2025Peace - First Day Cover

The end of the Second World War
The Second World War was the biggest military conflict in human history. It ended after six years with the unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan. Following Germany’s signing of the unconditional surrender on 8 and 9 May 1945, the last fighting in Europe ended on 15 May. Japan surrendered on 2 September 1945 after the USA dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The war was the biggest cause of death in human history, not only among military personnel but also among civilian populations in mass slaughters, the Holocaust, concentration camps, air raids, anti-resistance fighting and reprisals. Most of humanity, both soldiers and civilians, reacted to the news of the end of the war with unbridled joy and spontaneous expressions of enthusiasm, or at least relief, although in many areas, not only in the countries on the losing side, these emotions were tempered by fears for the future.