A Day That Shook The World: VE Day celebrations

(Hulton Archive/Getty)

On 13 May 1945, Winston Churchill announced to a jubilant nation that the Second World War had come to an end in Europe.

"Today is Victory in Europe day," he said, prompting wild nationwide celebrations. Fireworks - long banned for the war effort - were set off, and licensing laws were suspended for the day, so the people of Britain could celebrate in style.

Watch original footage from the celebrations in this British Pathé video, above.