Honoring the 80th Anniversary of VE Day with Free Access to WWII Records
- By Esther
On May 8, 1945, World War II came to an end in Europe. Known as VE Day — Victory in Europe Day — it marks the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the beginning of the end of the most devastating conflict in modern history.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of that historic moment. At MyHeritage, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect, remember, and help people everywhere reconnect with the stories of those who lived through it.
To commemorate VE Day, MyHeritage is offering free access to all collections related to World War II during May 7–11, 2025. Whether your relatives served in the military, worked behind the scenes, or were affected by the war in other ways, this is your chance to uncover their stories through historical records.
What’s included?
Over 127 million records from 13 collections are included, covering many different countries and aspects of the war. Here are the collections you can explore free of charge:
United States, World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938–1949
United States, World War II Draft Registrations, 1940–1947
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment
Australian World War II Nominal Roll, 1939–1945
Soviet Prisoners of World War II Held in Germany
Ukraine, World War II Casualties
France, World War II Prisoners of War
World War II Reserve Corps Records
New Zealand, Army Expeditionary Force Nominal Rolls
Kansas, World War II Selective Service Records
Georgia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940–1942
US World War II Prisoners of War, 1941–1946
Finland, Second World War Casualties
A snapshot of victory
One MyHeritage user found a WWII record of her father, Donald Gene Johnson, in one of these collections. On VE Day, as the family anxiously awaited his return from the front, Donald’s father-in-law helped print the headline announcing the end of the war. Watch their story in the video below:
How to access
All of these records are free to search from May 7–11, 2025. To get started, just sign up for a free MyHeritage account — it only takes a minute.
Please note: Viewing the full records or saving them to your family tree requires a Premium, Complete, or Omni subscription.
Let’s mark this milestone by remembering those who came before us — and making sure their stories are never forgotten.
