Germany's surrender on May 7, 1945, officially ended the war in Europe, marking the conclusion of World War II in the European Theater. The surrender came after the Allies had successfully invaded German-occupied territories, advancing from both the west and east. The Soviet Red Army had captured Berlin, and Allied forces had surrounded Germany from all sides.

Adolf Hitler had died by suicide on April 30, 1945, as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, leaving the leadership of Nazi Germany in disarray. On May 7, 1945, Germany's representatives signed an unconditional surrender at Reims, France, in the presence of Allied officials, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force. The surrender was ratified on May 8, 1945, which became known as V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day).

This surrender marked the end of Nazi rule and the collapse of the Third Reich, but the war in the Pacific continued until Japan's surrender in September 1945. The end of the war in Europe brought relief and marked the beginning of the post-war rebuilding period in Europe, with the Allies focusing on re-establishing peace and order across the continent.