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May 2020
8m 59s

VE Day

Bbc World Service
About this episode

On the 8th of May 1945, hundreds of thousands of Londoners took to the streets to celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe.

BBC correspondents captured the scenes of joy across the city - from the East End to Piccadilly Circus.

This programme is made up of material from the BBC Archives recorded on VE Day in 1945.

Producer: Simon Watts

Photo: Londoners dancing on VE Day (Getty Images)

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