81st Anniversary of Germany's Reims Surrender — Museum of the Surrender Reopens After Full Renovation

May 7, 2026 marked the 81st anniversary of the German first unconditional surrender, signed at 02:41 CET on May 7, 1945, at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in Reims, France, by General Alfred Jodl representing the German High Command. The occasion was marked by the highly anticipated reopening of the Musée de la Reddition (Museum of the Surrender) in Reims, which had been closed since May 2025 for a comprehensive renovation. The redesigned exhibition now guides visitors chronologically through occupation, liberation, and post-war reconciliation, with multilingual digital interactive tools, improved climate control for archival documents, and a new multimedia room. A three-day program of official events ran from May 7 through May 9 (Europe Day), including official ceremonies in the 'War Room' — the actual schoolroom where the surrender was signed — and guided visits. The original document signed at Reims was not recognized by the Soviet Union, which insisted on a more comprehensive ceremony in Berlin-Karlshorst the following night, May 8–9, 1945; this is why Russia commemorates Victory Day on May 9 rather than May 8. Germany's foreign minister sent a statement marking the anniversary, reaffirming Germany's commitment to European reconciliation and democratic values — a contrast to the Russian Victory Day ceremonies held simultaneously in Moscow.