V-E Day in Times Square

The Times headline proclaimed “The War in Europe is Ended!” during Victory in Europe Day (also known as V-E Day). It marks the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender. After five years, eight months and six days of the “bloodiest conflict in history,” the public took to the streets to greet the joyous news with unrestrained vigor. The Times reported that wild crowds celebrated in Times Square with “the turbulent enthusiasm of New Year’s Eve and Election Night rolled into one.”