Winston Churchill VE Day speech: Read full text of address announcing end of war in Europe in full

The prime minister addressed the nation shortly after the Nazi surrender

At 3pm on 8 May 1945, Winston Churchill took to the airwaves to announce to the people of Britain that Nazi Germany had surrendered to the Allied forces, deeming the occasion "Victory in Europe Day", later to be known as VE Day.

After nearly six years of fighting on the continent came to an end, the prime minister called for a "brief" celebration and offered his gratitude to the Allies, before reminding the nation that Britain was still at war with Japan, who would not formally surrender until 2 September that year.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day and celebrations will be going ahead on Friday, although with some changes due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Read Churchill's VE Day speech in full below:

"Yesterday morning at 2.41am at General Eisenhower's headquarters, General Jodl, the representative of the German high command and of Grand Admiral Donitz, the designated head of the German state, signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces in Europe to the Allied expeditionary force, and simultaneously to the Soviet high command.

"General Bedell Smith and General Francois Sevez signed the document on behalf of the supreme commander of the Allied expeditionary force, and General Susloparov signed on behalf of the Russian high command.

"Today this agreement will be ratified and confirmed at Berlin, where Air Chief Marshal Tedder, deputy supreme commander of the Allied expeditionary force, and General de Lattre de Tassigny will sign on behalf of General Eisenhower; General Zhukov will sign on behalf of the Soviet high command. The German representatives will be Field Marshal Keitel, chief of the high command, and the commanders-in-chief of the German army, navy and air forces.

"Our dear Channel Islands will be free tomorrow. Hostilities will end officially ​at one minute after midnight tonight, Tuesday, the 8th of May, but in the interests of saving lives the ceasefire began yesterday to be sounded all along the fronts.

"The Germans are still in places resisting the Russian troops, but should they continue to do so after midnight they will, of course, divest themselves of the protection of the laws of war and will be attacked from all quarters by the Allied troops.

"It is not surprising that on such long fronts and in the existing disorder of the enemy the orders of the German high command should not in every case have been obeyed.

"This does not, in our opinion, constitute any reason for withholding from the nation the facts communicated to us by General Eisenhower of the unconditional surrender already signed at Rheims, nor should it prevent us from celebrating today and tomorrow, Wednesday, as Victory in Europe Days. His Majesty the King will broadcast to the nation and Empire at nine o'clock tonight.

"The German war is therefore at an end. After years of intense preparation Germany hurled herself on Poland at the beginning of September, 1939, and in pursuance of our guarantee to Poland and in common action with the French Republic, Great Britain, the British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations declared war against this foul aggression.

"After gallant France had been struck down, we from this island and from our united empire maintained the struggle single-handed for a whole year until we were joined by the military might of Soviet Russia, and later by the overwhelming power and resources of the United States of America.

"Finally, almost the whole world was combined against the evil-doers who are now prostrate before us. Gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts.

"We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued. The injuries she has inflicted upon Great Britain, the United States and other countries, and her detestable cruelties call for justice and retribution.

"We must now devote all our strength and resources to the completion of our tasks both at home and abroad. Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King!”