Victory in Europe Day (
VE Day) was the date in 1945 when the Allies during the
Second World War formally celebrated the defeat of
Nazi Germany and the end of
Adolf Hitler's
Reich. On that date, massive celebrations took place, notably in
London, where over a million people celebrated in a carnival athmosphere the end of the European war, though rationing of food and clothing was to continue for a number of years. In London crowds massed in particular in Trafalgar Square and up the Mall to
Buckingham Palace, where King
George VI and Queen
Elizabeth, accompanied by the
Prime Minister,
Winston Churchill, appeared on the balcony of the Palace to cheering crowds. (Princess
Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister, Princess
Margaret were allowed to wander anonymously among the crowds and take part in the celebrations in London).
The United States victory over Japan was known as VJ Day[?].