On May 8, 1945, Americans celebrated Germany’s defeat with the first Victory in Europe Day. The news brought cheering crowds into the streets, but the celebration came with a clear reminder: World War II was not yet over.
The war in Europe ended in the ruins of Nazi Germany. By late April 1945, Soviet troops were fighting street by street through Berlin. American forces had already met Soviet troops at the Elbe River on April 25. Germany was split apart, its armies were collapsing, and its capital was surrounded.
Still, Adolf Hitler refused to accept defeat. He stayed in his bunker beneath the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, issuing orders that could no longer change the outcome. On April 30, 1945, Hitler and Eva Braun, whom he had married the day before, killed themselves. Their deaths did not end the fighting at once, but they removed the last symbol of Nazi resistance.
Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, chosen by Hitler as his successor, tried to delay surrender in the east while moving as many German soldiers and civilians as possible toward the Western Allies. But Germany had no real choice left. On May 2, Berlin surrendered to the Soviets. German forces in Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other areas soon laid down their arms.
The formal surrender came early on May 7, 1945, at Allied headquarters in Reims, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower did not attend the signing ceremony in person. He sent his chief of staff, General Walter Bedell Smith, to represent the Western Allies. General Alfred Jodl signed for Germany at 2:41 a.m. The surrender was unconditional and was to take effect late on May 8.
After the signing, the German delegation was brought to Eisenhower’s office. Eisenhower asked whether they understood the terms. They did. Germany’s armed forces were now in the hands of the victors.
Soviet leader Joseph Stalin wanted a second surrender ceremony in Berlin, the city the Red Army had taken after a brutal final battle. That ceremony was held on May 8. Because of the time difference, it was already May 9 in Moscow. That is why Russia and several former Soviet republics mark Victory Day on May 9, while the United States, Britain, France, and many other nations remember May 8 as V-E Day.
In Britain, crowds filled the streets before the official announcement was even made. At 3 p.m., Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke by radio and declared that the war against Germany was over. Later, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and Churchill appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. That night, the two princesses quietly joined the crowds outside the palace. Elizabeth, the future queen, later remembered the evening as one of the most memorable nights of her life.
In the United States, President Harry S. Truman announced the news from the White House. He had been president for less than a month. Franklin D. Roosevelt had died on April 12, only weeks before the victory he had worked toward. Truman told Americans, “This is a solemn but glorious hour,” and said he wished Roosevelt had lived to see it. Flags were still at half-staff in Roosevelt’s memory.
Across America, people poured into public squares, churches, offices, and streets. In New York City, crowds packed Times Square. Church bells rang. Factory whistles blew. Workers left their jobs to join the celebration. Many people laughed, cried, prayed, sang, or embraced strangers. For families with sons, husbands, and brothers in Europe, the news meant hope that soldiers might soon come home.
But the joy was restrained by one hard fact. The war in the Pacific was still raging. American forces were fighting Japan island by island, and no one knew how long that war would last. Truman reminded the country that victory in Europe was only part of the larger struggle.
Japan announced its surrender on August 14, 1945, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet declaration of war against Japan. The formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Only then was World War II truly over.
V-E Day remained a day of relief, gratitude, and remembrance. It marked the defeat of Nazi Germany, but it also pointed toward the difficult work ahead: bringing troops home, rebuilding shattered nations, and trying to prevent another global war.
Click here to see photos from the New York City V-E Day Celebration.
Click here for more WWII stamps.
| FREE printable This Day in History album pages Download a PDF of today’s article. Get a binder or other supplies to create your This Day in History album. |
Discover what else happened on This Day in History.
Wow very interesting article about the end of WW2.
Wondering off May 8th a bit.
On May 8, 1945, I was on board a cargo ship loaded with tanks and trucks, part of a convoy of ships that had just completed a trip across the /Atlantic and was in the English Channel when we heard the news that Germany had surrendered. We put our ship into Southampton, and I was in a pub there when we listened to the radio speech of Churchill that the war was over. Heady times. But I was given orders to transfer to a Navy ship in the Pacific, and in August, I was on a transport ship to Eniwetok atoll in the Marshall Islands when we heard that Japan had surrendered. The war was over!
Growing up in the fifties, almost everyone’s father in my neighborhood had served in W.W.11. Hearing their experiences told how epic a struggle it was. Only after reading historical accounts from various theatres did I realize just how much my ordinary neighbors had taken part in historic battles. Without doubt, the greatest generation. I miss their passing.
Winston Churchill Was one of the main winning factors of the war and you do not mention him in the article ??? FDR was to sick to have run for a third term and did a VERY poor at Yelta conference. Thus starting the forty year cold war.
Just to set the record straight… FDR was elected to four terms as president.
i liek old stampe in coin i ceate from 1955 i haven alt of stame in coin davern cattery
I was not that old when the war ended in 1945, but I do remember my parents and my brother and I going from Huntington, Indiana to Battle Creek, Michigan and picking up my uncle Bill that year when he was discharged from the Army. I remember it was a joyous occasion for everybody.
We will always remember the greatest generation in American history. They deserve our thanks and eternal rest in the beyond! I still thank the many participants in that war who are now in their late eighties and nineties.
Brings back memories of my dad in WWII. Truly, the greatest generation. I appreciate your good and informative work, in bringing this history to the stamp collecting world.
This was not a stirring commentary on he VE day. Why was Japan even mentioned in this account of the war ending since they didn’t stop fighting until August? This was NOT up to the standards of your usual accounts AT ALL.
My father J.B.Tare was awarded PARCHMENT COMMISSION on 30th May 1945, for exemplary courage, gallantry in WW II.Your article brought back the old memories and gripping war tales my dad and his many officer friends from Army , told us when we were in school. My tributes to the World War II veterans.
I was only seven when those events occurred but I remember them well. I met the “Kissing Sailor” and have his autograph. I don’t believe the youth of today have the least knowledge of the sacrifice of that generation long ago.
I am curious as to how the Germans surrendered to the United Nations when they did not exist until October 24th, five months and 16 days later.