1945

On May 8, 1945, Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces, marking the end of World War II in Europe. Celebrations erupted worldwide, as the war in Europe had claimed millions of lives and caused unprecedented destruction.

On August 6 and 9, 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

On October 24, 1945, the United Nations was officially established with the aim of preventing future global conflicts and fostering international cooperation. The UN Charter had been signed by 50 countries earlier in the year, and the organization began its work shortly after the war ended.

In November 1945, the Nuremberg Trials began in Germany, where key Nazi leaders were prosecuted for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. These trials were significant in establishing the precedent for international law and justice.

In 1945, Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation at the end of World War II. The Korean Peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of occupation, with the Soviet Union controlling the north and the United States controlling the south, setting the stage for the Korean War.

Allied forces liberated several Nazi concentration and extermination camps, including Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau, revealing the full horrors of the Holocaust to the world.