Japanese officials arrived in Manila to conclude the surrender there. They flew in two Mitsubishi G6M1- with green crosses rather than Japanese roundels.
Bataan 1 and Bataan 2 on Ie Shima., where they stopped for refueling.
The planes were assigned the flight names Bataan 1 and Bataan 2.
The Red Army kept on with its war against Japan, landing at Maoka on South Sakhalin.
Chiang Kai-shek forbid Japanese forces from surrendering to the Red Chinese forces and demanded of the Communists that they not advance.
The Chinese Communist prevailed at Yongjiazhen. 1300 Warlord/Nationalist and twentyone Japanese troops were killed on the Nationalist side.. Ninety-eight Nationalist troops and twenty-one Japanese troops were captured.
The Red Army took Tsitsihar in the Manchurian Plain and linked up with Chinese Communist forces in the region.
VJ Day Crowd in Times Squire, New York City, August 14, 1945.
1945 The Allies proclaimed V-J Day, one day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally. Hirohito's surrender message is broadcast to the Japanese people. Japanese aircraft raid TF 38, 12 hours after Hirohito's surrender order. Soviet aircraft sink 860 ton frigate Kenju off Hokkaido; last Japanese warship lost during World War II.A two-day holiday is proclaimed for all federal employees. In New York, Mayor La Guardia pays tribute to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the deceased president, in a radio broadcast. US Task Force 38 launches massive air strikes on the Tokyo area, encountering numerous Japanese fighters but the aircraft are recalled upon receipt of the surrender announcement. Vice-Admiral Ugaki, commanding Kamikaze operations, leads a final mission but the 7 dive-bombers are shot down off Tokyo before they can reach Okinawa. South Korea was liberated after nearly 40 years of Japanese colonial rule. US gasoline rationing ends.
Wait a minute. I thought you said yesterday was VJ Day?
I did. Actually there's some dispute on whether the 14th, when Truman read the news and when Hirohito actually stated Japan would surrender, or today, the following day, is VJ, or VP Day. I actually would have supported today being the more widely supported one, but not everyone does. FWIW,
15 August is the official V-J Day for the United Kingdom,. 2 September.for the US.
VP stood for Victory in the Pacific.
It was still a pretty tense day in the war zone.
Hirohito's surrender was broadcast by Japanese radio.
This was the first time most Japanese had heard their Emperor speak, and as it was delivered in classical Japanese, which most Japanese did not speak, it was difficult to understand.
US Task Force 38 launched massive air strikes on the Tokyo area which was heavily resisted, but the attack was recalled when the surrender announcement was learned of.
Vice-Admiral Ugaki, commanding Kamikaze operations, leads a final mission but all seven dive-bombers are shot down off Tokyo before they can reach Okinawa
The Battle of Baoying began in central Jiangsu, China as part of the Chinese Civil War. Chiang Kai-shek, meanwhile, made a radio broadcast noting China's fight with Japan since 1937.
Chu Teh, the Commander in Chief of the Chinese Communist army, warns the Allies that the Communists expect a share in the Japanese surrender and postwar settlement, a bold statement considering the general sit on their butt attitude of the Chinese Communist forces during the war.
The Nationalist Chinese and the Soviet Union signed a Treaty of Friendship returning Manchuria to China. Chinese Communists were excluded.
The Soviets received Port Arthur.
Philippe Pétain was sentenced to death for treason, but Charles de Gaulle gave him a reprieve on account of his age.
Gen. Korechika Anami, Japanese War Minister, committed suicide at age 58.
Emperor Hirohito accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and recorded a radio message to the Japanese people saying that the war should end and that they must "bear the unbearable." Truman announced the Japanese surrender the same day.
Hirohito's full recorded, and then broadcast, speech stated:
To our good and loyal subjects.
After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining to our empire today, we have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.
We have ordered our government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration.
To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by our imperial ancestors, and which we lay close to heart. Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to ensure Japan’s self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.
But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone—the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state, and the devoted service of our 100 million people—the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to damage is indeed incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives.
Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization. Such being the case, how are we to save the millions of our subjects or to atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors? This is the reason why we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.
We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently co-operated with the empire towards the emancipation of East Asia. The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains our heart day and night.
The welfare of the wounded and the war sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of our profound solicitude. The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will certainly be great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all you, our subjects.
However, it is according to the dictate of time and fate that we have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable.
Having been able to safeguard and maintain the structure of the imperial state, we are always with you, our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity. Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead you astray, and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.
Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith of the imperishableness of its divine land, and mindful of its heavy responsibilities, and the long road before it.
