Written by Background:
By early 1945, the Second World War in Europe was rapidly drawing to a close. Allied forces from the west had crossed into Germany, while Soviet troops closed in from the east. Adolf Hitler, increasingly isolated and delusional, had retreated to his underground bunker in Berlin. On April 30, he committed suicide, leaving Admiral Karl Dönitz to act as his successor.
The German war machine was in collapse. With Berlin surrounded and morale shattered, German military leaders sought an end to the conflict in Europe. In secret meetings with Allied commanders, arrangements for surrender were finalized.
What Happened:
On May 7, 1945, Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Reims, France, to Allied forces led by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The surrender was set to take effect the next day at 11:01 p.m. Central European Time. The Soviet Union requested a second ceremony in Berlin, which took place on May 8, with Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signing the final instrument of surrender in front of Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov.
On May 8, citizens across Europe and North America poured into the streets to celebrate what became known as Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. In London, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed massive crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square and outside Buckingham Palace. In New York City, celebrations erupted in Times Square. In Paris, the Champs-Élysées was filled with cheering civilians. While the war in the Pacific continued, the defeat of Nazi Germany marked an enormous relief.
Impact for the Future:
V-E Day marked the official end of World War II in Europe, though peace was bittersweet. The war had claimed tens of millions of lives, destroyed cities, and left entire populations displaced. Europe faced a massive task of reconstruction.
In the aftermath, efforts to build a better world led to the founding of the United Nations later that year. The devastation also set the stage for the Cold War, as former allies—the U.S. and the Soviet Union—soon found themselves in ideological conflict over the shape of postwar Europe.
The legacy of V-E Day is still remembered annually, not only as a celebration of victory but also as a moment of reflection on the cost of war, the value of peace, and the dangers of fascism.