World War II in real time

Day 2159 of World War II, August 9th 1945

United States

J. Robert Oppenheimer cables General Leslie Groves with the following shipping schedule for more atomic bombs: 11 Aug. first quality HE unit; 12 Aug. next plutonium core; 14 Aug. another first quality HE unit.

Photo: The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Phelps (DD-360) moored at Casco Bay, Maine (USA), on 9 August 1945. USS McCall (DD-400) and a frigate (PF) are moored with her. Note that the torpedo tubes aboard Phelps were replaced with 40mm mounts in 1945, for an expected transfer to the Pacific



Pacific War

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 5 B-25s, with P-51 escort, damage the Puchi railroad bridge, and hit rail traffic N of Sinsiang; the P-51s strafe AA positions and targets of opportunity near the bridge; 4 other B-25s operating individually, attack truck convoys and targets of opportunity S of Changsha, S and N of Yoyang, and in the Siang Chiang Valley, and hit the S end of the town of Siangtan.

Chinese Communist leadership toyed with the notion of moving the New Fourth Army into Shanghai, China ahead of the arrival of US or Nationalist Chinese troops, but the notion was quickly abandoned when it was realized that the New Fourth Army would be far too weak to embark on such a mission.

MONGOLIA

Mongolia declared war on Japan.

SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

In the north, Soviet forces begin an offensive against the Japanese army occupying Manchukuo (Manchuria) about 10 minutes after midnight. The Soviets have assembled about 1,500,000 troops in three army groups for the operation: 1st Far East Front, 2nd Far East Front and the Transbaikal Front. They are equipped with 3900 aircraft, 5500 tanks and 26,000 artillery tubes. The outnumbered 1,000,000 men of the poorly equipped Japanese Kwantung Army (Yamada) lack armor, artillery and aircraft. Japanese defenses are quickly overcome. Meanwhile, Chinese paratroopers are dropped on the Canton-Hankow rail line.

Photo: Soviet troops crossing into Manchuria, 9 August 1945



Soviet forces enter Korea. Russian planes sink Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.82 north of Joshin, Korea, 41°21'N, 131°12'E, and merchant vessels Kasado Maru and No.2 Ryuho Maru off Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk.

MANCHUKO (JAPANESE PUPPET STATE)

Emperor Kangde of the puppet nation of Manchukuo was advised that his capital would soon be relocated from Xinjing (Changchun), Jilin Province, China to Tonghua, Andong Province, China as a response to the Soviet invasion.

JAPAN

(Twentieth Air Force): Mission 322: During the night of 9/10 Aug, 95 B-29s bomb the Nippon Oil Refinery at Amagasaki; 2 others hit alternate targets.

In Japan, B-25s over Kyushu Island, bomb airfields at Kanoya, the town of Noma, shipping in Beppu Bay, bridges, factories, and oil storage at Tsurusaki, and shipping, coastal villages, and communications targets in the Tsushima Strait area; A-26s and A-20s hit Kanoya Airfield and the industrial areas of Kushikino, Minato, and Shimahira; B-24s over W Honshu Island bomb the airfield at Iwakuni; 200+ P-47s and P-51s hit numerous targets on Shikoku and Kyushu Islands, and in the Ryukyu Islands including airfields, barracks, harbor installations, bridges, shipping, vehicles, and various factories and storage facilities.

British (258 Avenger, Corsair, Hellcat, Firefly, and Seafire) and US carrier aircraft (USS Shangri-La, USS Yorktown, Air Group 87 from USS Ticonderoga) of Task Force 37 struck the Japanese home islands; the British aircraft alone expended more than 120 tons of bombs and cannon shells. Meanwhile, American battleships USS South Dakota, USS Indiana, and USS Massachusetts, plus their support ships, bombarded Kamaishi, Iwate, Japan; 850 16-inch shells from battleships, 1,440 8-inch shells from cruisers, and 2,500 5-inch shells from destroyers were fired.

Photo: The U.S. Navy battleship USS Massachusetts (BB-59) opens fire on Kaimaishi, Japan, 9 August 1945



Photo: The battleship USS Indiana bombarding Kamaishi, Honshu, Japan, with her forward 16" guns, 9 August 1945. This was the last salvo of the bombardment. Note 16" projectile in air at left



Vice Admiral Hoshina, Chief of Military Affairs Bureau for the Naval Ministry, discussed the worsening situation with Vice Admiral Onishi, the Navy Vice Chief of Staff. Onishi replies that there were "ample chances of victory for Japan." He minimizes the importance of the atom bomb and the Russian invasion, the dwindling resources. He stresses the effectiveness of "special attacks" and the suicide weapons. Hoshina then sees Navy Minister Yonai. Yonai comments "I have given up the war."

The Japanese Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, meets at 10:30 this morning. By 1:00 pm they are still unable to agree on acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. The Military refuses to negotiate on the continuing existence of the Emperor system, disarmament and occupation. At the Japanese cabinet meeting this afternoon, PM Suzuki is able to set the stage for an Imperial Conference with the Emperor. The military are not aware that it will be tonight. The discussion is deadlocked over two proposals. The FM proposal is to accept the Potsdam Declaration. The military have added 1) A guarantee that the imperial family will continue to reign. 2) Disarmament of the armed forces by Japan herself. 3) Trial of war criminals by Japan herself. 4) Occupation of Japan to be limited to the minimum time and places.

JAPAN (BOMBING OF NAGASAKI)

[Times are in Tinian time unless otherwise noted. The time in Nagasaki is one hour earlier.]

0215: The Bockscar crew boards the plane and performs pre-flight checks. Flight engineer John Kuharek notices the fuel pump for one of the 640 gallon reserve tanks on Bockscar is not functioning. The crew deplanes while the situation is discussed. The decision is made to carry on with the mission as planned.

Photo: Temporary triangle N tail marking of the B-29 bomber Bockscar, on August 9, 1945, the day of its atomic bombing mission



0258: The two weather planes, Enola Gay and Laggin’ Dragon, take off for their selected cities to monitor weather conditions.

