How Europe Celebrated The 75th Anniversary Of The End Of World War II Due To The Pandemic

Under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II were not very organized by European countries. However, this year is the first time Berlin (Germany) has announced a special holiday.

In celebrating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II this year, large parades across Europe have been canceled, scaled down or switched to online activities when countries are facing crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In Russia, the original plan was to conduct a large-scale parade on Red Square on May 9, which it and other Eastern European countries called the Victory Day of Fascism in World War II. Many leaders have been invited, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, Russia eventually replaced this large-scale ceremony with the aircraft's air show. Russian President Vladimir Putin will place flowers at the memorial of the anonymous soldiers before giving a speech on television.

In some countries that have been completely blocked off, such as the Czech Republic, politicians will come to place a memorial wreath on the Vitkov hill in Prague within 10 minutes to minimize contact time and prevent risks to spread the disease.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron will still participate in a commemorative event on the Champs-Elysees (Paris), but commemorative activities across the country are also dramatically reduced.

In the UK, even street parades of veterans as well as street parties have to be canceled. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on May 7 sent a letter of appreciation to the veterans, comparing the COVID-19 campaign to the war against Nazism, during World War II.

The British government also decided to postpone the traditional May Day holiday (always the first Monday in May) to the Friday of the weekend to coincide with May 8, 2020, so that people have 3 days commemorate this great event.

British officials encourage people not to participate, organize collective events. Instead, people should go out to sing the wartime song "We'll Meet Again" and have a 1940s-style tea party at home to celebrate the Victory Day in Europe.

In Germany, meanwhile, this year, the city of Berlin for the first time declared a holiday once to remember the day that 75 years ago the war that killed more than 50 million people ended in Europe.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will accompany President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to lay a wreath at Neue Wache - a memorial to the war victims and dictatorship in Germany, after which President Steinmeier gave a speech.