Victory in Europe attained at great cost
After nearly six years of bloody conflict, the war in Europe was over.
On this day in 1945, Victory in Europe (VE) Day was proclaimed by the Allies, following the unconditional surrender of Germany in the Second World War.
As news of the announcement swept the nation, many churches held services to give thanks for this momentous day and to honour those who served and those who would never return home. An estimated 100,000 people attended a service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
While celebrations occurred throughout the country, and across Allied nations, the cessation of Hostilities in Europe was bittersweet. The human cost, both military and civilian, had been horrific, in the tens of millions, making the Second World War the most destructive conflict in human history.
Nearly 10,000 Australians gave their lives in the European and Mediterranean theatres of the war against Germany and its allies, with nearly 10,000 wounded and some 8,000 taken as prisoners of war.
VE Day celebrations in Australia were tempered by the knowledge that the war was not over. The war in the Pacific against Japan raged on and would do so for another three arduous months as Australians continued to fight in New Guinea, Bougainville, New Britain, Borneo and elsewhere in the Pacific.
Today, on Victory in Europe Day, we reflect on the service of our fellow countrymen and women in the war against fascism. We remember them, honour them, and pay tribute to the sacrifices they made in the pursuit of victory.
Lest we forget.