Still celebrated in most of the Soviet successor states, Victory Day marks Nazi Germany's capitulation to the USSR in WWII. Signed on the evening of May 8, 1945—May 9 in Moscow's time zone—the surrender followed Germany's initial capitulation to the Allies. When the first surrender document was being signed, only one Soviet representative was present, and he had no instructions from Moscow nor any means of immediate contact with Soviet leaders. Was he punished or lauded for deciding to sign it? Discuss (http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst8266_Victory-Day--1945-.aspx)
Victory Day (1945) (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Victory+Day+(Eastern+Europe))