Europe Marks 80th VE Day Amid Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

 Commemorations are taking place across France and Germany today to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, as the continent reflects on the legacy of the Second World War amid a dramatically changing geopolitical climate.

In France, a nation where VE Day remains a solemn national holiday, ceremonies are being held in cities, towns, and villages to honour the fallen and celebrate the end of Nazi occupation in 1945. President Emmanuel Macron is presiding over the central commemorations in Paris, where he will lay a wreath at the statue of Charles de Gaulle, walk the historic Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, rekindle the eternal flame at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and review French military personnel. The event includes a minute’s silence, a performance of the Marseillaise, a speech by Macron on “the values that triumphed in 1945,” military bands from six countries, historical re-enactments, and a flypast of vintage and modern aircraft.

“The 80th anniversary of the victory of 8 May 1945 implies, more than ever, a double responsibility,” the French Ministry of Defence noted in a recent statement. “To the last surviving witnesses of the war, and to the younger generation.” It underscored the urgency of passing on the testimony of those who lived through the war, as the number of living veterans and survivors continues to dwindle.

In a significant development, Germany is observing VE Day as a public holiday for the first time, acknowledging the date as a cornerstone in its own process of remembrance and democratic renewal. In Berlin, a range of events—including exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, and public discussions—are being held across a city that remains marked by the memory of the Second World War and the Holocaust. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend a commemorative service at a war-damaged church, followed by a wreath-laying and a formal address at the Reichstag.

Germany's memorial sites, including former concentration camps, have hosted ceremonies to mark the springtime anniversaries of their liberation by Allied forces. Survivors have gathered in ever-smaller numbers to bear witness once more.

The commemorations come at a moment of intense reflection for Europe, as the continent grapples with profound shifts in global alliances and security policy. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s increasingly isolationist stance have exposed rifts in the postwar transatlantic order. “The West, as we knew it, no longer exists,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned recently, pointing to a diminished U.S. commitment to NATO’s core values and shared defence.

In response, European governments have begun recalibrating their defence strategies. President Macron has committed to raising France’s defence expenditure to 3.5% of GDP—an increase of €30 billion annually. Chancellor Merz has gone further, calling for a “whatever it takes” approach to continental defence. Sixteen EU member states, including Belgium, Finland, Poland, and the Baltic nations, have already triggered exemptions to expand military budgets.

Historical memory also remains divided. While France and now Germany mark VE Day on 8 May, several countries observe it on different dates or under different names. Belgium combines it with Armistice Day on 11 November, while Italy commemorates its liberation from fascism on 25 April. In the Netherlands and Denmark, Liberation Day falls on 5 May. Many former Eastern Bloc nations, such as Poland, Estonia, and the Czech Republic, now mark VE Day on 8 May as a rejection of their former Soviet domination. Others, including Russia, Serbia, and Belarus, continue to celebrate Victory Day on 9 May, in line with Moscow time.

This year, the Kremlin has confirmed that Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić will attend its Victory Day parade in Moscow, drawing criticism from EU leaders. In contrast, European foreign ministers are expected to attend a counter-parade in the Ukrainian city of Lviv.

As Europe pauses to remember VE Day, the significance of the anniversary is felt not only in the memory of past conflict, but in the challenges of the present. German historian Oliver Hilmes aptly summarized the mood: “Who will protect Europe? You can certainly say: the anniversary of 8 May 1945 is catching up with us with a vengeance.”

With war again raging on the continent and long-standing alliances under strain, VE Day 2025 serves as a reminder that peace is not only a legacy—but an ongoing responsibility.