On 25 April 1945, United States and Soviet troops linked-up at the Elbe River, cutting Germany in two. On 30 April 1945, when all seemed lost, Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his bunker along with his long-time lover and recently-wed wife, Eva Braun. The final surrender documents were signed by General Alfred Jodl at 2301 (11:01 p.m.) on 7 May 1945.

On 8 May 1945, President Harry Truman and Prime Minister Winston Churchill jointly declared Victory in Europe Day. The Soviet Union followed suit on 9 May.

World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world. On this 59th anniversary of V-E Day, the people of the United States remember with grateful pride the men and the women of the Allied Powers whose sacrifices made the victory possible. We especially honor the 405,399 American war dead, whose efforts made possible the continued freedoms we enjoy and continue to fight to protect even today.

God bless.

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