(Note the lack of young men and fathers who would still be away at the fighting front. Also note the dummy corpse (presumably German) hanging in the centre of the bunting.) The celebration was for Victory in Europe at the end of the Second World War. On the 7th May l945 Germany surrendered and the 8th May was declared VE day. The war did not end completely though until victory over Japan. VJ Day is 15 August 1945.