The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2020
Seventy-five years ago today, the last remnants of the Nazi regime
unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Powers, marking the end of World War
II in Europe. Today, we celebrate the forces of freedom who defeated
tyranny and emerged victorious in that monumental struggle. We pay
tribute to those who served for their service and pause to remember those who
gave their last full measure in defense of the flames of liberty.
The campaign to end fascism in the European Theater is a somber reminder of the
price of freedom. More than 30 million lives were lost and tens of
millions more were shattered in the war. Most of those who perished in
Europe were civilians, including 6 million Jews and millions of others from
Poland and the former Soviet Union. The United States also suffered
incredible losses. Of the more than 2 million Americans who deployed to
Europe and the Mediterranean or patrolled the Atlantic Ocean, more than 186,000
paid the ultimate sacrifice, and more than twice that number were wounded.
Most of these selfless and heroic warriors had never known life in a prosperous
America. They grew up during the Great Depression, when America’s
economic prospects seemed bleak. Yet, they answered our country’s call of
duty because they believed in the principles that lie at the foundation of our
Nation. They came from the plains of the Midwest, industrial and
manufacturing towns, the sprawling farmlands of rural America, and our
country’s up-and-coming cities. Many had never traveled outside of their
home states, but they would trek thousands of miles around the world to meet
their tyrannical enemies on the beaches of France, in the forests of Belgium,
on the hills of Italy, and on hundreds of other battlefields of Europe and
North Africa. These American heroes would not relent in their noble
efforts until they had liberated all of Europe from the abhorrent Nazi
regime.
Today, as we reflect on the 75th anniversary of the end of the World War II in
Europe, we are reminded that no challenge is greater than the resolve of the
American spirit. Over the past months, our Nation has faced remarkable
adversity during the coronavirus pandemic. But just as we have so many
times before, America will triumph, and we will emerge from this a stronger and
more united country.
I join all Americans in honoring our brave warriors for their gallant service
and sacrifice in World War II. Fewer than 400,000 of the 16 million
Americans who served in our Armed Forces during World War II remain with us
today. Their generation—the Greatest Generation—will never be
forgotten. We are forever grateful for their immeasurable contributions
to the success and prosperity of our Nation.