Knowing defeat was imminent and the repercussions of his heinous actions would be severe, Hitler took his own life on April 30th, 1945. Two years later, the Allies, now with America on their side, and the Soviets launched counter-attacks to drive the Nazis back to Berlin.
And, of course, Americans weren’t going to take that attack lying down. Japan, which was firmly allied with the Germans, attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. By 1941, after Britain had stood firm against Nazi attacks, Hitler made yet another mistake: breaking a non-aggression pact that the country had with the Soviet Union.Īs we all know, Pearl Harbor was the cause of America’s eventual involvement in the war. Nazi forces got cocky, as they had just recently taken control of their longtime arch-nemesis: France. Though Hitler and his forces had conquered much of Europe by 1940, one of his many lethal mistakes was attempting to overtake Britain. That’s what we call a win for the Allies! Why Did the Germans Surrender During WWII? Alfred Jodl – who was present at the first signing one day before in Reims, France – were swiftly executed. The signing on May 8th meant that German forces would immediately and unequivocally surrender to Allied forces.Īfter the unconditional surrender on Victory in Europe Day, both Keitel and German Col. Keitel was well-known in the German military sphere for ordering laws that allowed the execution of Jewish people in Germany, so his presence at the second surrender signing sent a strong message to remaining German forces. Soviet Premier Josef Stalin insisted upon this second signing, and it was attended by a German Field Marshal named Wilhelm Keitel. May 8th was the second of two surrender signings of WWII during the month. But what exactly makes VE Day what it is? What happened on May 8th, 1945, that leads us to mark the day as a win for Allied forces? So what is VE Day? We all know that World War II was fought to stop the tyrannical, Imperialist powers of Nazi Germany and Japan, spearheaded by Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939 in an attempt to obtain world domination. So, if you’re looking for a VE Day definition, we’d say it’s the day that the Allies officially stomped the Nazis into the dust! Understanding the Origins of Victory in Europe Day We use VE Day to remember the Allied victory over Nazi Germany’s forces in Europe.
When is VE Day? Victory in Europe Day is celebrated on May 8th every year as the end of the Second World War in the European theater.
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