VE Day in New Zealand - 9 May 1945

A DigitalNZ Story by Donna Robertson

After the suicide of Adolf Hitler on 30th April, the Germans surrendered on 7th May 1945, bringing an end to the Second World War in Europe. The following day was designated Victory in Europe Day - a day of celebration and relief but tinged with great sadness. Gatherings and parades were held by victorious, but exhausted, nations around the world. Due to the time difference VE Day was held on 9th May in New Zealand.

VE Day, World War Two, Second World War, 1945

Image: VE Day, from Perretts Corner, Wellington 8 May 1945

VE Day, from Perretts Corner, Wellington 8 May 1945

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: V.E. Day, Featherston

V.E. Day, Featherston

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Weekly Review No. 195 - New Zealand Celebrates VE Day

Weekly Review No. 195 - New Zealand Celebrates VE Day

NZ On Screen

Audio

Sound: VE Day parade in Dunedin

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Other

Gilbert interviewed about what he was doing on VE Day

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: VE Day rejoicing

VE Day rejoicing

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Weekly Review No. 195 (1945)

Weekly Review No. 195 (1945)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: WRENS ON VE DAY

WRENS ON VE DAY

Victoria University of Wellington

Image: VE Day crowds at Parliament

VE Day crowds at Parliament

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: V.E. Day, Featherston

V.E. Day, Featherston

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Preparing flags for VE day in Wellington

Preparing flags for VE day in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Crowd on VE Day, Wellington

Crowd on VE Day, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Children during VE day celebrations, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Children during VE day celebrations, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Members of the National Film Unit taking a break, VE day, Wellington

Members of the National Film Unit taking a break, VE day, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Woman on Lambton Quay, Wellington, the day before VE Day

Woman on Lambton Quay, Wellington, the day before VE Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Women, with a child in a pram, on VE day, Wellington

Women, with a child in a pram, on VE day, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Crowd singing the national anthem at the official VE Day celebrations, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Crowd singing the national anthem at the official VE Day celebrations, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: V J Day Parade on Broadway

V J Day Parade on Broadway

Palmerston North City Library

Image: VE day, Government Buildings, Wellington

VE day, Government Buildings, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Celebrating VE Day, Lambton Quay, Wellington, 8 May 1945

Celebrating VE Day, Lambton Quay, Wellington, 8 May 1945

Victoria University of Wellington

Image: Crowd Watching Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebrations. From the Balcony and Fire Escapes Of Warner's Hotel, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Crowd Watching Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebrations. From the Balcony and Fire Escapes Of Warner's Hotel, Cathedral Square, Christchurch, Ca...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Image: Central City. Celebration. Victory in Europe or VE Day. Led by the Skirl of the Pipes Men March Through the "Bottleneck" and on to Cathedral Square. Crowds of Onlookers. Note This was celebrated on the 9 May, Two Days After the Actual Surrender As the Deputy Prime Minister, W. Nash, waited to Hear it Officially From Churchill. Colombo Street, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Central City. Celebration. Victory in Europe or VE Day. Led by the Skirl of the Pipes Men March Through the "Bottleneck" and on to Cathedral Square...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Article

VE Day - VE and VJ days

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Woman on street on VE Day

Woman on street on VE Day

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Man Making Speech from the Back of a Truck. Colombo Street by the United Service Hotel, at the High Street Corner. Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Man Making Speech from the Back of a Truck. Colombo Stree...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Image: VE Day celebrations at Parliament

VE Day celebrations at Parliament

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, With Flags and Pipers. Cathedral Square, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, With Flags and Pipers. Cathedral Square, Christchurch, Ca...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Image: Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Pipe Bandsman front Left. Cathedral Square, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Pipe Bandsman front Left. Cathedral Square, Christchurch,...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Image: Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Band at Bottom Passing Through. Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Celebrations. Crowd at WWII, Victory over Europe ( VE ) Day Celebration. Held 9 May 1945, Band at Bottom Passing Through. Christchurch, Canterbury,...

Canterbury Photography Museum

Image: V.E. Day, Featherston

V.E. Day, Featherston

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Crowd on VE Day, Wellington

Crowd on VE Day, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Audio

[V.E. Day: Christchurch].

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Image: VE Day Parade 1945

VE Day Parade 1945

Hawke's Bay Knowledge Bank

Image: VE Day in Cathedral Square

VE Day in Cathedral Square

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: VE Day celebrations, Queen Street

VE Day celebrations, Queen Street

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: 60th Anniversary VE Day

60th Anniversary VE Day

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Children picking up paper on Lambton Quay, Wellington, on the day before VE day

Children picking up paper on Lambton Quay, Wellington, on the day before VE day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Audio

V.E. Day Celebrations Christchurch

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Image: Group during VE day celebrations, Wellington

Group during VE day celebrations, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Nelson

Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Nelson

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Weekly Review 195 - NZ Celebrates VE Day (1945)

Weekly Review 195 - NZ Celebrates VE Day (1945)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Weekly Review No. 195 (1945)

Weekly Review No. 195 (1945)

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Flags laid out in preparation for VE day celebrations, Wellington

Flags laid out in preparation for VE day celebrations, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Soldiers on parade at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, to celebrate VE Day

Soldiers on parade at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, to celebrate VE Day

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Women celebrating Victory in Europe, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Women celebrating Victory in Europe, Lambton Quay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: 'Peace, V-E Day, Dunedin, 8th May 1945'

'Peace, V-E Day, Dunedin, 8th May 1945'

University of Otago

Image: Peace, V-E Day, Dunedin

Peace, V-E Day, Dunedin

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago