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Europe Marks 80 Years Since Nazi Germany’s Surrender with Commemorations and Reflection

France hosts a state ceremony in Paris, while Germany debates its approach to May 8 as Berlin observes a one-off holiday.

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La une du Figaro le 8 mai 1945
Les représentants du haut commandement allemand arrivent au Collège technique et moderne de Reims pour signer l’acte de reddition le 7 mai 1945.
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Overview

  • France will hold a state ceremony on May 8, 2025, at Place de l’Étoile in Paris, led by President Emmanuel Macron, featuring a military parade and televised addresses.
  • Germany remains divided on making May 8 a national holiday, with Berlin observing a one-off public holiday, while federal ceremonies emphasize solemn remembrance.
  • Filmmaker Wim Wenders has released a short film highlighting the lesser-known May 7, 1945, surrender in Reims, drawing attention to this pivotal but often overlooked event.
  • The dual surrender acts—first in Reims on May 7 and then in Berlin on May 8—reflect Allied negotiations and the complexities of World War II’s conclusion.
  • As surviving witnesses dwindle, debates over how to sustain memory and address rising nationalist rhetoric are shaping Europe’s approach to commemoration.