The 'Hitler Dead' reaction image is based on the famous May 1, 1945, front page of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. While the original image captures one of the most significant moments in 20th-century history, internet culture has repurposed it as a hyperbolic reaction image. It is typically used to signal extreme relief or joy at the 'demise' of something widely disliked, such as a controversial public figure losing their platform, a difficult video game boss being defeated, or even a bad food trend finally ending. The meme relies on the sheer magnitude of the historical headline to emphasize how much the user appreciates the current situation, often with a heavy dose of irony.