Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day)
08 May 1945
Clipping from British newspaper, May 8th, 1945
On May 8th, 1945, Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day was celebrated by the Allies. This day marked the defeat of Nazi Germany, the end of Adolf Hitler’s Reich, and the formal end of the Second World War in Europe.
In the month before, the Allies had begun to overtake Germany after attacking from the West as Russian forces advanced from the East. By April 25th, 1945, when the Allied and Soviet forces met at the Elbe River, the German Army had been nearly destroyed. Five days later, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in Berlin and his successor, Admiral Karl Doenitz, sent General Alfred Jodl to General Dwight Eisenhower’s Supreme Allied Headquarters in Rheims with the intent of negotiating terms to end the war. On May 7th, General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of German forces, to take effect the following day at 11:01 p.m.
In the month before, the Allies had begun to overtake Germany after attacking from the West as Russian forces advanced from the East. By April 25th, 1945, when the Allied and Soviet forces met at the Elbe River, the German Army had been nearly destroyed. Five days later, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in Berlin and his successor, Admiral Karl Doenitz, sent General Alfred Jodl to General Dwight Eisenhower’s Supreme Allied Headquarters in Rheims with the intent of negotiating terms to end the war. On May 7th, General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of German forces, to take effect the following day at 11:01 p.m.
Six years of war had been fought, and millions of lives had been lost, but Germany had been defeated and the war in Europe was finally over. Celebrations took place throughout Europe and the United States on what had been labeled Victory in Europe Day. The streets were crowded with people as they celebrated the conclusion of the Second World War.
As the victory was announced in the U.S., the entire country was overcome with joy on the day that marked the "beginning of the end" of a worldwide conflict that had torn apart entire countries and taken millions of lives.