Australia commonly used the name V-P Day, meaning Victory in the Pacific Day, for the 1945 victory marking Japan’s defeat.
The term reflected Australia’s wartime geography and military experience. Australian forces had fought Japanese forces across the Pacific and in Southeast Asia, including New Guinea, Borneo, and other areas. When Japan surrendered, Australian public celebrations used “Victory in the Pacific” rather than only the U.S.-favored “Victory over Japan.”
The broader English-language world used several related names, including V-J Day, Victory over Japan Day, and Japan Day. Different dates also appeared in public records because Japan announced its surrender on 15 August while the formal document was signed on 2 September.
Australia’s designation should not be confused with V-E Day, which marked Germany’s surrender in Europe in May 1945. V-P Day specifically concerned the end of the Pacific War. In Australia, the phrase appeared in newspapers and official public-holiday notices soon after the surrender announcement.