On this day in history, May 8, 1945, President Harry Truman
announced to the American people that Nazi Germany’s
forces had surrendered in World War II — and that "the
flags of freedom fly all over Europe."

The day has been known as Victory in Europe Day or V-E
Day, with celebrations erupting all around the globe to
mark the end of World War II in Europe.

The war had been raging for nearly five years when U.S.
and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy,
France, on June 6, 1944, as defense.gov notes.