US Federal employees received a two day holiday.
August 15
Today is Victory over Japan Day
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.
Celebrations broke out in Australia.
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