Home GRASP/Japan This Day in History: Europe Celebrates ‘VE Day’ After German Defeat

This Day in History: Europe Celebrates ‘VE Day’ After German Defeat

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But, World War II wasn’ t completely over until the US military dropped atomic bombs on Japan
Seventy-two years ago on May 8,1945, tens of thousands of people gathered in streets across the world to celebrate “VE Day” — Victory in Europe Day — the official end of the Second World War on the continent.
U. S. President Harry Truman announced the surrender of German forces during a broadcast address to the American people.
Truman said, “Much remains to be done, ” a reference to fighting against Japan in the Asia-Pacific rim.
A crowd gathers to celebrate V-E Day at Piccadilly Circus in London, England, May 8,1945.
In Britain, Londoners celebrated that six years of death and hardship were finally over.
On May 7, at 2: 41 a.m. local time, officials representing the victorious Allied nations met with German officials in Reims, France, the venue for the signing of the official surrender documents; but, in keeping with an earlier accord among Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union, 24 hours passed before they formally announced the end of fighting so the news could be made public simultaneously on May 8.

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