Unite your total strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude; foster nobility of spirit; and work with resolution so that you may enhance the innate glory of the imperial state and keep pace with the progress of the world.
Bearing it would prove to be nowhere as difficult as predicted for anyone, particularly Japanese women, and in general the Japanese middle and lower class. Frankly, everyone's life in Japan would improve immeasurably. So much so, but for some wackadoodles, Japan has never looked back.
The recording had to be smuggled out of the Tokyo Imperial Palace out of fear of a military coup taking place
The attempted coup did in fact take place, as Japanese officers attempted to steal the recording and prevent the surrender. The attempt failed, and at 19:00 Truman announced the Japanese surrender. Coup leader Major Kenji Hatanaka commited suicide after its failure..
As odd as it may seem, there were still air raids conducted until the surrender was broadcast. The last raid was on Akita (秋田空襲), which was the last raid of the war, which was a nighttime raid that occurred more or less at the same time as the attempted coup.
The Marifu railyard after the bombing raid of 14 August 1945 by B-29s
Huge crowds gathered all over the US to celebrate the end of the war.
The famous Times Square photograph of a sailor kissing a woman, which is protected by copyright, as American copyright provisions are absurdly long, was taken.
The Soviets continued their advance on South Sakhalin and some of the Kurils, and advanced deep into Manchuria.
Gen. MacArthur was delegated to take the Japanese surrender. A cessation of hostilities is ordered by both sides.
The War Production Board lifted restrictions on the productions of automobiles.
The Viet Minh launched an uprising against the French in Vietnam.
The Japanese government announced that a message had been sent to the Allies accepting the terms of the Potsdam Declaration provided that it "does not comprise any demand that prejudices the prerogatives of the Emperor as sovereign ruler."
The US press correctly and immediately interpreted this as an offer to surrender, albeit with a condition.
A Japanese protest against the use of the Atomic Bomb, delivered through neutral Switzerland, was delivered to the United States.
The US and Royal Navy bombarded Kamaishi from the sea.
The U.S. Air Force hit targets on Honshu.
The Red Army had already advanced 120 miles into Manchuria.
Note they are using bait casting reels.
The Chinese Civil War resumed with the beginning of the Opening Campaign by the Nationalist Chinese.
The resumption of the civil war was inevitable. The outcome, however, wouldn't have been predicated the way it came out at all. The Red Chinese had never done particularly well in combat against the Nationalist, and oddly enough their material support from the Soviet Union had been thin. The Nationalist were now well equipped due to US support during World War Two.
The Japanese Supreme War Council agreed to accept the Potsdam Declaration contingent upon the preservation of the Japanese Monarchy.
The Soviet Union declared war on Japan, making the declaration proactive as to midnight, August 9.
The declaration stated:
On Aug. 8, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the U.S.S.R. Molotoff received the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Sato, and gave him, on behalf of the Soviet Government, the following for transmission to the Japanese Government:
After the defeat and capitulation of Hitlerite Germany, Japan became the only great power that sill stood for the continuation of the war.
The demand of the three powers, the United States, Great Britain and China, on July 26 for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces was rejected by Japan, and thus the proposal of the Japanese Government to the Soviet Union on mediation in the war in the Far East loses all basis.
Taking into consideration the refusal of Japan to capitulate, the Allies submitted to the Soviet Government a proposal to join the war against Japanese aggression and thus shorten the duration of the war, reduce the number of victims and facilitate the speedy restoration of universal peace.
Loyal to its Allied duty, the Soviet Government has accepted the proposals of the Allies and has joined in the declaration of the Allied powers of July 26.
The Soviet Government considers that this policy is the only means able to bring peace nearer, free the people from further sacrifice and suffering and give the Japanese people the possibility of avoiding the dangers and destruction suffered by Germany after her refusal to capitulate unconditionally.
In view of the above, the Soviet Government declares that from tomorrow, that is from Aug. 9, the Soviet Government will consider itself to be at war with Japan.
Following the war American critics often viewed this as the USSR rushing in to grab the spoils, something the Soviets were certainly not against, but in fact the Western Allies had been asking for the Soviets to declare war on Japan for some time, and had confirmed this intent as recently as Potsdam. The timing of it, moreover, is not something the USSR could have rushed, due to the necessity to stage troops in Asia for Operation August Storm, it's invasion of Manchuria.
A war with the USSR was one of Japan's single biggest fears during the Second World War. For that matter, a Japanese attack on the Soviet Union was one that the USSR had initially dreaded, but which it new it was safe from due to the intelligence activities of Richard Sorge.
