U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced Japan’s surrender to the American public on August 14, 1945.
Truman’s nationwide radio announcement followed Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms. It was broadcast at 7 p.m. Washington, D.C., daylight time, and newspapers and radio stations quickly reported the news. Celebrations began in the United States and other parts of the Americas.
The date can be confusing because Japan was already on August 15 when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender announcement was broadcast there. The difference resulted from time zones. In Japan, August 15 became the principal date associated with the announcement, while August 14 was the date observed in the United States for the initial public news.
The surrender was not formally completed until September 2, 1945, when Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Truman designated September 2 as the official V-J Day in connection with that ceremony, creating another date associated with Japan’s defeat.