On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced on radio that Nazi Germany’s forces had surrendered.
“This is a solemn but glorious hour,” said Truman. “General Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the United Nations. The flags of freedom fly all over Europe.”
Victory in Europe Day celebrates the acceptance of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces, marking the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe.
Massive celebrations erupted around the world. V-E Day also happened on Truman’s 61st birthday. And, Truman and his family had just moved into the White House the day before.
In Harrisburg, newspaper reports indicate people expressed “solemn joy.”
The Patriot reported, “People in Harrisburg heard the news of Germany’s surrender yesterday with a solemn joy, obviously mindful that war for our Nation will not be over until hostilities cease with victory over the Japanese in the Pacific.
Unlike residents of some metropolitan areas who, according to reports, expressed their feelings with unrestrained jubilation and merriment, delight at the announcement of the enemy’s unconditional surrender was tempered here with sad memories for those men who gave their lives to make the victory possible and a reaffirmation by the people of the American pledge to continue their efforts with renewed vigor until victory is complete.”
The Patriot reported that plans to celebrate include worship services, prayers and “serious” programs in schools.
“Programs and special services during the day will be keynoted by their serious vein, with no parade or any other hilarious activity arranged to lend a carnival spirit to the great occasion.”
In his address, however, Truman, went on to note that World War II was not over.
His words, from the American Presidency Project: “We can repay the debt which we owe to our God, to our dead, and to our children, only by work, by ceaseless devotion to the responsibilities which lie ahead of us. If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is work, work, and more work. We must work to finish the war. Our victory is only half over.”
Now, we have got another little release here, which doesn’t go into the speech, but it informs the Japanese what they can expect. We are going to be in a position where we can turn the greatest war machine in the history of the world loose on the Japanese; and I am informed by the Chiefs of Staff, by the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Navy, that Japan is going to have a terrible time from now on. This release here, I will read it.
“The Japanese people have felt the weight of our land, air, and naval attacks. So long as their leaders and the armed forces continue the war, the striking power and intensity of our blows will steadily increase, and will bring utter destruction to Japan’s industrial war production, to its shipping, and to everything that supports its military activity.
“The longer the war lasts, the greater will be the suffering and hardships which the people of Japan will undergo-all in vain. Our blows will not cease until the Japanese military and naval forces lay down their arms in unconditional surrender.
“Just what does the unconditional surrender of the armed forces mean for the Japanese people?
“It means the end of the war.
“It means the termination of the influence of the military leaders who brought Japan to the present brink of disaster.
“It means provision for the return of soldiers and sailors to their families, their farms, and their jobs.
“And it means not prolonging the present agony and suffering of the Japanese in the vain hope of victory.
“Unconditional surrender does not mean the extermination or enslavement of the Japanese people.”
“The West is free but the East is still in bondage to the treacherous tyranny of the Japanese. When the last Japanese division has surrendered unconditionally, then only will our fighting job be done.
We must work to bind up the wounds of a suffering world - to build an abiding peace, a peace rooted in justice and in law.”
On Aug. 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, and on Aug. 9 dropped one on Nagasaki.
On Aug. 14, 1945, Japan surrendered. That surrender was accepted in September by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, ending World War II. Both Aug. 14 and Sept. 2 are noted as being V-J Day.
READ MORE
- The ‘thunder of their bombs’: The Battle of Okinawa in World War II.
- ‘Costing considerable lives’: The Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
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