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What happened on May 7th?
Nazi Germany’s defeat solidified the end of the deadliest conflict in history
Matthew Jones
May 07, 2025
1945 Germany Signs Surrender Documents in Reims, France
On May 7, 1945, a German delegation signed surrender documents at US General Dwight D. Eisenhower's headquarters in Reims, France, officially ending the European phase of World War II. This surrender marked the collapse of Nazi Germany and paved the way for the Allied victory in Europe, leading to the end of a devastating war that lasted six years. This key moment in history solidified the end of the conflict on the European continent, although the war in the Pacific would continue until Japan's surrender later that year.
The photo shows Colonel General Alfred Jodl, Chief of Staff under the Doenitz regime, signing the document of unconditional surrender. To Jodl's left is General Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg of the German Navy, and to his right is Major Wilhelm Oxenius of the German General Staff. Standing behind von Friedeburg is Major General K. W. D. Strong.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on May 7:
1992 — Michigan ratified the Twenty-seventh Amendment, ensuring Congress could not give itself a pay raise without the approval of voters.
1946 — Sony Corporation was founded by Ibuka Masaru and Morita Akio, marking the beginning of a global electronics empire.
1918 — The Treaty of Bucharest forced Romania to cede territory and pay reparations after its defeat by the Central Powers in World War I.
1915 — A German submarine sank the Lusitania, killing 1,198 people, an event that swayed American public opinion against Germany.
1915 — Japan issued a harsh ultimatum to China, demanding territorial concessions and increasing its influence over the country.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On May 7, we’re singing to:
David Hume (1711) — Scottish philosopher widely known for his influential works on empiricism and skepticism, particularly in A Treatise of Human Nature.
Johannes Brahms (1833) — German composer and pianist celebrated for his symphonies and concertos, which blended classical tradition with Romanticism.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840) — Russian composer renowned for his ballets, most notably Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, as well as his symphonic works, such as the 1812 Overture.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861) — Bengali poet, writer, and philosopher acclaimed for his poetry collection Gitanjali, which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Josip Broz Tito (1892) — Yugoslav revolutionary and president recognized for his leadership during World War II and his role in the formation of socialist Yugoslavia.
Gary Cooper (1901) — American actor known for his roles in classic films, including High Noon and Sergeant York, and winning two Academy Awards for Best Actor.
🪦Who Died Today?
On May 7, we’re saying goodbye to:
Antonio Salieri (1825) — Italian composer known for his operas and symphonies as well as for his long-standing rivalry with Mozart.
Caspar David Friedrich (1840) — German Romantic painter famous for his evocative landscapes, including Wanderer above the Sea of Fog.
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