On May 7, 1945 Germany finally surrendered ending the Second World War in Europe.

The following day there were celebrations worldwide and in the UK Churchill marked the day a public holiday.

More than one million people held parties, danced and sang in the streets across the UK. And Bristol was no different.

Street parties with bunting and tables lined with food and drink could be seen across the city as children and adults alike celebrated peace, many places of which had been hit by the war.


Bristol suffered greatly during the conflict, with its industrial heartland a main target for the German Luftwaffe. The city was the fifth most heavily bombed UK city during the war.

1,299 people were killed while a further 1,303 were seriously injured.

89,080 buildings were damaged during the blitz in Bristoll