# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today, the hand gesture above-index and middle finger extended, palm outward-is as innocuous and ubiquitous a token of greeting or farewell as one is likely to see, anywhere. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a group portrait of youngsters, grown-ups, teens-in any culture-where at least one person in the photo is not flashing what most of us know as a "peace sign."

The redoubtable fellow above, however, is hardly a hippie, and in his hands the symbol is far more freighted than a laid-back, "Peace, man." He is, of course, Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister who guided England through the darkest days of World War II-especially when Great Britain effectively stood alone against the forces of the Reich, which had overrun the rest of Europe. (Churchill was not knighted until 1953, and so was not "Sir Winston Churchill" until after the war-indeed until after LIFE's Alfred Eisenstaedt made this photo in 1951.)

Churchill, of course, is probably the one historical figure most closely identified with the "V for Victory" sign in use among the Allies for much of the war. Another Briton, Ringo Starr, is famous today for throwing out the symbol, as a peace sign, in any and every imaginable situation; but it was Churchill who first made it his own.

Here, on the anniversary of the day-July 19, 1941-when Churchill first endorsed the "V for Victory" effort in a speech to his compatriots, LIFE.com celebrates the gesture as one of those unlikely strokes of genius that, while by their very nature symbolic, occasionally serve to unite and inspire millions. It's also worth noting, in passing, that employing the "V" sign as a gesture of defiance and solidarity was first suggested in January 1941 by the liberal Belgian politician, Victor de Laveleye. He encouraged the use of the symbol because V stood for both victoire ("victory" in French) and vrijheid ("freedom" in Dutch).

Finally, we should point out that when Churchill-the son of a British Lord and an American mother from a family of enormous wealth-first began using the V sign in public, he frequently held his hand with the knuckles facing outward, perhaps because he was so often clutching a cigar. His staff had to inform him that gesturing in that manner was the British working-class equivalent of flipping the bird. For the rest of the war, and the rest of his life, Churchill made sure that there could be no possible doubt about the message he meant to send with those two famous fingers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
V for Victory: Celebrating a Gesture of Solidarity and Defiance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today, the hand gesture above-index and middle finger extended, palm outward-is as innocuous and ubiquitous a token of greeting or farewell as one is likely to see, anywhere. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a group portrait of youngsters, grown-ups, teens-in any culture-where at least one person in the photo is not flashing what most of us know as a "peace sign."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
V-J Day stands for Victory in Japan Day. It marks a very important event in World War 2 - the day Japan surrendered to the Allies after almost six years of war on 15 August 1945.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here are some of the key facts about VE Day.

The VE in VE Day stands for Victory in Europe. It was the public holiday of 8th May 1945 to mark the defeat of Germany by the Allied forces in World War 2.

More than 1 million people celebrated in the streets of cities, towns and villages in the UK.

Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square and up The Mall, waiting for Winston Churchill, the wartime Prime Minister, and King George VI to make an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

In the United States, Harry Truman, the President, dedicated the victory and celebrations to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died just a month before victory in Europe was achieved. Celebrations took place in many US cities, including Chicago, Miami, LA and New York.

In 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe was, May Day Bank Holiday in the UK was moved to 8th May.

VE Day did not mark the end to all of the fighting associated with World War 2. Japan didn't surrender until 15th August 1945 (or 14th August, depending on time zones). Japan officially signed surrender documents on 2nd September 1945, effectively bringing World War 2 to a close. This is celebrated as V-J Day (Victory over Japan).

Filed Under: World War 2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here are some of the key facts about VE Day. The VE in VE Day stands for Victory in Europe. It was the public holiday of 8th May 1945 to mark the defeat of Germany by the Allied forces in World War 2. More than 1 million people celebrated in the streets of cities, towns ...