VE Day activities for Key Stage 1

Introduction:

V-E Day stands for Victory in Europe Day and the end of the Second World War. It was held on May 8th, 1945, and celebrated the formal surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies (Britain, France, USSR and the United States) the day before. All fighting in Europe stopped on this day and soldiers laid down their arms. Fighting did continue in the Far East against Japan though and this was not brought to an end until August, 1945. The Second World War lasted almost six years and had cost millions of lives and destroyed families, cities and towns. V-E Day was celebrated in other parts of the world on, or around, the same date.

Let’s celebrate:

V-E Day was a national holiday and most people, young and old, spent the day celebrating all over the country. There was singing and dancing in the streets, parties, bonfires, firework displays and public houses were granted longer hours to sell drinks. Everywhere was a sea of red, white and blue flags, bunting and trimmings. Some of the biggest celebrations were in London where crowds of people packed The Mall (the road from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace). Fifty thousand people crammed into Piccadilly Circus where the music and dancing went on until midnight.