0347: Bockscar, piloted by Major Charles Sweeney, lifts off from Tinian Island. The target of choice is Kokura Arsenal.

0351: The Great Artiste, piloted by Capt. Fred Bock, takes off.

0353: Big Stink, piloted by Major James Hopkins, takes off.

0400: Cmdr. Fred Ashworth, the weaponeer on Bockscar, enters the bomb bay and switches out the safety plugs.

0910: Bockscar reaches the rendezvous point and immediately spots The Great Artiste. Big Stink is nowhere in sight. The planes increase their altitude to 30,000 feet and slowly circle Yakushima Island. The weather planes report that both Kokura and Nagasaki have cloud cover but visibility is sufficient for visual bombing.

0950: After circling for forty minutes, Bockscar and The Great Artiste finally head in the direction of Kokura. Big Stink is nowhere to be seen. (Note: There are still to this day differing stories of why Big Stink failed to rendezvous with the rest.) The additional thirty minutes that Bockscar and The Great Artiste took to wait may have cost the mission visual bombing conditions over Kokura, possibly saving the city from the bombing and instead dooming Nagasaki.

1044: Bockscar arrives at Kokura, but finds it covered by haze. The aim point cannot be seen. Three bomb runs are made on Kokura, but each time the drop is called off. Flak and fighters appear, forcing the plane to stop searching for the aim point. Animated discussions take place amongst crew members as what to do next.

1132: The decision is made to head for the only secondary target in range, Nagasaki, 95 miles to the south. Major Charles Sweeney turns toward Nagasaki.

1156: Bockscar and The Great Artiste arrive at Nagasaki.

1158: Upon arriving at Nagasaki, Bockscar has enough fuel for only one pass over the city, even with an emergency landing at Okinawa. Nagasaki is covered with clouds, but one gap allows a drop several miles from the intended aim point. Bombardier Kermit Beahan releases Fat Man. Bockscar and The Great Artiste take a 155 degree dive to their right and left respectively.

1200 (1100 Tokyo time): The Imperial Supreme War Council meets to discuss a conditional surrender.

1202 (11:02 AM Nagasaki time): Fat Man explodes at an altitude of 1,650 feet over the city. Three shock waves are felt by both planes.

On the day of the bombing, an estimated 263,000 were in Nagasaki, including 240,000 Japanese residents, 9,000 Japanese soldiers, and 400 prisoners of war. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 75,000 people died immediately following the atomic explosion, while another 60,000 people suffered severe injuries.

Photo: Atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945



The radius of total destruction from the atomic blast was about one mile, followed by fires across the northern portion of the city to two miles south of where the bomb had been dropped. In contrast to many modern aspects of Hiroshima, almost all of the buildings in Nagasaki were of old-fashioned Japanese construction, consisting of wood or wood-frame buildings with wood walls and tile roofs. Many of the smaller industries and business establishments were also situated in buildings of wood or other materials not designed to withstand explosions. As a result, the atomic explosion over Nagasaki leveled nearly every structure in the blast radius.

The failure to drop Fat Man at the precise bomb aim point caused the atomic blast to be confined to the Urakami Valley. As a consequence, a portion of the city was protected from the explosion. The Fat Man bomb was dropped over the city’s industrial valley midway between the Mitsubishi Steel and Arms Works in the south and the Mitsubishi-Urakami Ordnance Works in the north. The resulting explosion had a blast yield equivalent to 21 kilotons of TNT, roughly the same as the Trinity blast. Nearly half of the city was completely destroyed.

1206: Bockscar and The Great Artiste, now low on fuel, head toward Okinawa. Real possibility exists for a forced landing in the water. Attempt to raise air/sea rescue units fails.

1230 (1130 Tokyo time): The Supreme War Council receives news of the Nagasaki bombing and continues to debate.

1300: Okinawa is in sight. Attempts to notify airfield of emergency landing fail. There are other planes landing at the time on the only active runway. Finally, Sweeney orders flares to be fired and Bockscar heads in. They land at 150 MPH instead of the normal 120 MPH. The number 2 engine runs out of fuel as they are on the runway.

1320: Both The Great Artiste and Big Stink land at Okinawa. Big Stink had made its way to Nagasaki and arrived in time to take photographs of the bombing.

1730: Bockscar, The Great Artiste, and Big Stink take off from Okinawa for Tinian Island.

2230: The planes arrive back at North Field on Tinian. Unlike after the Hiroshima mission, no one was waiting to greet them or for photo ops.

YouTube (Second atomic bomb of World War II explodes over Nagasaki (1945)



JAPANESE OCCUPIED FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, and Radjiman Wediodiningrat flew to Saigon, Cochinchina, French Indochina to meet with Field Marshal Terauchi Hisaichi.

A small nationalist coup failed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

B-24s over Ceram Islands bomb Liang barracks on Ambon.

Sukarno was made the head of the Indonesian independence committee.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED WAKE ISLAND

TU 12.5.6--battleship New Jersey (BB-62), light cruiser Biloxi (CL-80) and four destroyers--bombards Wake Island while en route from Pearl Harbor to Eniwetok.

FORMOSA

B-24s bomb military stores at Matsuyama, Formosa.

RYUKYU ISLANDS

The “Spar Hitch”, C1-M-AV1, captained by Carl, E. Peterson, New York, N.Y., in background, is the first big ship to enter Naha Harbor, Okinawa. 9 August, 1945



PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

On Luzon, B-25s and P-38s support ground forces in areas N of Baguio, SSE of Mankayan, S of Kabayan, SE of Cervantes, near Kiangan, and NW of Infanta.

On Mindanao in the Philippines, captured Japanese Army officer Minoru Wada flew with US Marine Mitchell bombers to guide them to the Japanese Army 100th Infantry Division headquarters. The complex was destroyed and the fighting on Mindanao ended.

WESTERN PACIFIC

[Far East Air Force)]: Unit moves: HQ 3d Air Commando Group and 3d and 4th Fighter Squadrons (Commando) from Laoag, Luzon to Ie Shima with P-51s; HQ from San Jose, Mindoro to Okinawa; and 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th FG, from San Jose Mindoro to Ie Shima with P-38s.

