On August 14, 1945, Americans received news that World War II was finally coming to an end. At 7 p.m. Washington time, President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had accepted the Allied terms of surrender. Across the United States, people poured into the streets to celebrate what became known as V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day.
The news followed years of fighting and came after Japan agreed to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. Emperor Hirohito recorded a message announcing the decision, which was broadcast to the Japanese public at noon on August 15 in Japan.
The war was not officially over quite yet. On September 2, Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, formally ending World War II.
For millions of people, August 14 marked an extraordinary moment of relief and celebration after years of uncertainty, sacrifice, and loss.
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