Radio Tokyo gave a full report on the bombing of Hiroshima, accusing the United States of barbarism, stating that the US had used methods that; "have surpassed in hideous cruelty those of Genghis Khan."
It's an interesting analogy in that Japan was never invaded by the Mongols, a point of pride and myth in Japan.
Truman issued a radio broadcast threatening to destroy Japan with atomic bombs. At the time, the US had exactly one atomic bomb left, and one under production, both of the "Fat Man" type.
Working on the bomb that would be dropped on Nagasaki, August 8, 1945.
The Nuremberg Charter was issued establishing the laws and procedures by which the Nuremberg Trials.
The Red Army commenced the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive, the invasion of Romania.
Or maybe it did. This is asserted by historian David Glanz, but the Soviets themselves don't really acknowledge it, perhaps because the effort was botched, as will be seen.
It seems to me that Glanz is likely correct.
Ju 290 A-9
The Luftwaffe began cargo flights from Polish airfields to Manchuria, using Junkers Ju 290 A-9 aircraft. Or at least maybe they did. This is fairly consistently asserted, but the details are obscure and there are obvious problems with the assertion, as common as it is. For one thing, even at very high altitude, it would be surprising that the Red Army would not have shot at least one of the planes down. Sill, at least some experts on the Luftwaffe claim it occured. Others are skeptical.
I'm pretty skeptical.
For one reason, Imperial Japan was at peace with the Soviet Union, and I don't imagine that it would have wanted to risk that in 1944 when it was already losing in the Pacific. It was doing okay in China and in Southeast Asia, but it didn't have the manpower to add the USSR to its list of enemies, particularly over something of such doubtful utility.
Secondly, flying clean over the USSR and not getting shot down would be tough. Even if we assume, and we probably can, that for much of the flight it would not have encountered any opposition, early on it certainly might, and then again nearer its destination.
Finally, the Germans kept records on everything they did, and such records seem to be lacking here.
The Red Army began a determined assault into Crimea through its land bridge with Ukraine.
The Battle of the Tennis Court happened within the Battle of Kohima. It was a pitched, hand to hand, battle that went on for several days. It has been referred to as one of the greatest battles in history, and a British/Indian Thermopylae
The German submarine U-2 hit the German trawler Helmi Söhle and sank off of Pilau.
The U-962 was sunk off of Cape Finisterre by the Royal Navy.
Flag of the Emirate of Afghanistan, which existed from 1919 until 1926, when it was succeeded by the Kingdom of Afghanistan.
The Emirate of Afghanistan and the United Kingdom modified the 1919 Treat of Rawalpindi such that Afghanistan could import munitions through India, the border was readjusted in Afghanistan's favor at the Kyber Pass, and Afghanistan assured that no Soviet consulates would be established in the country.
Elsewhere in Far Eastern diplomacy, Japan recognized Manchuria as part of China, which it had previously resisted.
Errata:
Most of this post ran on November 21 under that date, in error.
The Soviet Union and the Empire of Japan signed a five year non aggression pact. It stated:
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, guided by a desire to strengthen peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries, have decided to conclude a pact on neutrality, for which purpose they have appointed as their Representatives:
The Presidum of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics -
Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;
His Majesty the Emperor of Japan -
Yosuke Matsuoka, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jusanmin, Cavalier of the Order of the Sacred Treasure of the First Class, and
Yoshitsugu Tatekawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Lieutenant General, Jusanmin, Cavalier of the Order of the Rising Sun of the First Class and the Order of the Golden Kite of the Fourth Class,
who, after an exchange of their credentials, which were found in due and proper form, have agreed on the following:
Article one: Both Contracting Parties undertake to maintain peaceful and friendly relations between them and mutually respect the territorial integrity and inviolability of the other Contracting Party.
Article two: Should one of the Contracting Parties become the object of hostilities on the part of one or several third powers, the other Contracting Party will observe neutrality throughout the duration of the conflict.
Article three: The present Pact comes into force from the day of its ratification by both Contracting Parties and remains valid for five years. In case neither of the Contracting Parties denounces the Pact one year before the expiration of the term, it will be considered automatically prolonged for the next five years.
Article four: The present Pact is subject to ratification as soon as possible. The instruments of ratification shall be exchanged in Tokyo, also as soon as possible.
In confirmation whereof the above-named Representatives have signed the present Pact in two copies, drawn up in the Russian and Japanese languages, and affixed thereto their seals.
