Get involved
8th May is Victory in Europe day, a historic day that marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. Sadly plans for major VE day events have had to change due to the pandemic, however, there are still lots of ways to get involved in commemorating this special anniversary, from your home. Click below to find a wide range of free resources, such as bunting, games, recipes and a huge amount for children – great educational but fun resource for parents in need of activities during the lockdown! People are also being asked to share their Second World War stories, family histories and messages of remembrance on social media using #VEDay75 if they are willing. There will be a 2 minutes silence at 11:00am and the Queen will be delivering a national address.
VE day in your home
- Use this dedicated toolkit for resources and branding for your activity, including messages or remembrance and thanks for the WW2 generation, with celebrations at home or in your care setting. This includes bunting and posters you can print and display in our home and windows to show you’re marking the day.
- Plan your party using this guide for ideas on how you can celebrate VE Day at home, with music and recipes, including Prue Leith’s Muscovado Flapjacks.
- Use English Heritage’s pack to help you put together your own celebrations to mark the #VEDay75 from home.
Discover and share your WW2 history
Online resources to discover your local and family Second World War histories and connections:
Ancestry has made all its UK historical records free from 4th to 10th May, so you can discover personal stories and the role your family played in the Second World War.
Do you have a Second World War or VE Day connection? Share it with us at [email protected]
You can also share your messages in response to Football Remembers.
On social media
Share your Second World War stories, family histories and messages of remembrance on social media using #VEDay75 to join the conversation now.
Schools and young people
The end of the Second World War had a big impact on politics, society, culture and the economy.
Historian and presenter Dan Snow has set a creative challenge for school-aged children to research what VE Day is all about that you can enter now.
For more educational resources you can visit:
-
- The Royal British Legion’s Teaching Remembrance covers a range of Remembrance topics, with resources designed for Key Stages 2-4.
- BBC resources for KS4 WW2: How did the British plan to celebrate VE Day?
- Imperial War Museums’ KS2 History VE Day video
