Germany’s surrender

Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, marked the end of the European phase of World War II. This event is known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. The surrender followed Adolf Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945, as Allied forces closed in on Berlin. The German military's collapse was accelerated by advances from both the Western Allies and the Soviet Red Army. The unconditional surrender was signed by German representatives at Allied headquarters, officially concluding the war in Europe. At the war's end, Germany's economy was devastated, with significant destruction to housing and infrastructure. Following the surrender, Germany's governance was taken over by the Allied powers: the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France.1234