Europe is marking one of its most joyous days in history. The 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on the continent was on Thursday.

Countries across the world will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War II. But this year’s events may be more bittersweet than in the past.

May 8 marks 80 years since the close of the European theater in World War II, when Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies. The fighting in Europe stopped when the Chief of Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command,