Done in Moscow on April 13, 1941, which corresponds to the 13th day of the fourth month of the 16th year of Showa.
V. Molotov;
Yosuke Matsuoka;
Yoshitsugu Tatekawa
The USSR violated it before its expiration, going to war with Japan in 1945.
Well. . . .it did.
The Soviet Union's late entry into the war was inevitable if cynical. The treaty had served its purpose by then allowing the USSR a free hand against Nazi Germany for four years and allowing Japan a free hand against the Western Allies for the same period of time.
On the same day, the USSR and the Japanese Empire reached an accord on Mongolia and Manchuria which stated:
In conformity with the spirit of the Pact on neutrality concluded on April 13, 1941, between the U.S.S.R. and Japan, the Government of the U.S.S.R. and the Government of Japan, in the interest of insuring peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries, solemnly declare that the U.S.S.R. pledges to respect the territorial integrity and inviolability of Manchoukuo and Japan pledges to respect the territorial integrity and inviolability of the Mongolian People's Republic.
Moscow, April 13, 1941
On behalf of the Government of the U.S.S.R.
V. MOLOTOV
On behalf of the Government of Japan
YOSUKE MATSUOKA
YOSHITSUGU TATEKAWA
Pope Pius XII held Easter Mass inside a chapel in the Vatican rather in St. Peter's Square due to the war.
On this day quixotic legal efforts to litigate against Prohibition came to an end when the Supreme Court upheld its validity.
Quite frankly, these efforts were doomed from the onset and fit into the category of pointless legal endeavors. A person has to wonder why they were even attempted given that they never had any chance of success. The 18th Amendment was clearly valid and, therefore, the Volstead Act clearly was as well.
The GOP Convention and its candidates were also engaged in some drama over who would be the nominee for the 1920 fall election.
One group that was happy about the Supreme Court's decision on Prohibition was the Kl Klux Klan, which was an ardent supporter of it as part of its nativist concepts that looked down on everyone other than white protestants. On this day that organization started a publicity campaign organized by the Southern Publicity Association, an advertising agency founded by its leader, Edward Clarke, together with Mary Elizabeth Tyler. The two had previously organized the Daughters of America, a nativist group. The Southern Publicity Association would go on to have the Anti Saloon League as one of its clients, showing the strange alignment between nativist racism, anti-Catholicism, anti-Semitism and prohibition in some quarters.
The campaign was a success and is credited with boosting the organizations fortunes at a time at which its trajectory appeared to be sending it into ultimate obscurity. The KKK unfortunately benefited from the work done by the pair, whose changes to its structure resulted in a system which is still apparently used at least in part today. Clarke and Tyler also benefited from their work personally.
The pair took in 80% of the KKK members initiation fees, making it a lucrative occupation for themselves. They invested the money in businesses that made Klan paraphernalia and in working together, they started working together on an illicit relationship that caused Clarke’s wife to sue for divorce for desertion. This was causing problems as early as 1919 when they were rousted out of bed by Atlanta police, charged with disorderly conduct, and fined for possessing whiskey in violation of the Volstead Act. Given the support of the KKK for both prohibition and the “purity” of white women, the hypocrisy is notable, but the news did not become widely known at that time. It would break in 1921 and bring about Clarke’s downfall in the KKK in 1923. That year Clarke fled the country do avoid charges of violating the Mann Act but he ultimately plead guilty to those charges. He was still alive in the 1940s and died in obscurity after that. Tyler, who had been married multiple times starting at age 14 or 15, would marry one more time and would die in 1924.
Clarke and Tyler are interesting examples of hypocrisy at the leadership level of organizations of the type they lead and remind contemporaries of the leadership of the Nazi Party which was similarly weird and in which individual leaders might not measure up to the “purity” and virility platforms which they based their propaganda on. Clarke and Tyler were clearly brilliant organizers and campaigners and were hugely successful in their efforts even while violating the “purity” tenants they were espousing, just as the circle of strange people surrounding Hitler saved the Nazi Party from fading into Weimar German obscurity based on similar concepts which they themselves were not the best examples of.
The mess of the Great War induced collapse of the Austro Hungarian Empire was evident again as the Treaty of Brno was signed naturalizing people of Austria and Czechoslovakia based upon the language that they spoke.
On the same day, Battle of Fengwudong (Korean: 봉오동 전투; Hanja: 鳳梧洞戰鬪) was fought between Korean militias seeking independence of the Hermit Kingdom and the Japanese Army in Manchuria. While Korean independence would be a long time coming, and would be brought about due to World War Two, and imperfectly, the battle was a Korean victory.
