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On May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Jodl signed in Reims, France, the unconditional capitulation of the armed forces of the Third Reich before the Western Allies, ending World War II in Europe. The following day, Stalin demanded a second signing in Berlin, before Soviet commanders. May 8 — Victory in Europe Day or VE-Day — is the official date of the surrender.

On May 7, 1915, the ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German submarine (U-20) off the coast of Ireland, sinking in 18 minutes and killing 1,198 people, including 128 American citizens. The sinking outraged the US and was one of the factors that led to its entry into World War I two years later. Germany argued that the ship was carrying ammunition, which proved to be true.

On May 7, 1824, completely deaf Ludwig van Beethoven premiered his Ninth Symphony in Vienna. When the symphony ended, Beethoven remained with his back to the audience, unaware of the applause. A soprano had to turn him around so he could see the standing ovation. The Ninth Symphony is considered the greatest symphony ever composed and its final movement, the Ode to Joy, is now the anthem of the European Union.