Americans celebrated Victory Over Japan Day on Aug. 14, 1945, the day Japan announced their surrender to Allied forces in World War II, and on Sept. 2, the day the document of surrender was signed. Here's a look at what the celebrations were like in Madison and elsewhere in the country.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Seaman 1st class Tom Teeley with newsboy, Bernard Ehrmann, hold copies of the Wisconsin State Journal with a headline declaring peace in the Pacific. They were celebrating V-J Day on Aug. 14, 1945, the day on which the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje captured the image.
Extra! Extra! War in Pacific over!
The front page of the Wisconsin State Journal's extra edition printed the evening of Aug. 14, 1945, hours after Japan announced surrender in World War II.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Four soldiers, one with a liquor bottle and two others with noisemakers, stand on Capitol Square in Madison on Aug. 14, 1945, celebrating V-J Day. Americans celebrated the day the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. This photo was taken by Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Crowds gather at the corner of East Mifflin and North Pinckney streets in Madison on Aug. 14, 1945, celebrating V-J Day, the day the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. The building on the corner is the Madison Hotel, and nearby are Woldenberg's and Walgreen Drugs. This photo was taken by Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Two sailors hug each other as Madison residents celebrate V-J Day on Aug. 14, 1945, when the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. The sailor with his back to the camera is Seabee B. O. Pledger; the other sailor is unknown. Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje captured the image.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Soldiers in Madison celebrate V-J Day on Aug. 15, 1945, the day on which the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. Pictured here are Pfc. Arthur Lovinger, passenger in the front seat; Staff Sgt. Robert Hanke, passenger in the back seat; and Staff Sgt. Louis Kaminsky, driving a car. State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje shot the photo.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
A mass of cars turns from North Pinckney Street onto East Mifflin Street on the Capitol Square on Aug. 14, 1945, celebrating V-J Day. The car loaded with young people in the lower part of the picture was the first to circle the Square in the course of the hours-long spontaneous celebration, photographed by Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje.
VJ Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Josie Donovan, 4, blows a whistle to show her patriotism during the V-J Day celebration on Capitol Square in Madison. Her father was still a prisoner of war in the Pacific who hadn’t been heard from in 18 months.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Four young women in Madison blow on noise makers, with other people watching, celebrating V-J Day on Aug. 14, 1945, the day the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. This photo was taken by Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Three women with noise makers in Madison join in the V-J Day celebration on Aug. 14, 1945, the day the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. This photo was taken by Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje.
V-J Day celebrations in Madison, 1945
Automobiles and a police officer are seen on West Mifflin Street in Madison as Americans celebrate V-J Day on Aug. 14, 1945, the day the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. Wisconsin State Journal photographer Arthur Vinje took the photo.
Kissing the War Goodbye Time Square 1945
New York City celebrating the surrender of Japan. They threw anything and kissed anybody in Times Square.
WWII VJ Day Times Square
Thousands jammed Times Square in New York after President Harry Truman earlier announced Japan's unconditional surrender, Aug. 15, 1945. A replica of the Statue of Liberty stands in front of One Times Square. (AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman)
WWII VJ Day Chinatown New York
**EDS NOTE: NEGATIVE DAMAGED** Two Dragon-like images begin the sacred dragon dance, usually reserved for the Chinese New Year, as inhabitants of the Chinatown section of New York celebrate VJ Day, Aug. 14, 1945. President Harry Truman announced Japan's unconditional surrender earlier in the day. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
VJ Day
Times Square crowd celebrating Japanese surrender, Aug. 15, 1945. (AP Photo)
WWII V-J Day U.S.
Servicemen and women celebrate the announcement of the Japanese surrender in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo)
VJ Day Celebration In Chinatown 1945
Chinese Americans on Mott and Pell Streets in New York's Chinatown celebrate the Japanese surrender on V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo/Tom Fitzsimmons)
WWII V-J Day U.S.
Sailors atop a traffic signal at the corner of Fifth St. and Market St., celebrate the pre-official end of World War II in San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 14, 1945.
WWII V-J Day U.S.
Servicemen celebrate the announcement of the Japanese surrender with bottles of Three Feathers Whiskey in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo)
V-J Day in New York City
Crowds gather in Times Square to celebrate the surrender of Japan.