PACIFIC

Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) shells Tambelan Island 230 miles east of Singapore, destroying Japanese radio station.

Destroyer escort Johnnie Hutchins (DE-360), carrying out an antisubmarine sweep on the convoy route between Leyte and Okinawa, sinks what may have been kaitens launched by I 58, known to have been in the area at that time.

USAAF B-25s on antishipping sweeps against Japanese shipping traffic off the coast of Korea sink auxiliary submarine chaser No.63 Hino Maru west of Koje-do, merchant cargo ship No.7 Yamabishi Maru off Tsushima, 35°09'N, 129°30'E, and army cargo ship Daito Maru, 15 miles off Chongjin, Korea.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Izu Maru is sunk by aircraft, Shiogama harbor.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.7 Yamanami Maru is sunk by U.S. aircraft, 25°15'N, 138°44'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Kagoshima Maru and [type unspecified] Toyoshima Maru are sunk by aircraft off Pusan, Korea.

Japanese merchant cargo ship Senko Maru is sunk by aircraft off Chongjin, Korea, Tensho Maru is damaged.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.2 Ryuho Maru is sunk by aircraft off Utka.

Japanese merchant cargo ships Edamitsu Maru and Sotsu Go, tanker Empo Maru are sunk by aircraft off Najin, Korea. Japanese merchant cargo ship Rakusan Maru is damaged by aircraft.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.6 Banshu Maru is damaged by aircraft off Hamada, Japan.

Japanese destroyer Yanagi and minelayer Tokiwa are damaged by aircraft, Ominato, Japan.

Japanese escort vessel Yashiro and Coast Defense Vessel No.87, and army cargo ship Ryuwa Maru, and merchant cargo ship Meiyu Maru are damaged by aircraft off Unggi, Korea.

USAAF B-25s (5th Air Force) damage Japanese fast transport T.21 off Tsuwa Jima, 33°59'N, 132°31'E. Although T.21 is run aground to permit salvage, she never returns to active service (see 10 August).

Japanese transport Choun Maru is damaged by aircraft, location unspecified.

Mines damage Japanese merchant cargo ships Enoshima Maru in Oguchi channel, Nanao; Genyo Maru, 35°51'N, 131°15'E; Shinri Go, 34°06'N, 131°19'E; and damage merchant vessel Okita Maru near Sumoto.

Day 2161 of World War II, August 11th 1945

Allied occupied Germany

Photo: German Type XVIIB Submarine is lifted from the water by a large floating crane, at Bremerhaven, Germany, August 11, 1945. Boat is probably U-1406 or U-1407, 11 August 1945



United States

US Secretary of State, James Byrnes, replies to the Japanese offer to surrender with a refusal to make any compromise on the demand for unconditional surrender. His note states that the Allies envisage an unconditional surrender as one where the emperor will be "subject to" the supreme commander of the Allied powers and the form of government will be decided the the "will of the Japanese people."

General Groves decides to delay shipping the second plutonium core and contacts Robert Bacher just after he had signed receipt for shipping the core to Tinian Island. The core is retrieved from the car before it leaves Los Alamos, NM.

Photo: US troops aboard the USS Gen. Harry Taylor reverse their route back to NY, 11 August 1945



Photo: The U.S. Navy ammunition ship USS Diamond Head (AE-19) departing her conversion yard, Bethlehem Steel Key Highway Shipyard at Baltimore, Maryland (USA), on 11 August 1945, a day after completing her conversion and commissioning. A Baltimore harbor tug is assisting



US Secretary of State James Byrnes ordered Ambassador W. Averell Harriman in Moscow, Russia to prevent the inclusion of the Inner Mongolia region of China in the borders of an independent Mongolia. The indpendence of the Soviet puppet state of Mongolian People's Republic from China was an issue Joseph Stalin was aiming to achieve in the Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty which was in the process of being drafted.

Canada

Photo: Interesting collection of aircraft at RCAF Station Patricia Bay (today's Victoria International Airport). From left to right: Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Avro Lancaster, De Havilland Mosquito, Consolidated Canso, 11 August 1945



Soviet occupied Poland

The violent events referred to as the Kraków pogrom occurred in the Soviet-occupied city of Kraków, Poland.

Soviet Union

US Ambassador to the Soviet Union W. Averell Harriman sent the full text of the declaration of war on Japan by the Soviet puppet state of Mongolian People's Republic. Harriman explained this action as Mongolia's attempt to act as a sovereign state, and warned that the Mongolian leadership seemed to have designs to occupy the Inner Mongolia and northeast (ie. Manchuria) regions of China.

Pacific War

SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

The Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front and the Pacific Fleet begin the occupation of the southern part of Sakhalin Island.

Soviet and Mongolian troops captured Prince Demchugdongrub's palace and his family members at Sonid Right Banner, Chahar Province, China, but he was at Kalgan (Zhangyuan, later Zhangjiakou), Chahar Province. Demchugdongrub's family would be taken to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Area, China and treated with respect.

CHINA

Against the orders given by Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kaishek, Communist officer Lin Biao began marching his troops into northeastern China, ahead of Nationalists.

(Fourteenth Air Force): In China, 9 P-51s attack troops, trains, and rivercraft around Chenhsien, Tehsien, and Hengyang; and the 115th Liaison Squadron, Fourteenth AF, based at Hsingchiang with L-1, L-4s and L-5s, begins operating primarily from Peishiyi.

MONGOLIA

Ethnic Mongolian cadets of the Manchukuo Xing'an (Postal Map: Hsingan) Province Military Academy in northeastern China rebelled and killed their Japanese instructors while on a March to Baicheng, Liaobei Province, China. They would turn north to join the Soviets.

MANCHUKO (JAPANESE PUPPET STATE)

Emperor Kangde, the royal court, and most of the ministers of the puppet nation of Manchukuo evacuated Xinjing (Changchun), Jilin Province, China.

