Imperial War Museums (IWM) will commemorate 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, sharing the personal stories of people who stood together during a time of national crisis and their reflections once the fighting had stopped.
At a time when people across the nation are coming together to support each other through an unprecedented crisis, IWM is asking households to take a moment on Bank Holiday Friday 8 May, the 75th anniversary of VE Day, to play the four-minute soundscape Voices of War on IWM’s website.
It brings together first-hand accounts of VE Day from IWM’s vast sound archive, ranging from an army nurse who served in Egypt at the time and a Jamaican aircraftsman who emigrated to the UK aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948, to a Jewish man from Berlin who spent six weeks in Sachsenhausen concentration camp and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Voices of War will be a focal point, echoing how families heard that war in Europe had ended 75 years ago on the wireless, encouraging people to reflect on a time of both celebration and cautious relief in the summer of 1945 and to consider what victory really meant for people in factories and fields, and in hospitals and homes, around the world in 1945.
As part of its plans to mark 75 years since the end of the Second World War this summer, IWM will also share voices from its diverse sound archive on the anniversaries of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on 6 August and VJ Day on 15 August.
As part of Voices of War, commissioned contemporary artistic responses to the end of the Second World War and its resonance today will also be released on the IWM website and social media channels from 8 May. These responses, ranging from spoken word performances to music and poetry, will question our understanding of what victory means and reinterpret these pivotal moments in our history for contemporary audiences. Artists who will be responding to the anniversary of VE Day on 8 May include; poet Daljit Nagra, inaugural Poet-in-Residence for Radio 4 & 4 Extra; DJ, poet and writer Charlie Dark, founder of Run Dem Crew; Yemeni- Scouse writer, performance artist, facilitator and activist Amina Atiq; poet Rachel Long, leader of Octavia, a poetry collective for women of colour; and poet, playwright and performance artist Chanje Kunda.
Diane Lees, Director General of IWM, said: “Originally we had planned to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in public spaces around the UK. Due to the current situation, this is no longer possible. However, the need to commemorate this national anniversary and to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by past generations is as pressing as ever.
“With Voices of War, IWM will be bringing the stories and memories of those who lived through the conflicting jubilation, hope, sadness and fear that was felt during the summer of 1945 directly to homes around the country. We want the public to reflect on this important historical milestone as many others did 75 years ago – in the privacy of their own kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and gardens – and be part of this important national moment with IWM and with the rest of the country.”
Children and families will be also able to explore the conflict’s dramatic end through IWM resources including; Adventures in History: VE Day, an interactive film with an IWM expert sharing the ingenious, surprising and moving stories they won’t have heard in the classroom; and Family Missions: VE Day, a fun challenge for the whole family inspired by IWM’s stories and collections.
These educational activities will be available on IWM’s website week commencing 4 May along with additional photos and personal stories from its vast collection, and articles from IWM curators through its website, enabling people to explore the end of the Second World War in depth.
Further announcements relating to IWM’s Victory 75 programme will be released in due course.
