On this day in 1945, news broke around the world the Imperial Government of Japan would surrender ending a long a grueling world war. In Europe, the date was August 15 due to the time zone, but regardless the celebrations that broke out were no less zealous.
In the United States, President Harry S. Truman announced it in a press conference at the White House later that day. The peace treaty was officially signed on September 2, 1945. A year later on August 2nd, Truman signed a proclamation declaring August 14, 1946, as Victory Day.
- More than 400,000 Americans, and an estimated 60 million people worldwide, had died during the conflict of WW2 (September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945)
- The United States entered WW2 on December 7, 1941 with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Americans fought the war for three years, eight months, and seven days until the war at last came to an end on VJ Day and the American soldiers were at last able to return home.
- Japan’s fierce resistance increased as they organized Kamikaze suicide attack units and ‘Banzai Charges’ inflicting heavy losses on the US forces. The strategy of the suicide attacks was founded on the principles of honor and loyalty based on dying rather than surrendering. The Kamikaze suicide attacks caused more Allied naval casualties during WW2 than any other Japanese weapon.
- The Potsdam Declaration was issued and President Truman told Japan, “Surrender or suffer prompt and utter destruction.” The Japanese did not reply. Japan had never surrendered to a foreign power and no Japanese military unit had surrendered during WW2.
- President Truman had been warned by his military advisors that there would be massive casualties if the United States invaded Japan and he made the decision to use the Atomic bomb which had been developed by scientists working on the Manhattan Project.
- The atomic bomb “Little Boy” was dropped by the Enola Gay bomber on the people of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945 and 75,000 were killed immediately. Two days later, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. The Japanese still refused to surrender. A second atomic bomb, “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki three days later on August 9, 1945
- The Japanese government accepted the unconditional surrender terms on August 14, 1945 and marked Victory over Japan
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