JAPAN

Shortly after midnight Japan receives unofficial notification of the rejection of Japan's conditional acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.
The Chief of Staff for the Army and Navy meet with Hirohito. They review the US response and offer their advice. "Reject the impertinent terms and fight to the very last." Hirohito realizes that they have not really heard his desire on the 10th to end the war. That evening the Emperor meets with all of the Imperial Family. He explains the object of his decision and asks for their support. After open discussion, the princes pledge their support.

The War Minister Anami meets with Prince Mikasa. He requests the prince to ask the Emperor to change his mind. Anami later reports to his secretary "Prince Mikasa severly scolded me saying 'Since the Manchurian Incident the army has not once acted in accordance with the Imperial wish. It is most improper that you should still want to continue the war when things have come to this stage' "

Professor Asada, after investigating Hiroshima, returns to Osaka University. He has a visitor, Lt. Saito from the Etajima Naval Academy. He reports that his commanding officer has deduced that the Hiroshima bomb was a mixture of magnesium and oxygen. There was not much more to fear from this new bomb than conventional bombs. There were 3 notations: 1) A special bomb was used; 2) burns can be prevented by covering the body; 3) rumor has it that the same kind of bomb will be dropped on Tokyo on August 12. Professor Asada is shocked and convinces Lt. Saito to delay his report until Asada can report to Tokyo first.
During the day, a group of junior army officers around Col. Takeshita decide to mount a coup. They intend to overrule the "false advisors" of the Emperor and continue the war.

Okinawa-based B-24s, B-25s, A-26 Invaders, A-20s, and fighters of the US Far East Air Force fly about 530 sorties and cause extensive destruction to shipping and shore installations in the Inland Sea, in the Tsushima area, and of communications, transportation, and other targets throughout Kyushu Island.

TF 38 planes damage Japanese destroyer Kaba and submarines I 36, I 159, and I 402 at Kure, Japan.

Photo: A Nakajima Kikka (Orange Blossom) jet fighter on the ground before its second (but aborted) flight. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka, is seated in the cockpit, and the ground crew is seen in front of the wing and standing near the tail, 11 August 1945



GUAM

General Carl Spaatz orders a halt of area firebombing, but other attacks continue.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

The Dai Viet (Nationalist Party of Greater Vietnam) held a demonstration in Hanoi, Tonkin, French Indochina in support for the Vietnamese royal government and for an independent Vietnam. In private, the Dai Viet leadership discussed the possibility of coup as they hear rumors of a Japanese surrender, but they could not come to a concensus on its execution.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES

After embarking Australian Army officers in Borneo, the US submarine USS Hawkbill lands the commandoes at Terampah Harbor, Matak Island, Anambas Islands and they destroy a gasoline dump, capture intelligence documents and rescue an Indian POW. Two radio stations are destroyed using the submarine deck gun. The submarine returned to Borneo on 13 August.

RYUKYU ISLANDS

TG 95.4 (Captain Henry J. Armstrong, Jr.) comprising four light minelayers (DM), 40 minesweepers (AM) and 10 motor minesweepers (YMS), and various supporting vessels, departs Buckner Bay, Okinawa, to proceed into the East China Sea to conduct minesweeping operations.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

In Manila, General MacArthur says that the atomic bomb was unnecessary since the Japanese would have surrendered anyway.

On Mindanao, American mopping up operations are completed.

Philippine based B-24s bomb Heito Airfield on Formosa and Laha barracks Ambon. P-38s hit buildings near Dibuluan and fieldguns near Kiangan on Luzon.

Photo: The U.S. Navy aircraft repair ship USS Chourre (ARV-1) at anchor, 11 August 1945, probably in the Philippines at San Pedro Bay, Leyte Island



ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

(Eleventh Air Force): The 11th Fighter Squadron, 343d Fighter Group moves from Adak to Shemya with P-38s.

WESTERN PACIFIC

[Far East Air Force)]: The 400th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th BG (Heavy), moves from San Jose, Mindoro to Ie Shima with B-24s.

PACIFIC

Destroyer McDermut (DD-677) is damaged by small-caliber naval gunfire in Kurils, 49°30'N, 155°01'E.

Submarine Chub (SS-329) sinks Japanese army auxiliary sailing vessel No.32 Sakura Maru, 06°40'S, 115°44'E.

Submarine Hawkbill (SS-366) puts landing party and Australian commandoes ashore at Terampah Harbor, Matak Island Anambas Islands, that destroys a gasoline dump, captures intelligence documents, and rescues an Indian POW.

Submarine Jallao (SS-368) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Teihoku Maru, 38°03'N, 133°12'E.

Mines laid by USAAF B-29s (20th Air Force) sink Japanese merchant cargo ship No.2 Nisshin Maru eight kilometers off Wakamatsu light, 33°45'N, 131°30'E, and damage landing ship T.153 two miles east-northeast of Kanawaiwa, Japan.

Japanese merchant vessel Wajun Go is damaged by marine casualty near Funagawa.

Day 2162 of World War II, August 13th 1945

United States

Secretary of War Henry Stimson recommends shipping the second plutonium core to Tinian Island, but no decision is made.

President Truman orders area firebombing against Japan to be resumed.

Photo: The former German destroyer Z 39 in a drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts (USA), 13 August 1945. The U.S. Navy designated the destoyer DD-939



Photo: The 15 cm TbtsK C/36 twin gun turret aboard the former German destroyer Z 39 in a drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts (USA), 13 August 1945. The U.S. Navy designated the destoyer DD-939



Pacific War

SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

Map: Japanese forces withdraw from their initial defense perimeter to positions around Mudanjiang, China



CHINESE CIVIL WAR

The Southern Jiangsu Campaign begins between the Chinese Nationalists and the Chinese Communists at the Southern Jiangsu and adjacent regions in Anhui and northern Zhejiang.

CHINA

Emperor Kangde, the royal court, and most of the ministers of the puppet nation of Manchukuo arrived at Dalizigou, Tonghua, Andong Province, China.

(Tenth Air Force): Unit moves in China: 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, 443d Troop Carrier Group, from Chengkung to Liangshan with C-47s; 427th Night Fighter Squadron, Tenth AF, from Dinjan, India to Liuchow with P-61s (detachments at Chengkung and Nanning, China).

