On May 8, 1945, people across the United States and Europe celebrated Victory in Europe Day, known as V-E Day. It marked the formal surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of the war in the European theater. In American cities, crowds gathered in streets and public squares to cheer, sing, and hold impromptu parades. For many families, the day brought relief and joy after years of loss and uncertainty. At the same time, attention began to shift to the still ongoing war against Japan in the Pacific. V-E Day remains a key date in the collective memory of World War II.
