# Unconditional Surrender (1945)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1945-unconditional-surrender
Location: Reims and Berlin-Karlshorst
Categories: main-event

Germany surrendered unconditionally on 7 and 8 May 1945. The war in Europe was over. Around 60 million people had died in World War II.

## Why it matters
8 May is remembered as a day of liberation.

Ruler at the time: [Karl Dönitz](https://germany-history.com/rulers/karl-donitz)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – German Instrument of Surrender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Instrument_of_Surrender)