It was on this day in 1945 that Harry S. Truman announced to the American public that Germany had surrendered, signaling the beginning of the end of World War II that we know as VE Day. Ironically, it was also the president’s 61st birthday. It would take until August 14 before Japan officially surrendered, ending World War II. The war had claimed the lives of 20 million military personnel and 40 million civilians during 1939 and 1945.