VJ Day

VJ Day Facts
Harry S Truman was the 33rd American President who served in office from April 12, 1945, the day that President Franklin D. Roosevelt died, to January 20, 1953. One of the most important events during Truman's presidency was the End of WW2 and 'VJ Day' - Victory over Japan Day.

VJ Day Facts: Fast Fact Sheet for kids
Fast, fun facts and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) about VJ Day.

When was VE Day and VJ Day? VE Day, 'Victory in Europe', was celebrated on Tuesday 8 May 1945 and marked the beginning of the end of the WW2. Nazi Germany was defeated, having surrendering unconditionally to Allies. VJ Day, 'Victory over Japan', was celebrated on August 14, 1945. The Commemoration of VJ Day is designated September 2.

When did WW2 End? WW2 ended September 2, 1945 with the unconditional surrender of all the Axis powers. The start and end dates of WW2 in Europe were September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945. The start and end dates of WW2 in the United States were December 7, 1941 - September 2, 1945.

How was VJ Day celebrated? VJ Day was celebrated in the United States with impromptu celebrations across the entire nation. In an atmosphere of jubilant exuberance there were parties, fireworks, flag waving, banners, ticker tape and confetti, impromptu parades down Main Street, marching bands, singing, dancing, laughing, hugging and kissing in the street.

Kissing the War Goodbye photo:  Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the famous photograph of a sailor spontaneously kissing a nurse in Times Square on VJ Day. The "Kissing the War Goodbye" photograph became a cultural icon when it was published in Life magazine a week after VJ Day.

VJ Day Facts for kids
The following fact sheet contains interesting information, history and facts on VJ Day for kids.

VJ Day Facts for kids

VJ Day Facts - 1: 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)

VJ Day Facts - 2: 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.

VJ Day Facts - 3: During WW2 the families of the US servicemen displayed service flags or banners in their windows. The service flags were a white field with a red border and a blue star for each family member serving in the war. A gold star with a blue edge represented a family member that had died during service. Yellow ribbons were also displayed with the slogan "Support our troops - bring them home alive".

VJ Day Facts - 4: The nation had suffered fear, family losses and rationing during the war. VJ Day brought immense relief to the nation and the people at last had something to celebrate. But the surrender of the Japanese had come at a terrible price - atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

VJ Day Facts - 5: 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.

VJ Day Facts - 6: 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.

VJ Day Facts - 7: 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.

VJ Day Facts - 8: 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.

VJ Day Facts - 9: The Japanese government accepted the unconditional surrender terms on August 14, 1945 and marked Victory over Japan

VJ Day Facts - 10: President Harry Truman scheduled a national radio broadcast for 7:00pm on August 14th, 1945 but VJ Day celebrations around the nation, and across the world, had already taken place.

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VJ Day Facts for kids

Facts about VJ Day Facts for kids: The Flight Crew
The following fact sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts on the crew of VJ Day for kids.

VJ Day Facts for kids

VJ Day Facts - 11: A two-day holiday began on VJ Day as a coast-to-coast frenzy of kissing, singing and dancing celebrated the end of WW2.

VJ Day Facts - 12: V-J Day Euphoria hit the nation with parties, dancing, singing, drinking, flag waving, fireworks and impromptu parades down the Main Street of towns across the United States

VJ Day Facts - 13: The largest crowd in the history of Times Square, New York City gathered to celebrate as the 'zipper' news ticker pronounced "● OFFICIAL TRUMAN ANNOUNCES JAPANESE SURRENDER ●" Crowds of two million New Yorkers cheered and ticker tape and paper fell onto the streets of New York from the windows of office buildings.

VJ Day Facts - 14: In Washington, D.C. a jubilant crowd surrounded the White House grounds as they shouted "We want Harry!"

VJ Day Facts - 15: Servicemen in uniform ran around kissing women. In Times Square photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the famous photograph of the sailor kissing a nurse on VJ Day. The photo was published in Life magazine a week after VJ Day with the headline "Kissing the War Goodbye". The Alfred Eisenstaedt photograph captured the energy, spontaneity and exuberance of VJ Day and the notion of 'Unconditional Surrender'.

VJ Day Facts - 16: People streamed out of workplaces and kids ran out of schools to join the parties and celebrations. Others celebrated by attending special religious services giving thanks for the end of WW2. Families started to make preparations for the homecoming of their loved ones.

VJ Day Facts - 17: The celebrations and revelry continued and received another boost when the official end of WW2 came on September 2, 1945 when General Douglas MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender from General Yoshijiro Umezu in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

VJ Day Facts - 18: President Harry Truman declared September 2 as official VJ Day. V-J Day, or Victory Day, was a federal holiday in the United States from 1948 until 1975. VJ Day was scrapped as politicians and officials believed that celebrating Victory Day was harming trade between the US and Japan, and some called the holiday “embarrassing.”

VJ Day Facts - 19: The U.S. state of Arkansas was the last state (other than Rhode Island) to drop the holiday in 1975. V-J Day is now only a legal holiday in the state of Rhode Island, where it is called Victory Day. 

VJ Day Facts - 20: Rhode Island retains the holiday in tribute to the disproportionate number of sailors it sent and lost in the war in the Pacific. More than 100,000 of Rhode Island’s residents served in the war in the Pacific, and 10,000 were killed, injured or lost.

VJ Day Facts for kids

VJ Day - President Harry Truman Video
The article on VJ Day provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following Harry Truman video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 33rd American President whose presidency spanned from April 12, 1945 to January 20, 1953.

VJ Day Facts

● Interesting Facts about VJ Day for kids and schools
● VJ Day Facts for kids
● VJ Day Facts with important dates and key events
● Harry Truman Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
● Fast, fun, VJ Day Facts for kids
● WW2 and VJ Day
● Harry Truman Presidency and VJ Day Facts for schools, homework, kids and children