Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the official surrender of all German military operations.
Most former Soviet countries, and some others, celebrate on 9 May, as Germany's unconditional surrender entered into force at 23:01 on 8 May Central European Summer Time; this corresponded with 00:01 on 9 May in Moscow Time.
Several countries observe public holidays on the day each year, also called Victory Over Fascism Day, Liberation Day, or Victory Day. In the UK, it is often abbreviated to VE Day, a term which existed as early as September 1944, in anticipation of victory.
Infobox
Also called
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Observed by
mw- European statesNational holiday (8 May):European UnionObservances (8 May):NorwayUkraineUnited Kingdom
Type
International
Significance
End of World War II in Europe
Date
8 May
Frequency
Annual
First time
8 May 1945; 80 years ago (8 May 1945)
Related to
Victory over Japan Day, Victory Day (9 May) and Europe Day
Tables
· List of associated holidays
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Victory and Peace Day
Victory and Peace Day
Country
Armenia
Holiday name
Victory and Peace Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
8 May
8 May
Country
Shushi Liberation Day
Holiday name
8 May
Date
National public
Type
It is celebrated jointly with VE Day
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Azerbaijan
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Liberation Day, Guernsey
Liberation Day, Guernsey
Country
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Holiday name
Liberation Day, Guernsey
Date
9 May
Type
Regional public
Notes
British Channel Islands have three Liberation Days: 9 May in Jersey and Guernsey; 10 May in Sark; and 16 May in Alderney
10 May
10 May
Country
Liberation Day, Sark
Holiday name
10 May
Date
Regional public
16 May
16 May
Country
Liberation Day, Alderney
Holiday name
16 May
Date
Regional public
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Belarus
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
Regional public
Notes
Public holiday only in Republika Srpska but celebrated across the nation
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Croatia
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National commemorative
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Czech Republic
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
8 May
Type
National public
Notes
as "Den osvobození"
Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Country
Denmark
Holiday name
Liberation Day
Date
5 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
as "Befrielsesdag" (Liberation Day), an official flag flying day, not a public holiday.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Country
Estonia
Holiday name
Remembrance Day
Date
8 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Victory over Fascism Day
Victory over Fascism Day
Country
Georgia
Holiday name
Victory over Fascism Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Notes
As "ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე" (Victory over Fascism Day)
VE Day
VE Day
Country
Israel
Holiday name
VE Day
Date
9 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
Considered a national day of remembrance.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Country
Italy
Holiday name
Liberation Day
Date
25 April
Type
National public
Notes
Public holiday.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Country
Jersey
Holiday name
Liberation Day
Date
9 May
Type
Regional public
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Kazakhstan
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Kyrgyzstan
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Country
Latvia
Holiday name
Remembrance Day
Date
8 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
As Nacisma sagrāves un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena (The Crushing of Nazism and Commemoration Day of Victims of World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Country
Lithuania
Holiday name
Remembrance Day
Date
8 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
As Antrojo pasaulinio karo aukų atminimo diena (Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held by the President and other officials.
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Moldova
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Country
Netherlands
Holiday name
Liberation Day
Date
5 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day), a public holiday held once every year on 5 May.
Liberation Day
Liberation Day
Country
Norway
Holiday name
Liberation Day
Date
8 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day) and The National Veterans Day, an official flag flying day, not a public holiday.
National Victory Day
National Victory Day
Country
Poland
Holiday name
National Victory Day
Date
8 May
Type
National commemorative
Notes
Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Russia
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Notes
as "День Победы" (Victory Day)
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Serbia
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Notes
as "Дан победе" / "Dan pobede" (Victory Day), a public working holiday.
Victory over Fascism Day
Victory over Fascism Day
Country
Slovakia
Holiday name
Victory over Fascism Day
Date
8 May
Type
National public
Notes
as "Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom"
Victory Day
Victory Day
Country
Tajikistan
Holiday name
Victory Day
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War
Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War
Country
Turkmenistan
Holiday name
Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945
Country
Ukraine
Holiday name
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945
Date
8 May
Type
National public
Day of Remembrance and Honour
Day of Remembrance and Honour
Country
Uzbekistan
Holiday name
Day of Remembrance and Honour
Date
9 May
Type
National public
Notes
Known as Xotira va qadrlash kuni; before 1999, it was known as Gʻalaba kuni (Victory Day).[citation needed]
Ranked list
Country
Holiday name
Date
Type
Notes
Armenia
Victory and Peace Day
9 May
National public
Shushi Liberation Day
8 May
National public
It is celebrated jointly with VE Day
Azerbaijan
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Liberation Day, Guernsey
9 May
Regional public
British Channel Islands have three Liberation Days: 9 May in Jersey and Guernsey; 10 May in Sark; and 16 May in Alderney
Liberation Day, Sark
10 May
Regional public
Liberation Day, Alderney
16 May
Regional public
Belarus
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Victory Day
9 May
Regional public
Public holiday only in Republika Srpska but celebrated across the nation
Croatia
Victory Day
9 May
National commemorative
Czech Republic
Victory Day
8 May
National public
as "Den osvobození"
Denmark
Liberation Day
5 May
National commemorative
as "Befrielsesdag" (Liberation Day), an official flag flying day, not a public holiday.
Estonia
Remembrance Day
8 May
National commemorative
Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Georgia
Victory over Fascism Day
9 May
National public
As "ფაშიზმზე გამარჯვების დღე" (Victory over Fascism Day)
Israel
VE Day
9 May
National commemorative
Considered a national day of remembrance.
Italy
Liberation Day
25 April
National public
Public holiday.
Jersey
Liberation Day
9 May
Regional public
Kazakhstan
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Kyrgyzstan
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Latvia
Remembrance Day
8 May
National commemorative
As Nacisma sagrāves un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena (The Crushing of Nazism and Commemoration Day of Victims of World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Lithuania
Remembrance Day
8 May
National commemorative
As Antrojo pasaulinio karo aukų atminimo diena (Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the World War II). Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held by the President and other officials.
Moldova
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Netherlands
Liberation Day
5 May
National commemorative
as "Bevrijdingsdag" (Liberation Day), a public holiday held once every year on 5 May.
Norway
Liberation Day
8 May
National commemorative
as "Frigjøringsdagen" (Liberation Day) and The National Veterans Day, an official flag flying day, not a public holiday.
Poland
National Victory Day
8 May
National commemorative
Not a public holiday; commemorative services are held during the day.
Russia
Victory Day
9 May
National public
as "День Победы" (Victory Day)
Serbia
Victory Day
9 May
National public
as "Дан победе" / "Dan pobede" (Victory Day), a public working holiday.
Slovakia
Victory over Fascism Day
8 May
National public
as "Deň víťazstva nad fašizmom"
Tajikistan
Victory Day
9 May
National public
Turkmenistan
Day of Remembrance of National Heroes of Turkmenistan in the 1941–1945 World War
9 May
National public
Ukraine
Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945
8 May
National public
Uzbekistan
Day of Remembrance and Honour
9 May
National public
Known as Xotira va qadrlash kuni; before 1999, it was known as Gʻalaba kuni (Victory Day).[citation needed]
"Informacja o działalności Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej Komisji Ścigania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu w okresie 1 stycznia 2015 r. – 31 grudnia 2015 r., Warszawa 2016, s. 107 i 109"
