As we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, this talk addresses not only the triumph but the struggles that led to 8th May 1945. VE Day was the culmination of months of brutal military campaigns, high-stakes diplomacy, and fraught political calculations.

Tracing the military momentum that led to Nazi Germany’s defeat – from the Allied landings in Normandy to the Soviet advance towards Berlin – this talk examines the key moments that led to the fractured and chaotic end of the Third Reich, as German commanders sought to surrender to the western Allies while resisting capture by the Soviets.

Yet, VE Day was not just the end of the Second World War, it was the start of a contested peace. Behind the scenes, Allied leaders clashed over the future of Europe – even as they stood united in victory. From the uneasy bargains at the Yalta Conference to the dual German surrenders at Reims and Berlin, the seeds of division were already being sown. In the immediate aftermath, planners in London secretly explored a possible future war against the Soviet Union.

This talk offers a perspective on VE Day as both an end and a beginning: a moment of jubilation, but also the prelude to the Cold War – and the international situation we face today.