VJ Day

VJ Day, also known as Victory over Japan Day, marked the end of World War II. Endless fighting had been going on for six miserable years, but on August 15th, 1945, the war finally ended. It was a glorious day for the world when it could finally take a silent breath of relief.

Earlier that same year, the name “Victory in Europe Day” was given on May 8th to mark Germany’s surrender, but although the war was over in Europe, it was still raging in Asia and the Pacific. Plenty of soldiers from the Allies were still fighting against the forces of Japan. When VJ Day came three months later, the war ended for everyone. More than 71,000 soldiers died in the fighting against Japan, which included more than 12,000 people who were being held captive by enemy forces.

In the 1930s, Japan began to spread its empire, raiding China and other parts of Asia. By 1940, Japan partnered with Nazi Germany and Italy, making a deadly alliance. They were known as the Axis Powers. Then, in December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, dragging the U.S. into the war. Japan also attacked parts of the British Empire, forcing them to fight not only in Europe, but in Asia as well.

Japan decided to surrender when the United States decided to use the most deadly weapon the world might ever see: the Atomic Bomb. The first bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, and soon after, a second one was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The bombs killed thousands of people, and six days later, Japan surrendered.

Citations:

“What Was VJ Day? The Moment World War Two Ended.” BBC Newsround, 14 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c20993zx4xvo.