On this day in history, May 8, 1945, President Truman announces 'flags of freedom fly all over Europe'

President Harry S. Truman, on this day in history, May 8, 1945, announced to the American people that Germany's forces had surrendered in World War II — marking the end of the war in Europe.

The war had been raging for nearly five years when U.S. and Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, as defense.gov notes. "Times Square was closed to traffic for six hours as hundreds of thousands of people poured into the streets." "We can repay the debt which we owe to our God, to our dead, and to our children, only by work, by ceaseless devotion to the responsibilities which lie ahead of us." "Our blows will not cease until the Japanese military and naval forces lay down their arms in unconditional surrender." This article was written by Fox News staff.

That invasion signaled the beginning of the end for Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. In less than a year, Germany would surrender and Hitler would be dead.