WW2: How did the British plan to celebrate VE Day?

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Planning for peace

In spring 1945, war with Germany was drawing to a close.

While the British government was dealing with a country in the grip of rationing and cities ravaged by bombs, some ministers had to turn their thoughts to how people could celebrate victory after six years of war.

Enter the ‘Office Committee for the Coordination of Departmental Action on the End of Hostilities in Europe.’

The men from the ministry

Behind the scenes a group of men were quietly laying the groundwork for the country's celebrations.

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The man in charge of the committee was Cabinet Secretary Edward Bridges, tasked with putting plans in place for celebrations and ensuring the country kept running.
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Some ministers were concerned the celebrations could undermine the ongoing war with Japan. However, Churchill thought the public could be trusted to celebrate in a responsible way without descending into ‘unrestrained mafficking’.
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Originally, the celebrations were going to be named ‘Ceasefire Day’ but Churchill suggested ‘Victory in Europe Day’ to reflect the fact that the war continued in the Far East.
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The code word 'Mousetrap' was chosen to alert government departments and ministers when VE Day was imminent.
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One stumbling block was if VE Day fell on a Friday. Ministers were concerned food distribution would be thrown into disarray and the elderly would be unable to draw their pensions. In the end, VE Day fell on a Tuesday.
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The committee had originally planned to announce VE Day with a three-minute 'all clear signal' with sirens blasting out across the nation. The idea was scrapped (perhaps as it was considered too traumatic) in favour of a radio announcement.

HEAR: The sounds of VE Day

Experience the atmosphere of VE Day for yourself by clicking the play button below.

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Letting loose in London

Although parades and street parties took place across the UK, the largest events were held in London. Here, celebrations were at their most raucous as tens of thousand of revellers partied into the night.

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1/8: Many took early trains to join the throng in the capital. Huge crowds gathered in Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and outside Buckingham Palace.
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2/8: There was spontaneous dancing and singing among the crowds, and many made the effort to wear red, white and blue. One bystander recalled: ‘The crowd was so cosmopolitan. The number of nationalities of soldiers – I’d never seen so many.'
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3/8: Soldiers and sailors did the conga through the streets of central London. Revellers were left to their own devices by the police who treated them in a 'fatherly manner'.
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4/8: Street sellers sold patriotic trinkets such as paper hats and ribbons. Revellers were keen to buy US and Soviet Union flags alongside union jacks in tribute to Britain's allies.
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5/8: Hundreds scrambled up monuments, lamp posts and on top of vehicles in Piccadilly. By nightfall 50,000 people had gathered there.
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6/8: Despite Churchill's best efforts many pubs ran dry of beer by the early evening. This could explain why one London magistrate received no reports of 'disorderly conduct' all day.
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7/8: Bonfires were allowed although not using anything with 'salvage value'. They were lit in parks across London and some burned effigies of Hitler.
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8/8: After the public holiday Winston Churchill asked for a report on national work attendance. The Ministry of Labour reported that it had been 'generally satisfactory'.

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Planning for peace

The men from the ministry

HEAR: The sounds of VE Day

Letting loose in London

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