The End of WWII 80 Years On: A Conversation with Leading Historians

We’re pleased to invite you to an exclusive online moderated discussion exploring the Second World War’s historical significance and legacies as we commemorate its 80th anniversary of its conclusion.

Join us on 10 June 2025 at 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM BST for this special event featuring renowned experts who will share unique insights and reflections on one of history’s most consequential global conflicts and its enduring impact.

Our distinguished panel includes:

• General the Lord Dannatt, Member of the House of Lords and former Chief of the General Staff
• Allen Packwood OBE, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge University

Acclaimed author and historian Katherine Grace Katz will moderate the discussion.

Following the success of their collaborative work, Churchill’s D-Day: The Inside Story, published last year, our panellists will explore the final chapters of the war, its aftermath, and the contemporary relevance of this pivotal moment in world history as we mark eight decades since the war’s conclusion.

About the Panellists

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL

Richard Dannatt served as a soldier for forty years, concluding his career as Chief of the General Staff—the professional head of the British Army. In 2011, he became an independent member of the House of Lords. He is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues in the media. He divides his time between London and his family home in Norfolk. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for both Greater London and Norfolk.

Allen Packwood OBE

As Director of the Churchill Archives Centre since 2002, Allen has dedicated his career to preserving and illuminating history. A qualified archivist and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he oversees one of the world’s most significant collections of modern political, diplomatic, and scientific papers, including those of Sir Winston Churchill and Baroness Thatcher.

His expertise has taken him from curating exhibitions at the Library of Congress to organising international conferences on the Cold War, and from Bermuda to Hong Kong, sharing Churchill’s life story and legacy. Last year saw the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 150th anniversary of Churchill’s birth, and Allen and Richard’s book has brought fresh insights to this pivotal moment in history.