The Allied Powers officially defeated Nazi Germany in World War II on May 8, 1945, a day celebrated as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. This event marked the formal acceptance of Germany's unconditional surrender after years of brutal warfare. The surrender followed a series of military defeats for the Nazis, culminating in the fall of Berlin and Adolf Hitler's suicide. V-E Day signified not only the end of the war in Europe but also a major turning point in global history, leading to the eventual establishment of the United Nations and the onset of the Cold War.