Quote of the day 9th May 2025

Extracts from Churchill's broadcast to the nation, speech to the crowds and speech to the House of Commons announcing the end of the war in Europe, May 1945

You can find the full text of all his VE Day speeches on the Churchill Project website at

Victory in Europe, 8 May 1945: All the Churchill VE Day Speeches


“My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole. 

We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword against tyranny. After a while we were left all alone against the most tremendous military power that has been seen. We were all alone for a whole year.”


“There we stood, alone. Did anyone want to give in?”

[The crowd shouted “No.”] 


“Were we down-hearted?”

[“No!”] 


“The lights went out and the bombs came down. But every man, woman and child in the country had no thought of quitting the struggle.”

“So we came back after long months from the jaws of death, out of the mouth of hell, while all the world wondered. When shall the reputation and faith of this generation of English men and women fail? I say that in the long years to come not only will the people of this island but of the world, wherever the bird of freedom chirps in human hearts, look back to what we’ve done and they will say “do not despair, do not yield to violence and tyranny, march straightforward and die if need be-unconquered.” 


In the House of Commons he added:

“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. Our gratitude to our splendid Allies goes forth from all our hearts in this Island and throughout the British Empire.”














His broadcast concluded

“Long live the cause of freedom! God save the King!”

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