Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies was made
public on V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, in an
official announcement on August 14, 1945. (Because
of time zone differences, it was August 15 in Japan.)
Japan formally surrendered in writing two weeks later,
on September 2.
SANDY KOZEL
NANCY LYONS
In what later became known as Victory Day, an official
announcement of Japan’s unconditional surrender to
the Allies was made public to the world on August 14,
1945. (Because of time-zone differences, it was August
15 in Japan.)
Japan formally surrendered in writing two weeks later,
on September 2, 1945.
At the White House, U.S. president Harry S. Truman
relayed the news to the American people; celebrations
broke out in Washington, D.C. and across the country.
American servicemen and women in Paris celebrate V-J Day.
On April 9, 1942, Major General Edward P. King Jr. surrendered
at Bataan, Philippines, against General Douglas MacArthur’s
orders—and 78,000 troops (66,000 Filipinos and 12,000
Americans), the largest contingent of U.S. soldiers ever to
surrender, were taken captive by the Japanese.
The prisoners were at once led 55 miles from Mariveles, on
the southern end of the Bataan peninsula, to San Fernando,
on what became known as the “Bataan Death March.”
At least 600 Americans and 5,000 Filipinos died because of
the extreme brutality of their captors, who starved, beat and
kicked them on the way; those who became too weak to walk
were bayoneted.
Those who survived were taken by rail from San Fernando to
POW camps, where another 16,000 Filipinos and at least
1,000 Americans died from disease, mistreatment, and
starvation.
Prisoners photographed during the march. They have their hands tied behind their backs.
Bataan Death March Memorial featuring Filipino and
American soldiers at the Veterans Memorial Park in
Las Cruces, New Mexico.
