Today, on May 9, the world is marking Victory Day, the day when Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945.

On May 9, 1945, Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov signed Germany’s capitulation on behalf of the Red Army. A day before, German Supreme Commander, Field-Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the document.

The war, however, lasted a few more months until Japan surrendered.

More than 50 million lives were lost throughout WWII. The war today represents a warning, for the evil that took place during the 1940’s to never occur again.

May 9 also has a special importance in the European Union. On that day, in 1950, Robert Schuman presented his proposal for a European organization.

The Schuman Declaration is considered to be the establishment of what would later become the European Union.