Victory in Europe Day
On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced in a radio address that World War II had ended in Europe. "Both Great Britain and the United States celebrate(d) Victory in Europe Day. Cities in both nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine," according to history.com. Today marks the 70th anniversary of that day, also known as V-E Day or V Day, and nations around the world celebrated.
VE DAY WARBIRDS
Jerry Yellin, national spokesman for Spirit of 45, talks with a fellow pilot at Culpeper Regional Airport, Thursday, May 7, 2015, in Culpeper, Va. Yellin piloted P-51 Mustangs in combat missions over Japan in World War II. (Dave Ellis/The Free Lance-Star via AP)
World War II Flyover
World War II vintage aircrafts flyover near the Washington Monument over Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe on May 8, 1945, and commemorate the Allied victory in Europe during World War II. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
World War II Flyover
People watch from the World War II Memorial in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, as World War II aircraft fly overhead in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), during the “Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover.” The Flyover above the National Mall features historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
World War II Flyover
A soldier with the 3rd U.S. Infantry wears a World War II era uniform as he watches as World War II aircraft fly over the World War II Memorial in Washington, Friday, May 8,2015, on the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). The Flyover above the National Mall features historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Kevin Smith, Harold Noel
Navy Petty Officer Kevin Smith, left, salutes WWII veteran Harold Noel, 98, of Solomons, Md., who was a B-24 navigator during WWII and was shot down and imprisoned as a POW at Stalag Luft III, Friday, May 8, 2015, at the World War II Memorial during a ceremony in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). The Flyover above the National Mall features historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Bill Hare
WWII Veteran Bill Hare, 89, of Stewartstown, Pa., poses for a portrait while wearing a hat and shirt emblazoned with B-17's after attending a ceremony at the World War II Memorial in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, where WWII era aircraft flew over the memorial and the National Mall in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), during the “Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover.” The Flyover above the National Mall featured historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. Hare was an engineer who flew on B-17's during the war, and says he enjoyed being in the military. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
World War II Flyover
World War II era North American AT-6/SNJ planes fly over the Washington Monument in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, as part of the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover to celebrate the 70th anniversary of V-E Day. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
World War II Flyover
A B-24 Liberator vintage military aircraft from World War II, is seen from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, as it flies past the Washington Monument to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
World War II Flyover
People gather on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, to watch Vintage military aircraft from World War II fly over the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
World War II Flyover
People watch vintage World War II aircraft fly over the skies of Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, from the roof of the House of Representatives. The aircraft were flown in formations to represent the major battles of World War II. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Germany World War II Anniversary
92-year-old Soviet war veteran David Dushman stands at the Soviet Memorial in Berlin, Friday, May 8, 2015. Along with other veterans he is remembering his comrades who died in World War II that ended 70 years ago. (Maurizio Gambarini/dpa via AP)
Alexander Lukashenko
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, second left, with his son Nikolai, lays wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 8, 2015. Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Moscow to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II. (RIA Novosti Pool Photo via AP)
France World War II
French President Francois Hollande rekindles the flame during a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Paris, France, Friday May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, pool)
Poland World War II
Polish veteran military officers salute during a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, at Westerplatte, near Gdansk, Poland Friday, May 8, 2015. Poland's president led international commemorations late Thursday and into Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a gathering meant as an alternative celebration to Moscow's Red Square parade this weekend.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland World War II
Polish military officers fire artillery during a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, at Westerplatte, near Gdansk, Poland Friday, May 8, 2015. Poland's president led international commemorations late Thursday and into Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a gathering meant as an alternative celebration to Moscow's Red Square parade this weekend. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Bronislaw Komorowski
Poland’s President Bronislaw Komorowski speaks to foreign leaders during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, at the Westerplatte peninsula, where some of the war’s first shots were fired, near Gdansk, Poland Friday, May 8, 2015. Komorowski led international commemorations late Thursday and into Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a gathering meant as an alternative celebration to Moscow's Red Square parade this weekend. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland World War II
Polish Navy troops stand at the foot of the monument to Polish defenders of the Westerplatte peninsula, where some of World War II’s first shots were fired, during ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, at Westerplatte, near Gdansk Poland Friday, May 8, 2015. Poland's president led international commemorations late Thursday and into Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a gathering meant as an alternative celebration to Moscow's Red Square parade this weekend. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Poland World War II
Foreign leaders taking part in ceremonies marking 70 years since the end of World War II, light candles at the monument to Gdansk shipyard workers killed by the security and the armed forces in 1970, in front of the shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, on Thursday, May 7, 2015. Present are U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, European Council President Donald Tusk, a native of nearby city of Gdansk, and the presidents of Ukraine and several Central European countries. Poland’s President Bronislaw Komorowski meant the gathering as an alternative celebration to Moscow's Red Square parade scheduled for Saturday, at a time of deep divisions between the West and Russia, over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine.(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Russia World War II Victory
A young couple share a tender moment during a light show marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in WWII at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, May 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
World War II Flyover
Vintage World War II airplanes fly in a missing man formation over the skies of Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015. Dozens of vintage military aircraft from World War II made the flight over the nation's capital to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Russia World War II Victory
In this photo taken on Thursday, May 7, 2015, spectators watch a light show at the Russian Army Theatre marking the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, in Moscow, Russia. Leaders and ordinary citizens across Europe today have been marking 70 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of a war that ravaged the continent. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr.)
