; The rise of non -Western world powers, many of which are not democracies; And President Trump.
“The war in Ukraine has been by far the biggest European war since 1945. We have also discovered that countries like China and India and Turkey and other major intermediate powers are very happy to do business with Russia, even if it puts this war,” said Garton Ash. “So we are in a post-Western world, if you wish.”
And with Trump in the White House, he says that “Europeans believe that we can no longer count on the American security umbrella on which we relied for most of these 80 years”.
