Europe in ruins in the aftermath of the Second World War
Europe in ruins in the aftermath of the Second World War
Germany's surrender
Link-up of Russian and US troops in Torgau (25 April 1945)
BildOn 25 April 1945, American and Soviet troops link up at Torgau on the Elbe, north-east of Leipzig.
'Nazi armies in Italy surrender' from the front page of The Stars and Stripes
BildOn 3 May 1945, the US Army newspaper The Stars and Stripes announces the unconditional surrender of the German and Italian forces in Italy and part of Austria.
Statement by Winston Churchill (London, 8 May 1945)
TonDuring the night of 7 to 8 May 1945 in Reims, Admiral Karl Doenitz, who succeeded Adolf Hitler at the head of the Reich, and General Gustav Jodl, Chief of Staff of the Wehrmacht, sign the unconditional surrender of the Nazi troops. On the 8 May, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, triumphantly announces the news on British radio.
Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs the Act of Military Surrender in Berlin (8 May 1945)
BildOn 8 May 1945, in Berlin, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs the Act of Unconditional Military Surrender of the German Armed Forces.
Act of Military Surrender (Berlin, 8 May 1945)
TextOn 8 May 1945, in Berlin, Field Marshal Keitel signs the Act of Unconditional Military Surrender of the German Armed Forces.
Harry S. Truman announces the end of the Second World War (8 May 1945)
BildIn a radio broadcast on 8 May 1945, the US President, Harry S. Truman, announces to the American people the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Broadcast speech by Charles de Gaulle (8 May 1945)
TextOn 8 May 1945 in Reims, the German military High Command signed the unconditional surrender of the Reich. On the same day, General de Gaulle announces the end of the war to the French people in a broadcast speech.
'Germany has capitulated' from Le Monde (8 May 1945)
TextOn 8 May 1945, the French newspaper Le Monde announces that Admiral Doenitz has ordered the unconditional surrender of all German forces.
‘Unconditional surrender’ from L'Humanité (8 May 1945)
TextOn 8 May 1945, the daily newspaper L’Humanité, mouthpiece of the French Communist Party, comments on the surrender of Hitler’s Germany.
‘Germany has surrendered’ from the front page of Le Monde
BildOn 8 May 1945, the French daily newspaper Le Monde leads with the surrender of the German armed forces.
German disarmament
BildAt the end of the Second World War, the immense arsenal of the Wehrmacht — such as these cannons manufactured by Krupp — is destroyed by the Allies.