| Original caption: “Jubilant American soldier hugs motherly English woman and victory smiles light the faces of happy service men and civilians at Piccadilly Circus, London, celebrating Germany’s unconditional surrender. England, May 7, 1945.” American GIs, sailors and British civilians celebrate the capitulation of Germany on May 7, 1945, in a Piccadilly Circus, London, pub. The news of Germany’s surrender was not surprising. It had been anticipated for some time and people across Britain were on standby to start celebrating the end of the war. The announcement that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast to the British people over the radio late in the day on May 7. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) interrupted its scheduled programming with a news flash announcing that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday, to take place the following day. Newspapers ran the headlines as soon as they could, and special editions were printed to carry the long-awaited announcement. The news that the war was over in Europe soon spread like wildfire across the world. The Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations continued well into the night. The largest crowds in Britain were in the capital, London, but people all around the country took part in the parties, singing and dancing. Many bonfires and fireworks were lit to mark the occasion. An estimated 50,000 people were crowded around Piccadilly Circus by midnight. The joy of the day broke down normal social conventions, and people spoke to and embraced those whom they had never met before. Music was provided by gramophones, accordions and barrel organs, and revelers sang and danced to the popular tunes of the day. Licensing hours were extended so that people could toast the end of the war with a drink (or 2), and dance halls stayed open until midnight. This photo appeared via wire service in the May 8, 1945, New York Daily News. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2014.jpg |
| Image Size | 924.32 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2647 x 2898 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 7, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-205398 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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