Victory in Europe Day

Culture of origin: National · National holiday

Holiday sources: France

On 8 May 1945 the Allies formally accepted Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender, ending all German military operations; Hitler had killed himself on 30 April. The surrender was first signed in Reims on 7 May and in its definitive form in Berlin-Karlshorst on 8 May. Because it took effect just after midnight Moscow time, Russia and several former Soviet states mark 9 May. In France, "8 mai 1945" is a public holiday, and more than 500 streets bear its name.