(Fourteenth Air Force): The flight of the 21st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Fourteenth AF, at Hanchung with F-5s, returns to base at Shwangliu (other flights are at Hsian and Ankang).

MONGOLIA

The secessionist self-proclaimed nation of Mongolia declared war on Japan.

He Yingqin arrived in Chongqing, China.

Refusing to obey Chiang Kaishek's orders, Communist leader Zhu De moved his troops toward northeastern China.

JAPAN

The Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu and Lord Kido among others, have been branded as "false advisors" to the Emperor. Placards and posters over the country have sprung up urging that they and others of the "peace faction" be killed on sight.

Lt. Gen. Okido, commander of the Kempeitai (Military Police), appears in the PMs office demanding to see Suzuki. After finding out he is not there he tells Cabinet Secretary Sakomizu that "If Japan surrenders the army will rise. This is certain. Has the PM confidence that he can suppress the revolt?"

The Japanese Supreme Council for the Direction of the War, meets at 8:45 this morning. The meeting is interupted by a call from Hirohito for both Chief of Staffs. Hirohito asks for their offensive plans during peace negotiations. They agree to refrain from offensive measures. After the SCDW meeting resumes, it accomplishes nothing. FM Togo leaves to report to the Emperor. He instructs the FM to do his best to settle the matter.

Junior Japanese Army officers meet in small groups during the day. They are determined to take over the government and continue the war.

The full cabinet meets at 3:00 pm. Anami leaves to call Lt. Gen. Yoshizumi and tells him that the cabinet is coming around to the army's way of thinking. It is not. At 4:00 pm a Japanese IGHQ communique is released: "The Imperial Army and Navy having hereby received the gracious Imperial Command to protect the national polity [Emperor System] and to defend the Imperial Land, the entire armed forces will single-heartedly commence a general offensive against the Allied enemy forces." The War Minister and Army Chief of Staff immediately order the distribution of this message stopped. They know nothing about it. By 7:00 pm the cabinet meeting has decided nothing. The PM, desiring to follow the Imperial will announces that he will report to the Emperor and again ask His Majesty to give his gracious decision. This in effect puts the military on notice that any coup must happen before another Imperial Conference.

Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) bomb targets in the vicinity of Tokyo.

USAAF OA-10A extracts TBM crew (VT 87) from Ticonderoga (CV-14) from the inner reaches of Tokyo Bay midway between Yokohama and Kizarazu, marking the first time that a U.S. plane has accomplished a rescue in those waters.

FEAF: B-24s and B-25s from Okinawa pound shipping in the waters off Korea and Kyushu Island and in the Inland Sea claiming several vessels sunk and damaged; P-47s over Keijo encounter 20 Japanese aircraft and claim at least 16 shot down

RYUKYU ISLANDS

(Eighth Air Force): The 461st, 462d and 463d Bombardment Squadrons (Very Heavy), 346th BG (Very Heavy), arrive on Okinawa from the US with B-29s.

Photo: The U.S. Navy rescue and salvage ship USS Shackle (ARS-9) assisting the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in Nakagusuku Bay ("Buckner Bay"), Okinawa (Japan), on 13 August 1945. Pennsylvania had been torpedoed by a Japanese aircraft on at 2045 hrs on 12 August 1945



JAPANESE OCCUPIED SINGAPORE

P-38s hit shipping in the Singapore area. Unit moves from Luzon.

JAPANESE OCCUPIED FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

The Indochinese Communist Party held a meeting in Tan Trao northwest of Hanoi, Tonkin, French Indochina. The meeting was presided over by Ho Chi Minh. The Communists decided to fight the imminent return of the French, and that they would attempt to befriend US and USSR, possibly gaining their support against the French.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

B-25s attack Japanese forces near Palacian, Luzon.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

(Eleventh Air Force): The Eleventh AF dispatches its last combat mission when 6 B-24s radar-bomb the Kashiwahara Staging Area on Paramushiru with incendiaries, leaving huge columns of smoke.

WESTERN PACIFIC

[Far East Air Forc]: HQ 312th BG and 389th Bombardment Squadron from Floridablanca to Yontan with B-32s; 547th Night Fighter Squadron, V Fighter Command, from Lingayen Airfield to Ie Shima with P-38s and P-61s.

PACIFIC

Attack transport Lagrange (APA-124) is crashed by suicide plane, Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 26°14'N, 127°52'E.

Submarine Atule (SS-403) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.6 and damages Coast Defense Vessel No.16 off Hokkaido, 42°16'N, 142°12'E.

Submarine Torsk (SS-423) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Kaiho Maru, 36°17'N, 136°09'E.

USAAF B-24s and/or B-25s operating against Japanese shipping in Korea Strait sink guardboat Ayanami Maru at 34°50'N, 131°10'E and damage merchant cargo ship Tatsukiri Maru at 34°35'N, 131°23'E.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.11 Tosei Maru is damaged by aircraft off Hekata.

Japanese army tanker No.10 Nitto Maru is damaged by mine, 34°22'N, 130°54'E.

Day 2164 of World War II, August 15th 1945

United kingdom

Daily Herald: 15 August 1945



The British government revealed details of one of the biggest secrets of the war, radar.

The day -- Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) -- is a declared a national holiday. News of the surrender is broadcast around midnight and most people only find out about it when they wake or show up for work. The King opens the first new Parliament since then war began and at 9pm broadcasts to the nation.

Photo: Civilians walk amongst the piles of torn up paper which have been thrown, 'ticker tape'-style, from the windows of offices, on Lower Regent Street, London, to celebrate the signing of the Peace with Japan. More paper can be seen fluttering down onto the pavement and road: many vehicles appear to have stopped. It appears that this photograph was taken on Lower Regent Street, looking back up towards Piccadilly Circus. In the middle of the road (left of the photograph), a brick surface shelter can be seen, 15 August 1945



Photo: In London's Piccadilly Circus,a group of servicemen and women, and a civilian woman, link arms as they walk towards the camera, singing as they dance in celebration around Eros (not pictured), on the news that the war in Japan is over. Behind them, crowds of people are gathered in the sunshine. Several buses can also be seen. This photograph was taken from beside Eros, looking towards Piccadilly (left) and Regent Street (right), 15 August 1945



YouTube (HM King George VI - The Speech on Victory over Japan Day - 15 August 1945)



Soviet Union

The Nationalist government of China and the USSR sign a Treaty of Friendship. Manchuria, which the Japanese called Manchukuo, is to be returned to Chinese sovereignty within three months of the end of hostilities. The treaty excludes Chinese Communists and is viewed as a tactical victory by the Nationalists in the rivalry with the Communists. In return for the recovery of Manchuria, the Chinese government has recognized Soviet sovereignty over Port Arthur, which is to be a joint naval base and Dairen a free port.

