On the 8th of May in 1945, the Allies from World War II in the West celebrated “Victory in Europe Day”. Cities in most of the allied nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine.

The 8th of May was the day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms: In Prague, Germans surrendered to their Soviet counterparts, after the latter had lost more than 8,000 soldiers, and the Germans many more; in Copenhagen and Oslo; at Karlshorst, near Berlin; in northern Latvia; on the Channel Island of Sark—the German surrender was completed in a final cease-fire. More surrender documents were signed in Berlin and in eastern Germany.

The main concern of many German soldiers was to avoid capture by Soviet forces, About 1 million Germans attempted a mass exodus to the West when the fighting in Czechoslovakia ended, but were stopped by the Russians and taken captive. The Russians took approximately 2 million prisoners in the period just before and after the German surrender.



Pockets of German-Soviet confrontation would continue into the next day. On May the 9th, the Soviets would lose 600 more troops in Silesia before the Germans finally surrendered. Consequently, V-E Day was not celebrated until the 9th in Moscow, with a radio broadcast salute from Stalin himself: "The age-long struggle of the Slav nations… has ended in victory. Your courage has defeated the Nazis. The war is over."


The War Thunder Team

Discuss it here!

On the 8th of May in 1945, the Allies from World War II in the West celebrated “Victory in Europe Day”. Cities in most of the allied nations, as well as formerly occupied cities in Western Europe, put out flags and banners, rejoicing in the defeat of the Nazi war machine.

The 8th of May was the day when German troops throughout Europe finally laid down their arms: In Prague, Germans surrendered to their Soviet counterparts, after the latter had lost more than 8,000 soldiers, and the Germans many more; in Copenhagen and Oslo; at Karlshorst, near Berlin; in northern Latvia; on the Channel Island of Sark—the German surrender was completed in a final cease-fire. More surrender documents were signed in Berlin and in eastern Germany.

The main concern of many German soldiers was to avoid capture by Soviet forces, About 1 million Germans attempted a mass exodus to the West when the fighting in Czechoslovakia ended, but were stopped by the Russians and taken captive. The Russians took approximately 2 million prisoners in the period just before and after the German surrender.



Pockets of German-Soviet confrontation would continue into the next day. On May the 9th, the Soviets would lose 600 more troops in Silesia before the Germans finally surrendered. Consequently, V-E Day was not celebrated until the 9th in Moscow, with a radio broadcast salute from Stalin himself: "The age-long struggle of the Slav nations… has ended in victory. Your courage has defeated the Nazis. The war is over."


The War Thunder Team

Discuss it here!

The following changes are a server update that will be implemented on the game servers within 24 hours. During this time, bug reports regarding specifics mentioned here and their effect in a battle will not be considered as a bug and as such will not be taken into consideration.

• The maximum fire rate of the M7 gun (M10 GMC) has been decreased from 12 to 9.6 shots per minute.
  
• The maximum fire rate of the M1 gun (M18 GMC) has been decreased from 12 to 9.9 shots per minute.
  
• The M26e1’s coaxial machine gun type has been fixed. The М1918А4 has changed to high-calibre M2HB, and the ammo load has decreased from 3000 to 1000.
  
• The maximum fire rate of the D-49 gun (Su-122-54 SPG) has been increased from 4.2 to 4.86 shots per minute.
  
• The fire rates of the M1 and M7 guns (М4А1/А2/А3 76 and М6А1 tanks) have been decreased from 12 to 10.2 shots per minute.
  
• The PzGr 39 105 mm shell’s penetration values have been fixed.
  
• The effectiveness of sloped armour, when hit by APCR rounds at 55-60 degree angles, has increased

Note: This server update applies to all platforms unless specifically highlighted.

The following changes are a server update that will be implemented on the game servers within 24 hours. During this time, bug reports regarding specifics mentioned here and their effect in a battle will not be considered as a bug and as such will not be taken into consideration.

• The maximum fire rate of the M7 gun (M10 GMC) has been decreased from 12 to 9.6 shots per minute.
  
