Remembering Liberation
Remembering Liberation: Berlin Marks 80 Years Since WWII's End Yesterday, Berlin commemorated a pivotal milestone in European history as the city observed the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II . For the first time since 2020, May 8th was declared a special one-time public holiday, allowing Berliners to participate in various commemorative events across the capital. A City Transformed by History, The Hard Way On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany formally surrendered, ending six years of devastating conflict. As the capital of the Third Reich , Berlin was the final battleground, with the city surrendering on May 2, 1945 , followed by the Wehrmacht 's unconditional capitulation six days later, silencing guns across Europe. The date holds profound significance for Germany, known as " Tag der Befreiung " (Day of Liberation), marking both the end of National Socialism and Europe's liberation from war and terror. As the Berlin Cosmopolitan School noted, this s...