Our work begins - again
VE (Victory in Europe) Day on Tuesday 8 May 1945 marked the Allies acceptance of the unconditional surrender of Germany's armed forces ending the Second World War in Europe. Although a sense of relief swept across Britain and Europe, it was tempered by the continuing conflict with Japanese forces in the Far East.
For the second time in the Twentieth Century, our work started in earnest, building on the work of the forces' Chaplains in the field and Grave Registration Units (GRUs) during the conflict. We now started the design and construction of new cemeteries and recovering the casualties from their recorded burials across Europe and north Africa to give them their final resting place.
“God bless you all. This is your victory. In our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best.”
Winston Churchill, 8 March 1945
THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR - SHARE THEIR STORIES
Read and share the stories of the people involved in the final months of the Second World War at For Evermore: Stories of the Fallen, our online commemorative resource.
All images © IWM unless otherwise indicated.