• The maximum fire rate of the M1 gun (M18 GMC) has been decreased from 12 to 9.9 shots per minute.
  
• The M26e1’s coaxial machine gun type has been fixed. The М1918А4 has changed to high-calibre M2HB, and the ammo load has decreased from 3000 to 1000.
  
• The maximum fire rate of the D-49 gun (Su-122-54 SPG) has been increased from 4.2 to 4.86 shots per minute.
  
• The fire rates of the M1 and M7 guns (М4А1/А2/А3 76 and М6А1 tanks) have been decreased from 12 to 10.2 shots per minute.
  
• The PzGr 39 105 mm shell’s penetration values have been fixed.
  
• The effectiveness of sloped armour, when hit by APCR rounds at 55-60 degree angles, has increased

Note: This server update applies to all platforms unless specifically highlighted.

• Friendly fire against allies has been disabled in ground forces Arcade Battles. Aiming at an ally will result in your crosshairs turning blue, which will disable your vehicle’s armament whilst it is aimed at your ally. Shell ricochet can still cause damage to allies.
  
• A graphical error, where the AD-2 (aircraft) would hover in the air whilst viewing it in the hangar, has been fixed.
  
• Fixed graphical errors for the Bf-109B and XP-55.
  
• Fixed graphical errors in the cockpits of the Yak-9K, Yak-9M, J7W1 and Bf 109E-1/E-3.
  
• Fixed a graphical error in the machine guns of ground vehicles, where sparks would appear when firing.

Discuss it here!

• Friendly fire against allies has been disabled in ground forces Arcade Battles. Aiming at an ally will result in your crosshairs turning blue, which will disable your vehicle’s armament whilst it is aimed at your ally. Shell ricochet can still cause damage to allies.
  
• A graphical error, where the AD-2 (aircraft) would hover in the air whilst viewing it in the hangar, has been fixed.
  
• Fixed graphical errors for the Bf-109B and XP-55.
  
• Fixed graphical errors in the cockpits of the Yak-9K, Yak-9M, J7W1 and Bf 109E-1/E-3.
  
• Fixed a graphical error in the machine guns of ground vehicles, where sparks would appear when firing.

Discuss it here!

Dear players!

We are finishing our series of "WW2 Chronicles" and this time you will be able to to compete for one of the ‘Weapons of Victory’ vehicles - a premium Self-Propelled gun - SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corps. This is the first special in the series of events planned for Victory in Europe Day celebrations. Other specials will be announced shortly.



Complete the tasks and get “The Tankers Trophy” for each completed stage, with the chance of winning random wagers, boosters, a backup vehicle for USSR. armoured vehicles and a SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corp from our “Weapons of VIctory” series.

Tasks for this event are not linked to "WW2 Chronicles" directly and may be completed in any random battle at any difficulty mode (except Tournaments) for any nation. This special is part of a series of events dedicated to the vehicles of the Allies from different theatres of operation during WW2.


WW2 Chronicles: USSR tanker

Complete the tasks by controlling ground vehicles rank II-V of any nation and get "The Tankers Trophy" for each 50 enemy ground vehicle destroyed.

Content of the “The Tanker's Trophy”

You gain one of the following items after completion of each stage:

• Random wager
  
• 10-40% Random Silver Lions booster (10 battles)
  
• 10-40% Random Research Points booster (10 battles)
  
• 10000-120000 Silver Lions
  
• USSR back-up vehicles
  
• SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corps

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989179
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989209
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989237

Dear players!

We are finishing our series of "WW2 Chronicles" and this time you will be able to to compete for one of the ‘Weapons of Victory’ vehicles - a premium Self-Propelled gun - SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corps. This is the first special in the series of events planned for Victory in Europe Day celebrations. Other specials will be announced shortly.



Complete the tasks and get “The Tankers Trophy” for each completed stage, with the chance of winning random wagers, boosters, a backup vehicle for USSR. armoured vehicles and a SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corp from our “Weapons of VIctory” series.

