"We are grateful to everyone who risked and sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the world from fascism," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Twitter.
"Unfortunately, even today, the idea of fascism has not been completely eradicated. We have to stand up for democracy and freedom together every day," he wrote.
Germany marks the end of World War II in Europe and its liberation from nationalist socialism on May 8. On the night of May 8-9, 1945, Hitler's Germany signed a complete and unconditional act of capitulation.