​In Photos: France commemorates 80th anniversary of Nazi surrender in WWII, survivors recall wartime trauma

This year, France commemorated the 80th anniversary of Nazi surrender that officially ended the WWII. Holocaust survivors attended the ceremony marking the return of deportees in Paris. The survivors even shared their haunting experiences of the war. (Image: AP)

People walked with a banner reading "Inter-generation march for memory and transmission" before the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the return of the deportees in Paris. (Image: AP)

People attended a commemorative ceremony to mark the return of the deportees in front of the Hotel Lutetia in Paris. In 1945, this hotel became a gathering place for all those who were lucky enough to returned from the concentration camps. (Image: AP)

Genevieve Perrier, 99, was one of the civilian under Nazi occupation. She had witnessed the brutal murder of innocent civilians that traumatised her. Yet, she remained strong and was engaged in church service to divert her mind where their group prayed for the war to end. (Image: AP)

Patricia Miralles (left), French minister in charge of war veterans and memory, welcomed the holocaust survivor Ester Senot. Born in Poland to a jewish family that immigrated to France, Senot was 15 when she was arrested in Paris by French police and detained. However, she survied the hardships and returned to Paris by the age of 17. (Image: AP)

Holocaust survivor Ginette Kolinka ,100, also attended the ceremony. She was 19 when she was deported. She is known for sharing her vivid memories of the concentration camps with the younger generation since the past two decades. (Image: AP)

Survivor Helga Melmed, who now lives in the USA, spoke at the central Hamburg memorial service to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the prisoners of Neuengamme concentration camp, in Hamburg, German. (Image: AP)

Holocaust survivor Arlette Testyler attended the ceremony. For survivors, this ceremony is not only about the victory but also is areminder of sufferings they endured. (Image: AP)

Holocaust survivor Jacques Altmann also participated in the ceremony. Germany had officially invaded the France in June, 1940 and it in 1944 when Nazis surrendered. (Image: AP)