Victory '45

The End of the War in Eight Surrenders

By: James Holland, Al Murray

Narrated by: Al Murray

Brought to you by Penguin.

From the Italian Alps to northern Germany, to London, New York, Washington and Tokyo, Victory ’45 tells the story of the extraordinary summer when the greatest conflagration the world had ever known finally came to an end after six surrenders that heralded the Allied victory.

Comprised of eight chapters based around each of those surrenders and the victory celebrations which followed, it will be rich in character and human drama with revealing stories and perspectives behind the end of the war not yet told before. Each chapter will follow the viewpoints of a number of key characters as they traverse these world-changing events – from ordinary servicemen and women and civilians to generals and political leaders.

What took place during the negotiations of those surrenders and the terms that were agreed there would determine the directions the participating countries would take in the years that followed and ultimately the shape of our current world.

'Murray breaks the story into its constituent parts and, demonstrating a deep understanding of events... an original and insightful account' Telegraph

'Reinforces Holland’s reputation as certainly the busiest and probably the most popular military historian of the second world war working today’ Spectator

'A gripping, eye-opening and satisfying new account.' Daily Express

© Al Murray and James Holland 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critic reviews

A gripping, eye-opening and satisfying new account

A finely detailed book

James Holland has written about nearly every major battle of World War II, from Burma to Berlin. So it makes sense that in Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders he and his co-author, Al Murray, focus on the conclusion of the greatest global conflagration in history . . . The biggest, most well-known capitulations are here . . . But the authors find much to tell in the lesser surrenders.

A hugely engaging account of the rather tortured circumstances of the end of World War Two. If you thought it was all a rather simple process, think again. (Roger Moorhouse)

Finely detailed . . . Not simply targeted to WWII enthusiasts, Victory ’45 illustrates for those with a broader historical interest the myriad challenges in bringing to heel the dogs of war.