John McLean
World War II veteran John McLean salutes after he lays a wreath during a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of VE-Day at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Friday, May 8, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
George Dunn
World War II veteran George Dunn, 89, of Ottawa, salutes as he takes part in a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of VE-Day at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Friday, May 8, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Zbigniew Pierscianowsk; Stan Kielar
World War II veteran Stan Kielar, 87, of Ottawa, left, walks with fellow veteran Zbigniew Pierscianowski, 94, of Ottawa, as they take part in a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of VE-Day at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Friday, May 8, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Elizabeth Copp
Holding a World War II era photograph of herself, WWII veteran Elizabeth Copp, 96, of Falls Church, Va., who was a sergeant in the Women's Army Corps during World War II waits to watch World War II vintage aircraft fly over the World War II Memorial in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), part of the “Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover,” Friday, May 8, 2015, at the World War II Memorial in Washington. The Flyover above the National Mall features historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. Copp said that being in the Army was one of the happiest times in her life. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
World War II Flyover
Vintage World War II aircraft fly overhead at the World War II Memorial in Washington, Friday, May 8, 2015, in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), during the “Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover.” The Flyover above the National Mall features historically sequenced formations of more than 50 vintage World War II aircraft. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Lithuania WWII Anniversary
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite places stones at the foot of a granite Holocaust survivor memorial in the Paneriai memorial in memory of the Jews of Vilnius killed by the Nazi during World War II during a memorial ceremony on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Vilnius, Lithuania, Friday, May 8, 2015. With quiet moments of memory or military pomp, leaders and ordinary citizens across Europe are marking 70 years since the Nazi defeat and the end of a war that ravaged the continent. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Germany World War II Anniversary
Soviet war veteran Petr Feldman, left, holds three-year-old Polina in his arm as he attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Russian War Memorial in the Tiergarten district of Berlin, Germany, Friday, May 8, 2015. The ceremony was held by the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany to commemorate the end of WWII 70 years ago. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Germany World War II Anniversary
Soviet war veteran David Dushman, 92, center, talks to people holding Ukrainian flags as he attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Russian War Memorial in the Tiergarten district of Berlin, Germany, Friday, May 8, 2015. The ceremony was held by the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany to commemorate the end of WWII 70 years ago. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
VE Day 70th Anniversary Day One
From left, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and British Prime Minister David Cameron prepare to place a wreath during a tribute at the Cenotaph to begin three days of national commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day, London, Friday, May 8, 2015. All of Britain's party leaders — both victors and losers — lined up together in central London to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, holding wreaths of red poppies as they observed a moment's silence in honor of the fallen in World War II. (Dan Kitwood/Pool photo via AP)
France World War II
A tank parades on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, southeastern France, Friday, May 8, 2015, during the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
France World War II
A tank parades on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, southeastern France, Friday, May 8, 2015, during the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
VE Day 70th Anniversary Day One
Chelsea pensioners sit on a bench before a tribute at the Cenotaph to begin three days of national commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day, London, Friday, May 8, 2015. All of Britain's party leaders — both victors and losers — lined up together in central London to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, holding wreaths of red poppies as they observed a moment's silence in honor of the fallen in World War II. (Dan Kitwood/Pool photo via AP)
Germany World War II Anniversary
92-year-old Soviet war veteran David Dushman stands at the Soviet Memorial in Berlin, Friday, May 8, 2015. Along with other veterans he is remembering his comrades who died in World War II that ended 70 years ago. (Maurizio Gambarini/dpa via AP)