Victory in Europe Day – A Turning Point

On 8th May 1945, the Second World War in Europe ended. Yet this did not bring global peace—the Pacific War raged on until Japan’s surrender in September. In Britain, a general election followed in June, with Labour securing a landslide victory. People longed for purpose and stability, trusting in Labour to rebuild.

Nostalgia for the war years persisted, fueled by the shared sacrifices and national unity. Losing the empire added to this sentiment—Britain had won, but its global role was shifting. The war ended with deep uncertainty: six years of struggle, devastation, and loss, followed by reconstruction. Women fought hard to retain wartime gains in equal pay, and migration was crucial in addressing labour shortages caused by immense casualties. Change finally came, but it was hard-won. Not everybody was happy about it.

Often, history is remembered selectively. The Blitz spirit myth, for instance, evokes resilience but omits the record-high crime rates of that era. Nostalgia allows people to project an idealized past, ignoring its complexities.

The Fading Memory of War

Eighty years on, few veterans remain—fewer still recall the war firsthand. The generation born afterward, especially those from the 1950s, continues to dwindle. The memory of rationing, post-war shortages, and daily survival fades with them.

This anniversary marks what may be the last major VE Day commemorated by those who experienced the war. Soon, these stories will exist only in recorded interviews and archived testimonies. Oral history—so crucial in shaping our understanding—will inevitably be lost. Fortunately, historians have preserved many firsthand accounts, ensuring future generations can still learn from them. But as living memory disappears, the weight of remembering truthfully becomes greater.

Britain’s Post-War Role and Legacy

Victory came at a cost. Britain emerged from the war weakened, its empire in irreversible decline. Maintaining control over colonies was financially draining and logistically impossible. The echoes of empire still resonate today, though Britain never fully debated its shifting global role.

Instead, the focus turned inward—rebuilding society, establishing the welfare state, and creating institutions designed to prevent another global catastrophe. Yet some viewed this shift with unease, reluctant to embrace change. Much like with slavery, Britain sought to redeem its history—sometimes by reframing the past, sometimes by ignoring uncomfortable truths.

Museums remain filled with colonial artifacts, relics of conquest. Many figures with fascist sympathies worked hard to erase their ties to authoritarianism. Families buried the reality of their support for Nazi ideology, while businesses concealed their connections to the slave trade. That historical erasure took decades to challenge.

Soft Power and Britain’s Influence

While Britain’s hard power declined, it maintained global influence through diplomacy. Ties with the United States became a pillar of British strategy. Some argue Britain became overly dependent on America, shaping foreign policy more than it should. The partnership was uneven—necessary but costly.

Today, this relationship demands reassessment. Recent political shifts have exposed its fragility, particularly with rising authoritarian tendencies worldwide. As Britain’s global influence has evolved, so too has the threat to democratic institutions. The resurgence of figures sympathetic to authoritarian underscores the need for renewed debate over Britain’s role and alliances—especially as democracy itself faces mounting challenges.

The Fragility of Peace and Democracy

Preserving peace requires strong institutions—many of which were established after the war. Yet, in recent decades, these structures have weakened. Political leaders have failed to advocate for them, allowing distrust in government and economic instability to spread.
Voters demand change, but caution tempers that urgency. It is easy to fuel extremism—empowering the far-right and alt-right in moments of crisis. Perhaps this reflects a deep-rooted tendency among some to seek authoritarianism in times of uncertainty. Illiberalism grows stronger when left unchecked, and political systems must adapt to resist it.
Joining populist movements driven by authoritarian impulses often leads to instability, not renewal. The lessons of VE Day stress that embracing extremism—whether far-right or alt-right—risks ruin,  reputational damage and societal division. Cooperation, not ideological extremism, is what needed in the end.

Lessons of War: Production

Wars are won with logistics, manpower, and production capacity. Churchill and Roosevelt understood this well. Churchill’s military and government experience shaped his strategies, while Roosevelt focused on industrial expansion, learning from British naval dominance.

Delegation mattered—leaders cannot micromanage every decision. Those who grasp the complexities of governance lead effectively and win wars.

Modern conflicts, like Ukraine vs. Russia, reinforce these lessons. Drones have altered warfare, but production and logistics remain key. One decisive battle rarely determines victory—it’s the accumulation of smaller victories that shape outcomes. Without allies supplying Ukraine with arms it would have found fighting impossible. The war was won not through a single moment, but through years of sacrifice, adaptation, and strategic cooperation. Recognizing these truths ensures we remember VE Day in its full complexity, rather than as a simplified celebration.

Why VE Day Still Matters

VE Day is often framed as a celebration, but perhaps it should be a moment of sombre reflection instead. We cannot whitewash history—both its worst and best moments deserve discussion. The role of Indian soldiers and others from across the British Empire and Commonwealth is rarely spoken about, yet they were vital to the war effort. Britain did not fight alone; men and women from all corners of the globe, from every race and class, came to support the fight. Racism undeniably existed, yet many Black American soldiers found greater acceptance in Britain than in their own country—respected for their willingness to sacrifice. The war, despite its victory, was riddled with failures—poor leadership, delayed action, and decisions that made conflict inevitable

Britain endured catastrophic losses, including the retreat from France to preserve its forces—a reminder of how crucial resource management is in wartime. The Soviet Union’s brutal warfare tactics stand as another dark chapter, highlighting wasteful losses that Churchill sought to avoid. Churchill did make some mistakes but hindsight is something he did not have.

British forces, too, acted ruthlessly—bombing civilians, employing sabotage, and making difficult, sometimes questionable, decisions. One such example is the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, where British attacks killed 1,000 French sailors. Though intended to prevent these ships from falling into German hands after France’s defeat, it caused deep resentment between Britain and France—highlighting the harsh realities of war. These events must be acknowledged, not sanitized.

For me, VE Day is a reminder of those sacrifices, the horrors of war, and the dangers of complacency. The worst atrocities of World War II must never be repeated. And yet, history shows how easily people allow such horrors to unfold again. In real time, we can watch it happen now. VE Day is not just about looking back, but about ensuring we never allow history’s darkest moments to repeat. It is our duty to recognize the warning signs, defend democracy, and actively resist the forces that threaten it.

We cannot face today’s global challenges alone. Cooperation is essential, as is a clear vision for the future. Avoiding conflict is paramount—war is always a failure of leadership. But that alone cannot be the primary goal; one key lesson from history is that preparedness matters. Security, production, and resilience must be taken seriously.
We now live in a world where not only nations, but corporations and even individuals wield significant influence over global stability—making them vulnerable to exploitation and corruption. We’ve seen this story unfold before, and if we fail to act, history will repeat itself.

Above all, we must protect democracy, human rights, and the institutions that safeguard them.

Closing Thoughts

The methods used to manipulate people into committing atrocities are not new.

Looking inward is easy; looking outward is not. But failing to care for people at home should never be used as an excuse to avoid responsibility. How we treat the vulnerable speaks volumes about the state of our society.

Remembrance is not passive—it is a call to action. A call to safeguard democracy, uphold truth, and ensure history’s hardest lessons are never forgotten.

Some might frame this as a conservative viewpoint, yet from a liberal and progressive perspective, it highlights the dangers we face today. The erosion of liberalism on the right has led to a quiet yearning for an imagined past—an undisclosed desire to return to an order that never truly existed. This longing is dangerous, not nostalgic.

History warns us that when societies allow authoritarian tendencies to grow unchecked, the consequences are devastating. To repeat the past is not just to forget—it is to actively choose failure. That is why we must remain vigilant, challenge revisionist narratives, and defend the democratic values that have been hard-won.