V-J Day celebrations-in Jackson Square, Oak Ridge
V-J Day celebrations-in Jackson Square, Oak Ridge
WWII V-J Day U.S.
Servicemen celebrate the announcement of the Japanese surrender as they ride atop a car in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo)
WWII V-J Day U.S.
Servicewomen celebrate the announcement of the Japanese surrender as a lone sailor looks on, in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo)
WWII U.S. Navy Japan Surrenders
An American sailor and a woman embrace and kiss as they stand on a monument in San Francisco, Ca., early morning on Aug. 14, 1945. U.S. naval troops celebrate after newspaper headlines, based on a Tokyo radio report, inform of Japan's unconditional surrender to end World War II. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett)
Times Square VJ Day
Thousands of people celebrate VJ Day on New York's Times Square August 14, 1945 after Japanese radio reported acceptance of the Potsdam declaration. (AP Photo)
VJ Day Times Square
Thousands of people celebrate VJ Day as they fill New York's Times Square, Aug. 14, 1945 after Japanese radio reported acceptance of the Potsdam declaration, ending World War II. (AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman)
VJ Day Times Square
Two U.S. Marines lift up a girl as crowds in New York's Times Square celebrate the Japanese radio report of their 'impending' acceptance of the World War II Potsdam declarations which call for unconditional surrender, Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman)
WWII U.S. troops allied victory
Candy Jones, a model who had been in the Pacific for ten months entertaining troops, arrives home with American soldiers from Pearl Harbor as they celebrate the Allied victory on the U.S. Navy transport in New York City on Aug. 14, 1945. The soldier at left, lifting Jones, is Gen. Charles H. Muir. (AP Photo/Murray Befeler)
V-J DAY
A couple embraces amidst thousands of merrymakers as they celebrate on V-J Day in downtown Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio on Aug. 14, 1945. The celebration followed U.S. President Harry Truman's official announcement that the Japanese had surrendered, ending World War II. (AP Photo)
WWII VJ DAY NYC TIMES SQUARE
Civilians and service personnel wave flags and shout with joy in New York's Times Square, Aug. 14, 1945 after official announcement that Japan has surrendered, ending World War II. (AP Photo/Matty Zimmerman)
Times Square
Thousands jammed New York's Times Square after Pres. Harry Truman announced Japan's unconditional surrender, Aug. 14, 1945. There is a replica of the Statue of Liberty in front of One Times Square. (AP Photo)
V-J Day New York
Most of the residents of Chinatown turn-out amid bursting firecrackers and the sacred dragon dance to celebrate Japan's acceptance of the Allies surrender terms in New York, Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
V-J Day New York
Paper litters Seventh Avenue at 35th Street in New York's Garment District as workers began celebrating after it was announced Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms on Aug. 14, 1945.(AP Photo)
WWII VJ Day US Reactions 1945
A sailor and a member of the Women's Army Corp, after trading caps, do a "Victory Jive" on New York's Broadway, Aug. 14, 1945 after the news of the Japanese surrender had been announced. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
WWII, Harry S. Truman
FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 14, 1945 picture, U.S. President Harry S. Truman stands at his desk during a news conference in the White House in Washington announcing the Japanese surrender, officially signaling the war's end. World War II veterans, their families and officials marked the 65th anniversary of the end of that war on board the same ship where Japan formally surrendered in 1945. (AP Photo/File)
Mamoru Shigemitsu
Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the unconditional surrender papers for Emperor Hirohito, thus committing Japan to accept the Potsdam Declaration, Aug. 14, 1945. (AP Photo)
WWII VJ Day Times Square
Thousands jammed Times Square on VJ Day in New York after President Harry Truman announced Japan's unconditional surrender, Aug. 14, 1945. A replica of the Statue of Liberty stands in front of One Times Square. This photo was taken from 47th St. looking south. (AP Photo/Murray Becker)
Teryl Franklin | Wisconsin State Journal
Senior editor for audience development
Teryl Franklin is the senior editor for audience development for the Wisconsin State Journal. She has worked at the paper since 1996 in a variety of roles, including business editor, city editor and managing editor.
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