The flags of freedom fly over all Europe," Truman said. Truman designated May 8 as V-E Day and most of the Western Allies followed suit. The Soviets, however, designated May 9 as V-E Day or Soviet Victory Day, based on the document signed in Berlin.

Context Explanation

News of Germany's surrender ignited joyous celebrations in cities across the world. V-J Day is typically seen as the final end of World War II. Adding complexity, however, is another date that receives little recognition today: , more than a year after Japan’s surrender. D-Day Initially set for June 5, D-Day was delayed due to poor weather.

Insight Material

With a small window of opportunity in the weather, Eisenhower decided to go—D-Day would be . Paratroopers began landing after midnight, followed by a massive naval and aerial bombardment at 6:30 a.m. American forces faced severe resistance at Omaha and Utah ... D-Day Timeline On , Western Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, France, to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe. The timeline below features some of the key events of D-Day, the greatest amphibious landing in history.

Final Conclusion

Despite their early agreement on a strategy focused on defeating “Germany First,” the US and British Allies engaged in a lengthy and divisive debate over how exactly to conduct this strategy before they finally settled on a plan for Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy.