VE Day 80 – Talks Programme

VE Day celebrations in London, 8 May 1945 (©IWM)

We are delighted to announce a programme of three talks in April and May 2025, leading up to the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Victory in Europe or VE Day, 8 May 1945, marked the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War in Europe. The war, which did not end until the defeat of Japan over three months later, was the deadliest conflict in history. Nevertheless, the liberation of Europe was cause for celebration and saw millions take to the streets throughout the Allied nations.

The talks are free and in person, and take place in the museum’s historic Assembly Room. Booking is required. Doors open at 6.30pm for tea and coffee on arrival, and talks start promptly at 7pm. Please note there is no allocated seating for this event.

29/4/2025 – ‘Golden shamrocks: raising a Belgian Army in Ulster’, by Scott Edgar

In February 1945, signs erected in French and Dutch dotted remote parts of the Ulster countryside. War-weary young men, dressed in rags with little knowledge of the English language followed them to camps. Within a matter of months, decked in uniforms and sporting shamrock-bearing badges, these men would be the nucleus of the new Belgian Army – five infantry brigades raised and trained in Northern Ireland. While the Ulster memory of the Belgian soldiers somewhat faded over the decades, more links the two nations than you may think.

Scott Edgar has been the driving force behind WartimeNI for the last 10 years, sparked by a love of local history. His digital platform is the go-to place for info on all things Second World War-related in Northern Ireland.

6/5/2025 – ‘The saved and the spurned: Northern Ireland, Vienna and the Holocaust’, by Noel Russell

For months before the Second World War, hundreds of persecuted Jews, mainly from Nazi-occupied Vienna, tried to escape to Northern Ireland. They had learned of a scheme to tackle the region’s unemployment by financially supporting skilled professionals to create local jobs. Almost all applicants were rejected, and more than 125 of these men, women and children were murdered in the Holocaust. This talk describes what happened to those families who came to Northern Ireland – and to those who did not – and how local activists saved several refugees.

Noel Russell, former news editor of the Irish News, is a journalist and TV producer. His compelling book on the plight of persecuted Jews who sought refuge in Northern Ireland was published in 2024.

13/5/2025 – ‘Northern Ireland, the United States and the Second World War’, by Dr Simon Topping

Following the United States’ entry into the Second World War, Northern Ireland became the first part of the UK to welcome American soldiers in January 1942. By the end of the conflict, more than 300,000 had passed through the province. Among the Americans were thousands of black soldiers who were broadly welcomed by the people of Northern Ireland, contrasting with the segregation and racism they faced at home. This talk examines the political and social impact of the ‘friendly invasion’ of US servicemen in Northern Ireland.

Dr Simon Topping is Associate Professor of United States History at the University of Plymouth. He has published extensively, and his book on American soldiers in Northern Ireland was launched in 2022.