Eighty years ago, on May 8, 1945, the conclusion of six years of intense conflict during World War II prompted jubilant celebrations across Australia and worldwide. This marked the day when senior German officials signed an unconditional surrender, leading the Allied forces to announce Victory in Europe Day.
Australian forces, including soldiers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, played significant roles on the European front. Over the course of the conflict, approximately 10,000 Australians lost their lives, with another 10,000 sustaining injuries and about 8,000 taken prisoner. The atmosphere in Britain during the announcement of peace was one of raucous excitement, bolstered by the government’s decision to allow pubs to operate late into the night. Australian troops joined in the festivities, officially celebrating the end of one of history’s deadliest wars.
Within Australia, similar celebrations unfolded, with churches conducting services of thanksgiving. A notable gathering occurred in Melbourne, where 100,000 people gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate the momentous occasion. However, the prevailing sentiment was somewhat muted. As Australians rejoiced, many were acutely aware that the battle against Japan was still ongoing in the Pacific, casting a shadow over the European triumph.
Lachlan Grant, the senior historian at the Australian War Memorial, noted that while the end of the European war was met with celebration, it lacked the same fervor experienced in Europe given the situation in the Pacific. He stated, “It didn’t have the same response as in Europe because the war was still going on.”
Even on VE Day, sporadic fighting resulted in casualties, including the unfortunate killing of Private Lawrence Saywell, the last Australian soldier to die in World War II. Saywell had enlisted at the onset of the war, served in the Australian Army Service Corps, and was taken captive on Crete. After an escape and joining resistance fighters, he met his tragic end due to a gunshot wound during the chaotic retreat of Nazi forces, passing away just as peace was declared in Europe.
Despite the cessation of hostilities in Europe, Australian military personnel remained engaged in operations, such as assisting in the repatriation of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war through Operation Exodus and delivering humanitarian aid to the Netherlands via Operation Manna. While some families of missing servicemen continued to grapple with uncertainty about their loved ones’ fates, it would often take years for clarity to emerge, leaving a bittersweet note to the celebratory atmosphere. As noted by Grant, many families would remain without resolution until as late as 1950.