Europe Remembers VE Day 80 Years On: Across France and parts of Europe, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day is being marked today with solemn ceremonies, historic parades, and renewed calls for peace in a continent once again shadowed by conflict.
While May 8 is a national public holiday in France, observed with grandeur and reverence, it is a day that resonates differently across the European landscape. This year, the occasion carries added significance amid growing global instability, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and increasing strains in transatlantic alliances.
A Nation Pays Tribute
In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron led the country in commemorations with a series of traditional tributes. Beginning at the statue of General Charles de Gaulle, Macron laid a wreath before proceeding up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. There, the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was rekindled in honor of those who gave their lives during the Second World War.
The streets of Paris were filled with military bands from six nations, wartime vehicle parades, French troops, and re-enactors. A flypast soared above the Arc de Triomphe as the national anthem, La Marseillaise, echoed through the capital. Macron addressed the nation, emphasizing the values that triumphed in 1945 – liberty, democracy, and unity – and the responsibility to protect them in today’s fractured world.
“A Europe born of the ashes of war is not indestructible,” Macron said. “We must remember not just the victory, but the cost – and the responsibility we bear to prevent history from repeating itself.”
A Divided Celebration Across Europe
France remains one of the few countries to mark VE Day with such scale and symbolism. Other European nations recognize the date more modestly or even on different days. For example, many countries that were once part of the Soviet bloc – like Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania – have transitioned to commemorating VE Day on May 8, distancing themselves from the May 9 celebrations once favored by Moscow.
Germany, for the first time, has declared May 8 a public holiday. The move reflects a broader shift in acknowledging the end of the Nazi regime not just as defeat, but as liberation. Berlin is hosting commemorations that blend reflection with contemporary warnings about democratic backsliding and geopolitical threats.
Meanwhile, some European countries continue to navigate political tensions over the day. Slovakia’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s nationalist leader Aleksandar Vučić are expected to attend a Moscow-aligned event, drawing sharp criticism from EU leaders. In contrast, Lviv, Ukraine will host a counter-ceremony attended by EU foreign ministers in solidarity with the Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression.
Lessons for a New Generation
The French Ministry of Defence released a statement this week calling the 80th anniversary “a moment of dual responsibility – toward the few remaining survivors of the war and the youth of today.” The ministry emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing the lived testimonies of those who endured the war’s horrors, especially as global peace grows more fragile.
Schools across France and Germany have incorporated special VE Day history programs, with veterans and historians engaging students in conversations about the war, its consequences, and the democratic values at risk in today’s polarized political climate.
“Who Will Protect Europe?”
The words of German historian Oliver Hilmes have reverberated across media this week: “Who will protect Europe?” While more measured than the rhetoric of political leaders, his question highlights a growing unease. The postwar order that brought decades of peace and prosperity to Europe is showing signs of fracture.
The European Union’s unity has been tested in recent years by migration crises, Brexit, the rise of populist governments, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. VE Day 2025, for many, is not just a commemoration of past peace, but a reflection on the fragility of the present.
A Day to Remember, A Call to Defend
As floral wreaths are laid, anthems sung, and memories shared, this year’s VE Day serves as both a historical tribute and a political reckoning. For France, the anniversary reaffirms a commitment to peace, democracy, and resistance against tyranny. For Europe, it is a reminder that the freedoms won in 1945 must not be taken for granted.
At a time when old alliances are tested and new conflicts emerge, May 8 has become more than a date in the history books. It is a call – to remember, to unite, and above all, to defend peace.
