Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) occurs on May 8. On this day in 1945 the Allied forces during the Second World War officially marked the defeat of Nazi Germany. Originally the Allies had designated May the 9th as the official day for marking the surrender of the Third Reich but news of the surrender became public in the west on the 8th of May, resulting in massive celebrations throughout the western world. Thus, May 8th became recognized in the west as VE Day. The Soviets, however, observed the May 9th date as the official date of the end of the war and modern Russia still observes the 9th of May as Victory Day.