Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost their Lives during WWII observed on May 8 and 9

Exam-focused facts from the 12 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost their Lives during WWII is observed annually on May 8 and 9.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly established this observance through Resolution 59/26 on November 22, 2004.
The dates of May 8 and 9 were selected to mark the anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.
The observance commemorates the victims of the Second World War, which resulted in the estimated deaths of approximately 40 million civilians and 20 million soldiers.
In 2010, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 64/257 to mark the 65th anniversary of the conclusion of the war.