A GERMAN CIVILIAN reading of the surrender of the German forces in a division newspaper. On 7 May 1945 the Germans signed the surrender terms which were to become effective at 0001, 9 May 1945; 8 May, however, was designated as V-E Day (Victory in Europe). In some remote areas fighting continued until 11 May.] [Illustration: GERMANY MEMBERS OF THE STARS AND STRIPES STAFF grab copies of the extra edition as they come off the press, proclaiming V-E Day (top). U. S. sailor and soldier celebrate V-E Day in London (bottom).] [Illustration] [Illustration: FRANCE MEN MARCHING TO THE DOCKS AT LE HAVRE to board a ship that will take them home to be discharged under the new point system. Men with the highest numbers of points were sent home first for discharge. These numbers were determined by the total number of months of service, total number of months overseas, number of awards and decorations, and the number of dependents.] [Illustration: FRANCE U. S. LIBERATED PRISONERS OF WAR leave a plane at Reims on the first lap of their journey back to the United States.] [Illustration: ENGLAND FLOODLIGHTS ILLUMINATE BIG BEN on the Houses of Parliament as the lights go on again in London on V-E night after being blacked out during the war years. Early in May 1945 there were approximately 4,500,000 troops under the command of the supreme commander in Europe. Casualties for the western Allies numbered over 800,000. At the end of the war there were nine Allied armies, totaling ninety-three divisions, on the Continent.] Appendix A List of Abbreviations