BBC Two marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a poignant documentary, “VE Day 80: We Were There.” This special program gives voice to those who lived through the Second World War, with personal accounts of both the hardships endured and the joy that erupted on that momentous day.
Rachel Burden guides viewers through six years of conflict, weaving together the memories of former servicemen, child evacuees, and women who contributed to the war effort on the home front. From Jamaican volunteers who served alongside British forces to the harrowing liberation of Belsen concentration camp, the program presents a tapestry of experiences that shaped a generation.
Drawing from the BBC News “We Were There” archive, established in 2019, the documentary preserves these invaluable firsthand testimonies for future generations. The recollections of Winston Churchill’s victory speech and the spontaneous celebrations that followed offer a window into a time of both profound relief and somber reflection. “VE Day 80: We Were There” airs Thursday, 1 May at 9:00 PM GMT on BBC Two.