United States

Newspaper: Buffalo Courier Express, 15 August 1945



Celebrations mark the end of World War II -- VJ Day. A two-day holiday is proclaimed for all federal employees. In New York, Mayor La Guardia pays tribute to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the deceased president, in a radio broadcast. Rationing of petroleum and canned goods is abolished.

New York Times: August 15th 1945




France

89-year old Philippe Pétain was sentenced to death in Paris court for treason, but Charles de Gaulle gave him a reprieve on account of his age.

Photo: Allied military personnel in Paris celebrating V-J Day on August 15 1945



Portugal

In Lisbon, Japanese Ambassador Morito Morishima informed the Portuguese government that Japan was developing a plan to return East Timor to Portugal.

Pacific War

Map of the Pacific as of 15 August 1945



SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

Map: Soviet 2d Red Banner Army Operations, 9-15 August 1945



Japanese escort vessel Kanju is sunk by Russian aircraft off Wonsan, 39°10'N, 127°27'E.

CHINA

(AAF, China Theater): All offensive action against Japan ends.

(Fourteenth Air Force): HQ 81st FG and 91st Fighter Squadron move from Fungwansham to Huhsien, China with P-47s.

Chiang Kaishek made a radio address from the facilities of the Broadcasting System (forerunner of today's Broadcasting Corporation of China located in Taiwan, Republic of China) in Chongqing, China, noting that China must not seek revenge against the defeated Japan, for violence would only yield more violence. He urged that China must return "virtue for malice".

Chu Teh, the Commander in Chief of the Chinese Communist army, warns the Allies that the Communists expect a share in the Japanese surrender and postwar settlement.

Photo: Shanghai people celebrating Japanese surrender, 15 August 1945



Japanese General Yasuji Okamura received orders to surrender to the Chinese. He initially contemplated disobeying this order, but would ultimately comply. ww2dbase

CHINESE CIVIL WAR

The Battle of Baoying began in central Jiangsu, China as part of the Chinese Civil War.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

With the Japanese having surrendered, the Việt Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam) launch a insurrection that they have prepared for a long time. 'People's Revolutionary Committees' across the countryside took over administrative positions, often acting on their own initiative, and in the cities, the Japanese stood by as the Vietnamese took control.

AUSTRALIA

People find out about the Japanese surrender as the get to work. Celebrations continue all night.

YouTube (V J DAY IN Australia)



Australia was given the responsibility oversee Japanese surrenders in Thailand; Java, Dutch East Indies; and Borneo, Dutch East Indies.

PHILIPPINES

MacArthur tries to communicate with Tokyo using the War Department signal facilities, but when he receives no reply, he turns to the Army Airways Communications System (AACS). The AACS Manila station (call sign WXXU), tapped out MacArthur's instructions to the Japanese using a frequency over which AACS had been broadcasting uncoded weather information; the message reads:

"From Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers To The Japanese Emperor, the Japanese Imperial Government, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters Message Number Z-500 I have been designated as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (the United States, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and empowered to arrange directly with the Japanese authorities for the cessation of hostilities at the earliest practicable date. It is desired that a radio station in the Tokyo area be officially designated for continuous use in handling radio communications between this headquarters and your headquarters. Your reply to this message should give the call signs, frequencies and station designation. It is desired that the radio communication with my headquarters in Manila be handled in English text. Pending designation by you of a station in the Tokyo area for use as above indicated, station JUM on frequency 13705 kilocycles will be used for this purpose and Manila will reply on 15965 kilocycles. Upon receipt of this message, acknowledge. Signed MacArthur."

Within less than 2 hours, the Tokyo reply came back. This was the first direct communication between the Allies and Japan.

RYUKYU ISLANDS

FEAF: Unit moves: HQ 22d BG and 33d Bombardment Squadron from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa with B-24s; 66th Troop Carrier Squadron, 403d Troop Carrier Group, from Morotai to Dulag with C-46s; 160th Liaison Squadron, 3d Air Commando Group [attached to 5th Air Liaison Group (Provisional)], from Mabalacat, Luzon to Ie Shima with UC-64s and L-5s; 321st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 90th BG (Heavy), from San Jose, Mindoro to Ie Shima with B-24s; 531st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) from San Jose, Mindoro to Okinawa with B-24s; and 674th Bombardment Squadron, 417th BG, from San Jose, Mindoro to Okinawa with A-20s.

JAPAN

Admiral Ugaki and the final Kamikazi: Admiral Ugaki was a prominate senior officer in the IJN throughout the war years] On 15 August 1945, Emperor Showa made a radio announcement conceding defeat and calling for the military to lay down their arms. After listening to the announcement announcing Japan's defeat, Ugaki made a last entry in his diary noting that he had not yet received an "official" cease-fire order, and that as he alone was to blame for the failure of his valiant aviators to stop the enemy, he would fly one last mission himself to show the true spirit of bushido. His subordinates protested, and even after Ugaki had climbed into the backseat of a Yokosuka D4Y "Judy", Warrant Officer Akiyoshi Endo, whose place in the kamikaze roster Ugaki had usurped, climbed into the same space that the admiral had already occupied. Thus, the aircraft containing Ugaki took off with three men, as opposed to two each in the remaining ten aircraft. Prior to boarding his aircraft, Ugaki posed for pictures and removed his rank insignia from his dark green uniform, taking only a ceremonial short sword given to him by Admiral Yamamoto.
Endo served as radioman during the mission, sending Ugaki's final messages, and a final message at 19:24, reported that the plane had begun its dive onto an American vessel. However, U.S. Navy records do not indicate any successful kamikaze attack on that day, and it is likely that all aircraft on the mission (with the exception of three that returned due to engine problems) crashed into the ocean. The next morning, the crew of American landing craft LST-926 found the still smoldering remains of a cockpit with three bodies on the beach of Ishikawajima. The third man, his head crushed and right arm missing, wore a dark green uniform and a short sword was found nearby. The sailors buried the bodies in the sand.

