Victory Day in Europe, also known as VE Day in the United Kingdom or V-E Day in the United States, is a day celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. It was on May 8, 1945 that Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied Forces in WWII. Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30 during the Battle of Berlin following which his successor Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz authorised Germany's surrender.