Changes

Upon the death of [[Hitler]] and [[Goebbels]], Grand Admiral [[Karl Dönitz]] was appointed Chancellor (the short-lived Flensburg government). Dönitz immediately opened up negotiations with the [[Western alliance|Western Powers]] to offer Germany's unconditional surrender.  The Western Powers had previously agreed with their [[Soviet]] allies not to accept a separate peace.

Upon the death of [[Hitler]] and [[Goebbels]], Grand Admiral [[Karl Dönitz]] was appointed Chancellor (the short-lived Flensburg government). Dönitz immediately opened up negotiations with the [[Western alliance|Western Powers]] to offer Germany's unconditional surrender.  The Western Powers had previously agreed with their [[Soviet]] allies not to accept a separate peace.

On May 7, Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, to sign the unconditional surrender of German forces in [[the West]] to the American and British forces in [[Reims]]. On May 9, shortly after midnight Moscow time Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the surrender document to the Russian forces in Berlin.

On May 7, Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, to sign the unconditional surrender of German forces in the West to the American and British forces in [[Reims]]. On May 9, shortly after midnight Moscow time Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the surrender document to the Russian forces in Berlin.

May 9 has been a national holiday in the [[Russian Federation]] since its formation 1991.  May 9 became a non-working holiday in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1963 and only two years later in the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in 1965.

May 9 has been a national holiday in the [[Russian Federation]] since its formation 1991.  May 9 became a non-working holiday in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1963 and only two years later in the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in 1965.