Photo: Admiral Matome Ugaki with his Yokosuka D4Y3 posing before final Kamikaze attack off Okinawa, 15 August 1945



US Task Force 38 launches massive air strikes on the Tokyo area, encountering numerous Japanese fighters but the aircraft are recalled upon receipt of the surrender announcement. Meanwhile, Vice-Admiral Ugaki, commanding Kamikaze operations, leads a final mission but the 7 dive-bombers are shot down off Tokyo before they can reach Okinawa.

Photo: Captain Jackson R. Tate, U.S. Navy, announces the surrender of Japan aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) on 15 August 1945



Photo: Sign on the island of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15), announcing the surrender of Japan,15 August 1945



Map: airfields in kyushu, 15 august 1945



JAPAN (EMPEROR HIROHITO SURRENDER MESSAGE)

The recorded message of Emperor Hirohito is broadcast to the Japanese people:

TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS,

After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in our empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.

We have ordered our government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration.

To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by our imperial ancestors and which lies close to our heart.

Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.

But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state, and the devoted service of our one hundred million people – the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

Such being the case, how are we to save the millions of our subjects, or to atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors? This is the reason why we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the joint declaration of the powers.

We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.

The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains our heart night and day.

The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of our profound solicitude.

The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable.

Having been able to safeguard and maintain the Kokutai, We are always with you, our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.

Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.

Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.

Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution – so that you may enhance the innate glory of the imperial state and keep pace with the progress of the world.

YouTube (Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s surrender)



THAILAND

Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Kumaichi Yamamoto announced Emperor Showa's surrender order to Thai Prime Minister Khuang Aphaiwong. When Yamamoto was informed of the Thai intention to renounce the Japanese-Thai alliance, he raised no objections.

KOREA

Korean Communist leader Yo Unhyong voiced his reluctant acceptance for the Japanese proposal to form an interim administration dominated by Koreans to rule Korea until the Allies form their own administration.

PHILIPPINE

Douglas MacArthur gave the responsibility of occupying southern Indochina and Dutch East Indies to the Allied South East Asia Command under Louis Mountbatten. On the same day, Mountbatten announced Proclamation No. 1 for the planning of the resumption of British rule of Malaya.

PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN (1945)

After 299 days, the Philippines Campaign ends in decisive Allied victory.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (CAMBODIA)

During speeches, Prime Minister Son Ngoc Thanh of Cambodia, French Indochina urged his people to cooperate with the Japanese and resist the French.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

Various Vietnamese nationalist groups and cells rose up in Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina regions of French Indochina.

CENTRAL PACIFIC

[US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific (USASTAF)]: All offensive action against Japan ends.

PACIFIC

TG 30.6 (Commodore Rodger W. Simpson) is formed to liberate, evacuate, and care for Allied POWs in Japan.

Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 167 is sunk by accident, Kure.

Japanese merchant cargo ship No.12 Yamabishi Maru is damaged by aircraft, 34°41.5'N, 129°36'E.

I-401 received conflicting orders, one from Emperor Showa ordering her to surrender in the form of the radio address, another from naval leadership ordering all submarines to carry out existing orders; Tatsunosuke Ariizumi, commanding officer of 6th Fleet who was aboard the submarine, chose to follow the latter. I-400, under Commander Toshio Kusaka, opted to obey the order to surrender.

Day 2166 of World War II, August 17th 1945

YouTube (Hirohito Announces Surrender - War Continues)



Soviet Union

Joseph Stalin ordered Aleksandr Vasilevsky to continue the fighting with Japan despite of the Japanese intention to surrender.

United Kingdom

The government announces a program of social reform, with a national health service at its center. The War Office states that about 38,000 troops and an estimated 112,000 British civilians are being held by the Japanese as prisoners.

France

A death sentence on Marshal Philippe Pétain, former head of the Vichy French Government, was commuted to life imprisonment.

With little inkling of the nationalist fervour gripping his country’s lost Asian territories, Charles de Gaulle announces two key appointments for the recovery of Indochina: Admiral Georges Thierry d’Argenlieu as high commissioner and General Philippe Leclerc as commander of French armed forces in the Far East. Plans are also afoot to land French agents in the territory. At this stage, however, authority for the reoccupation of Indochina lies with China and Britain, not France. Moreover, fewer than 1,000 French troops are immediately available in Ceylon to be included in the SEAC contingent being sent to Saigon. More troops can soon be sent but there is a serious shortage of transport and equipment available to French forces.

United States

Robert Oppenheimer traveled to Washington DC, United States and personally delivered a letter to Secretary of War Henry Stimson, expressing his wish to see nuclear weapons banned.

The American government drafted plans for the swift conversion of factories from war to commercial production following predictions that five million will be unemployed in six months and nine million within a year.

In the United States, petrol rationing was removed.

United States (General Order No. 1)

US President Harry Truman officially approved General Order No. 1 submitted by US Joint Chiefs of Staff five days earlier:

J.C.S. 1467/2
　　17 August 1945

JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

INSTRUMENTS FOR THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN

GENERAL ORDER NO.1
Note by the Secretaries
General order No.1 (Enclosure), as approved by the President for issue by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters by direction of the Emperor, is circulated for information.

The President approved it with the understanding that it is subject to change both by further instructions issued through the Joint Chiefs of Staff and by changes in matters of detail made by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers in the light of the operational situation as known by him.

