15 facts about VE Day: interesting things you should know about WW2, Winston Churchill and what happened in 1945

A group of ATS and American soldiers celebrate VE Day in Trafalgar Square (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)placeholder image
A group of ATS and American soldiers celebrate VE Day in Trafalgar Square (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The VE Day bank holiday is upon us

Originally intended to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, which marks the end of the Second World War in Europe, nationwide plans had been drawn up to celebrate the occasion.

However, they’ve had to be scrapped because of the coronavirus lockdown, so many of us will be celebrating from behind closed doors.

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Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) , driving through Trafalgar Square in a service vehicle during the VE Day celebrations in 1945 (Photo: R J Salmon/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)placeholder image
Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) , driving through Trafalgar Square in a service vehicle during the VE Day celebrations in 1945 (Photo: R J Salmon/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If you’re curious about the history of VE Day, we’ve prepared some facts about Victory in Europe Day and World War II to test your knowledge and fill in the gaps.

How many people died in World War Two?

It’s estimated that over 75 million people died due to the effects of World War II, whether through direct combat or more indirect causes.

That death toll is a greater number than the entire population of Great Britain today.

A van load of beer passing through Piccadilly Circus on VE Day (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images)