60th Anniversary of Victory in Europe

From the U.S. State Department's special page dedicated to anniversary of VE Day

The End of the War in Europe
VE Day honors sacrifice, achievement of those who defeated tyranny

The end of World War II in Europe meant different things to different people and different countries. For the recently liberated nations of Western Europe, it was the end of a nightmare and the beginning of the hard but hopeful rebuilding.

The meeting of Soviet and American troops at the Elbe on April 25, 1945, signaled that the war was nearly over and raised the hope -- unfulfilled until many years later -- that wartime allies and soon-to-be victors could continue the cooperation that made success possible. Victory in Europe was soon followed by victory in the Pacific, but the road ahead was still uncertain.

The people of Eastern Europe were not so fortunate. They exchanged the tyranny and occupation of National Socialism for the tyranny of communism. The brave peoples of this part of the world had to wait nearly 45 years for their day of genuine liberation.

In the 60 years since the defeat of fascism, freedom has advanced in Europe and the world. Despite setbacks and dark days, the direction has been toward democracy. This is a time to look forward to a better future, but also a time to honor the sacrifice and achievement of millions of Americans and Europeans who defeated tyranny and set their feet on the road to freedom.

When U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall outlined what would become known as the Marshall Plan at a speech at Harvard in 1947, Europe was still devastated by the war and had just survived one of the worst winters on record. Americans leaders recognized that Europeans had the skills and drive to create a better future. All they needed were the resources. In a move similar to today's Millennium Challenge Account, the United States offered up to $20 billion for relief if European nations could get together and draw up a rational plan on how they would use the aid. And the Marshall Plan worked because the people of Europe, former allies and enemies alike, cooperated together in the recovery effort. Both sides of the Atlantic are still reaping the benefits of that farsighted policy.

No country can prosper unless it can ensure its security. On this front, the United States and Canada partnered with countries of Europe to create the NATO alliance, which has been defending freedom since 1949. This has been the most enduring and effective alliance among free nations in the history of the world. Europeans and Americans share basic values, and that helps them work well together. As President Bush said in Berlin in 2002: "We are heirs to the same civilization. The pledges of the Magna Carta, the learning of Athens, the creativity of Paris, the unbending conscience of Luther, the gentle faith of St. Francis -- all of these are part of the American soul. The New World has succeeded by holding to the values of the Old."

But the work of freedom is not finished. Progress has been remarkable in the 60 years since the end of the war in Europe, but much remains to be done. As we honor those that have taken us this far, we must be resolved to continue the journey and look forward to a world where democracies that are tolerant, inclusive and protective of human rights and the rights of minorities are the norm in every corner of the world.