On April 27, 1945, Benito Mussolini was captured and executed the following day. On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide, setting into motion once and for all, the collapse of the Nazi regime. On May 8th, 1945, Wilhelm Keitel along with several other German representatives surrendered to the Soviet forces shortly before midnight as witnessed by Georgi Zhukov officially ending World War II. This day was declared V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) and is recognized as the true end of World War II. On September 2, 1945, Japan also signs documents of surrender (pictured). President Harry Truman made a speech saying, “This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when Fascism finally dies.” Celebrations broke out in the streets all over the world, one of which was caught on camera creating the iconic “Kissing the War Goodbye” photograph.

Works Cited

“Victory and Peace.” National Museum of American History, 8 Oct. 2021, americanhistory.si.edu/price-of-freedom/world-war-ii/victory-and-peace. Accessed 26 Apr. 2023.