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| VE Day: Europe marks 75th anniversary amid coronavirus lockdown | VE Day: Europe marks 75th anniversary amid coronavirus lockdown |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Leaders across Europe are marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day with low-key ceremonies, as much of the continent remains under coronavirus lockdown. | Leaders across Europe are marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day with low-key ceremonies, as much of the continent remains under coronavirus lockdown. |
| The UK has held a two-minute silence to honour the war dead, and later an address by the Queen will be broadcast. | The UK has held a two-minute silence to honour the war dead, and later an address by the Queen will be broadcast. |
| The leaders of France and Germany, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, laid wreaths at small ceremonies. | |
| Other events are also being held to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, but large gatherings remain forbidden. | Other events are also being held to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, but large gatherings remain forbidden. |
| The VE Day anniversary was to have been a colourful public tribute to the war veterans who liberated Europe from Nazism, but those veterans are now confined indoors by the coronavirus lockdown. | The VE Day anniversary was to have been a colourful public tribute to the war veterans who liberated Europe from Nazism, but those veterans are now confined indoors by the coronavirus lockdown. |
| On 8 May 1945 Britain and its Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender after almost six years of war. | On 8 May 1945 Britain and its Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender after almost six years of war. |
| But that date was not the end of World War Two, as imperial Japan was not defeated by the Allies until August 1945. | But that date was not the end of World War Two, as imperial Japan was not defeated by the Allies until August 1945. |
| President Macron laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Paris - the ceremony closed to all but a small group of officials. | President Macron laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Paris - the ceremony closed to all but a small group of officials. |
| Those few attending kept strictly to social distancing, and a small military choir sang the Marseillaise. | Those few attending kept strictly to social distancing, and a small military choir sang the Marseillaise. |
| President Macron began the ceremony with a wreath-laying at the statue of Gen Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French forces in the war. But just a few officers and aides were there, surrounded by empty streets. | President Macron began the ceremony with a wreath-laying at the statue of Gen Charles de Gaulle, leader of the Free French forces in the war. But just a few officers and aides were there, surrounded by empty streets. |
| France has been under strict lockdown since mid-March, and on Monday the nation begins an eagerly awaited easing of it, though the amount of easing will vary regionally. Paris and the north-east are the virus hotspots. | |
| Chancellor Merkel led a ceremony at Germany's central war memorial, called Neue Wache, which honours the victims of war and dictatorship. | |
| In Berlin, residents have been given an unprecedented public holiday, although this is not in place across the rest of the country. | |
| At the Neue Wache ceremony German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: "Today, we Germans are allowed to say: the day of liberation is a day of gratitude!" | |
| A similar celebration, known as Victory Day, is held on 9 May in several former Soviet countries including Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. | A similar celebration, known as Victory Day, is held on 9 May in several former Soviet countries including Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. |
| World War Two cost more than 50 million lives, of whom an estimated 25 million were Soviet military and civilians. | World War Two cost more than 50 million lives, of whom an estimated 25 million were Soviet military and civilians. |
| The 75th anniversary comes at another pivotal moment, as coronavirus has taken more than 250,000 lives, infected more than 3.5 million and wrought economic havoc worldwide. | The 75th anniversary comes at another pivotal moment, as coronavirus has taken more than 250,000 lives, infected more than 3.5 million and wrought economic havoc worldwide. |
| There are calls for economic rescue packages on a scale similar to the US Marshall Plan that speeded up Europe's recovery after the war. | There are calls for economic rescue packages on a scale similar to the US Marshall Plan that speeded up Europe's recovery after the war. |
| Yet there are fears that this crisis could plunge the world into its deepest recession. | Yet there are fears that this crisis could plunge the world into its deepest recession. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin had planned to hold a major parade in Moscow on Saturday, attended by President Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping. But the event - showcasing more than 15,000 troops - has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. | Russian President Vladimir Putin had planned to hold a major parade in Moscow on Saturday, attended by President Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping. But the event - showcasing more than 15,000 troops - has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. |
| Instead, an air force flypast will take place and Mr Putin will lay flowers at a war memorial near Moscow's Red Square. | Instead, an air force flypast will take place and Mr Putin will lay flowers at a war memorial near Moscow's Red Square. |