Tasks for this event are not linked to "WW2 Chronicles" directly and may be completed in any random battle at any difficulty mode (except Tournaments) for any nation. This special is part of a series of events dedicated to the vehicles of the Allies from different theatres of operation during WW2.


WW2 Chronicles: USSR tanker

Complete the tasks by controlling ground vehicles rank II-V of any nation and get "The Tankers Trophy" for each 50 enemy ground vehicle destroyed.

Content of the “The Tanker's Trophy”

You gain one of the following items after completion of each stage:

• Random wager
  
• 10-40% Random Silver Lions booster (10 battles)
  
• 10-40% Random Research Points booster (10 battles)
  
• 10000-120000 Silver Lions
  
• USSR back-up vehicles
  
• SU-76M of 5th Guards Cossack Cavalry Corps

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989179
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989209
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437989237

From May the 1st until May the 6th we have a qualifying 4v4 tournament running and the best 300 players in each mode will be able to participate in the first automated 1v1 tournament in the history of flight simulators!

This event is devoted to Victory in Europe Day, so the best pilots will honour the memory of heroes and show their skill flying the legendary aircraft of the allies: the formidable British Spitfire F.Mk IX, the vigorous Soviet Yak-1B and the powerful American P-39N-0.

Duels with identical aircraft are one of the most complicated and prestige types of air battles. You can only rely only on your own skill, will and concentration while your rival is also alone and flying the same aircraft.

• 1st Place: https://online.gaijinent.com/story.php?id=4862#_ga=1.127422155.71620142.1430538550
  
• 2nd Place: Weapons of Victory - Ray Wetmore's P-51D-10 Daddy's Girl
  
• 3rd Place: Weapons of Victory - Pavel Golovachev's Yak-9M
  
• 1-10 Place: 1945 Golden Eagles

In addition...
- The top 10 players in Arcade mode will receive a "1v1 Duelist" title;
- The top 10 players in Realistic and Simulator modes will receive a "1v1 Master Duelist" title;
- The best overall 70 players will receive the unique title "Wings of Victory" and the "70th Victory Anniversary" decal..

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437781086

• Each new participant begins with a rating of 0 and earns points through victories, depending on the other participants’ ratings.
  
• The matchmaker for the tournament will balance your opponents and allies based on your current rating.
  
• Prizes will be awarded within five days after the tournament has ended.
  
• Tournament battle results do not count for other events and/or specials.

Discuss it here!

From May the 1st until May the 6th we have a qualifying 4v4 tournament running and the best 300 players in each mode will be able to participate in the first automated 1v1 tournament in the history of flight simulators!

This event is devoted to Victory in Europe Day, so the best pilots will honour the memory of heroes and show their skill flying the legendary aircraft of the allies: the formidable British Spitfire F.Mk IX, the vigorous Soviet Yak-1B and the powerful American P-39N-0.

Duels with identical aircraft are one of the most complicated and prestige types of air battles. You can only rely only on your own skill, will and concentration while your rival is also alone and flying the same aircraft.

• 1st Place: https://online.gaijinent.com/story.php?id=4862#_ga=1.127422155.71620142.1430538550
  
• 2nd Place: Weapons of Victory - Ray Wetmore's P-51D-10 Daddy's Girl
  
• 3rd Place: Weapons of Victory - Pavel Golovachev's Yak-9M
  
• 1-10 Place: 1945 Golden Eagles

In addition...
- The top 10 players in Arcade mode will receive a "1v1 Duelist" title;
- The top 10 players in Realistic and Simulator modes will receive a "1v1 Master Duelist" title;
- The best overall 70 players will receive the unique title "Wings of Victory" and the "70th Victory Anniversary" decal..

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=437781086

• Each new participant begins with a rating of 0 and earns points through victories, depending on the other participants’ ratings.
  
• The matchmaker for the tournament will balance your opponents and allies based on your current rating.
  
• Prizes will be awarded within five days after the tournament has ended.
  
• Tournament battle results do not count for other events and/or specials.

Discuss it here!