Victory in Europe Day

This year, May Bank Holiday has been moved to Friday 8th May, to coincide with VE Day. On Friday, we celebrate 75 years since Victory in Europe was declared – this meant the end to fighting Nazi Germany in Europe. For more on WWII, read this summary here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9s9q6f/revision/1

What is VE Day and why do we remember it?

Watch this short video that summarises VE Day here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/history-ks2-ve-day/z7xtmfr

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48201749

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ve-day-2020-when-bank-holiday-victory-europe-ww2-anniversary-queen-winston-churchill-a9494586.html

Winston Churchill announced the end of the War in Europe with a speech broadcast from Downing St on 8 May 1945. He said "we may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead". King George VI also gave a speech, broadcast from bomb scarred Buckingham Palace, in which he thanked the nation. Both speakers reminded listeners that Japan was as yet undefeated.

Listen to Churchill’s speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEavcsrMoMw

Watch a video of the scenes in London on VE Day here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwxL0pk2A6s

Or, enjoy this Horrible Histories VE Day song:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/watch/horrible-histories-songs-ve-day-song

Activities to do at home:

Music was a big part of VE day. Some people used gramophones, instruments, and barrel organs, others just sang their own songs.

1. Could you listen to some music from the time? Popular artists from the second world war include Ella Fitzgerald, The Andrews Sisters, Vera Lynn, and Benny Goodman. Use the Spotify bar-code to access Bletchley Park’s play list

2. Think about which of the songs you like best. Could you make a playlist?

3. People could think about how they might dance to the music. They could look at popular dances in the 1940s including the jive, jitterbug, and swing dancing for inspiration.

‘Great British Bunting’ - the BBC are encouraging people to make their own Great British Bunting to display in their windows on Friday. Go here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4TrqYDyf4PMdLypxzyTwGDg/great-british-bunting to find out more about it, including instruction and templates for making your own bunting!

Take part in a virtual parade:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-52296566

Make some VE Day party food, using these rationing recipes from 1945!

https://twentiethcenturycrush.wordpress.com/2015/05/09/ration-book-recipe-ideas-for-v-e-day-70th-anniversary-events/

Or try some of Miss Allard’s rationing recipes:

To find out more about WWII on the home front and abroad, why not visit the website of the Imperial War Museum and look at some of their fantastic collections of photos and articles?https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-evacuated-children-of-the-second-world-warCould you put a ‘Tommy in the Window’ on Friday?https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/tommy-in-the-window-ve-day-2020-celebrations-royal-british-legion-campaign-solider-2611022

Why not create your own VE day street party? This was very popular among communities during the war and brought people together after a very difficult time. Due to social distancing this would have to be with your family, but you could still recreate all the bunting, food and games that they played in 1945!https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/what-ve-day-stay-home-street-party-12644941/

Looking back at photos of VE Day are a great way to get a sense of that day. Could you recreate your own VE day photo, with your family, using materials from around the house? If you send us the pictures we will tweet the best ones!

Try out some of these Bletchley Park code breaking activities, or some of the crafts included in the Bletchley Park packs:https://bletchleypark.org.uk/cms/2020/04/ACTIVITIES.pdf

‘Victory Rolls’ were a popular hairstyle at the time. Aptly named after the victory manoeuvre of fighter aircraft first seen during the Battle of Britain in 1940, Victory Rolls were a popular chic style with voluminous rolls that framed the face. Popular today with vintage aficionados, many of the ladies that celebrated VE Day would have had their hair styled in the ‘victory rolls’ way. Could you give them a go?!

https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Victory-Rolls