ENCLOSURE (GENERAL ORDER NO.1) SWNCC21/8
ENCLOSURE
GENERAL ORDER NO.1
MILITARY AND NAVAL
The Imperial General Headquarters by direction of the Emperor, and pursuant to the surrender to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers of all Japanese armed forces by the Emperor, hereby orders all of its commanders in Japan and abroad to cause the Japanese armed forces and Japanese-controlled forces under their command to cease hostilities at once, to lay down their arms, to remain in their present locations and to surrender unconditionally to commanders acting on behalf of the United States, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom and the British Empire, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, as indicated hereafter or as may be further directed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Immediate contact will be made with the indicated commanders, or their designated representatives, subject to any changes in detail prescribed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, and their instructions will be completely and immediately carried out.

a. The senior Japanese commanders and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces within China (excluding Manchuria), Formosa and French Indo-China north of 16 north latitude shall surrender to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

b. The senior Japanese commanders and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces within Manchuria, Korea north of 38 north latitude and Karafuto shall surrender to the Commander in Chief of Soviet Forces in the Far East.

c. The senior Japanese commanders and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces within the Andamans, Nicobars, Burma, Thailand, French Indo-China south of 16 degrees north latitude, Malaya, Borneo, Netherlands Indies, New Guinea, Bismarcks and the Solomons, shall surrender to (the Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command or the Commanding General, Australian Forces--the exact breakdown between Mountbatten and the Australians to be arranged between them and the details of this paragraph then prepared by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers).

d. The senior Japanese commanders and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in the Japanese Mandated Islands, Ryukyus, Bonins, and other Pacific Islands shall surrender to the Commander in Chief U. S. Pacific Fleet.

e. The Imperial General Headquarters, its senior commanders, and all ground, sea, air and auxiliary forces in the main islands of Japan, minor islands adjacent thereto, Korea south of 38 north latitude, and the Philippines shall surrender to the Commander in Chief, U. S. Army Forces in the Pacific.

f. The above indicated commanders are the only representatives of the Allied Powers empowered to accept surrenders and all surrenders of Japanese Forces shall be made only to them or to their representatives.

The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters further orders its commanders in Japan and abroad to disarm completely all forces of Japan or under Japanese control, wherever they may be situated and to deliver intact and in safe and good condition all weapons and equipment at such time and at such places as may be prescribed by the Allied Commanders indicated above. (Pending further instructions, the Japanese police force in the main islands of Japan will be exempt from this disarmament provision. The police force will remain at their posts and shall be held responsible for the preservation of law and order. The strength and arms of such a police force will be prescribed.)

2. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters shall furnish to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, within (time limit) of receipt of this order, complete information with respect to Japan and all areas under Japanese control as follows:

(a) Lists of all land, air and anti-aircraft units showing locations and strengths in officers and men.

(b) Lists of all aircraft, military, naval and civil giving complete information as to the number, type, location and condition of such aircraft.

(c) Lists of all Japanese and Japanese-controlled naval vessels, surface and submarine and auxiliary naval craft in or out of commission and under construction giving their position, condition and movement.

(d) Lists of all Japanese and Japanese-controlled merchant ships of over100 gross tons, in or out of commission and under construction, including merchant ships formerly belonging to any of the United Nations which are now in Japanese hands, giving their position con dition and movement.

(e) Complete and detailed information, accompanied by maps, showing location and layouts of all mines, minefields and other obstacles to movement by land, sea or air and the safety lanes in connection therewith.

(f) Locations and descriptions of all military installations and establishments, including airfields, seaplane bases, anti-aircraft defenses, ports and naval bases, storage depots, permanent and temporary land and coast fortifications, fortresses and other fortified areas.

(g) Locations of all camps and other places of detention of United Nations prisoners of war and civilian internees.

3. Japanese armed forces and civil aviation authorities will insure that all Japanese military, naval and civil aircraft remain on the ground on the water or abroad ship until further notification of the disposition to be made of them.

4. Japanese or Japanese-controlled naval or merchant vessels of all types will be maintained without damage and will undertake no movement pending instructions from the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Vessels at sea will immediately render harmless and throw overbroad explosives of all types. Vessels not at sea will immediately remove explosives of all types to safe storage ashore.

5. Responsible Japanese or Japanese-controlled military and civil authorities will insure that:

a. All Japanese mines, minefields and other obstacles to movement by land, sea and air, wherever located, be removed according to instructions of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

b. All aids to navigation be reestablished at once.

c. All safety lanes be kept open and clearly marked pending accomplishment of a. above.

6. Responsible Japanese and Japanese-controlled military and civil authorities will hold intact and in good condition pending further instructions from the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers the following:

a. All arms, ammunition, explosives, military equipment, stores and supplies and other implements of war of all kinds and all other war material (except as specifically prescribed in Section 4 of this order).

b. All land, water and air transportation and communication facilities and equipment.

c. All military installations and establishments, including airfields, seaplane bases, anti-aircraft defenses, ports and naval bases, storage depots, permanent and temporary land and coast fortifications, fortresses and other fortified areas, together with plans and drawings of all such fortifications, installations and establishments.

d. All factories, plants, shops, research institutions, laboratories, testing stations, technical data, patents, plans, drawings and inventions designed or intended to produce or facilitate the production or use of all implements of war and other material and property used by or intended for use by any military or paramilitary organizations in connection with their operations.

7. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters shall furnish to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, within (time limit) of receipt of this order, complete lists of all the items specified in paragraph a, b and d of Section 6 above, indicating the numbers, types and locations of each.

8. The manufacture and distribution of all arms, ammunition and implements of war will cease forthwith.

9. With respect to United Nations prisoners of war and civilian internees in the hands of Japanese or Japanese-controlled authorities:

a. The safety and well-being of all United Nations prisoners of war and civilian internees will be scrupulously preserved to include the administrative and supply services essential to provide adequate food shelter, clothing and medical care until such responsibility is undertaken by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers;

b. Each camp or other place of detention of United Nations prisoners of war and civilian internees together with nits equipment, stores, records, arms and ammunition will be delivered immediately to the command of the senior officer or designated representative of the prisoner of war and civilian internees;

c. As directed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, prisoners of war and civilian internees will be transported to places of safety where they can be accepted by allied authorities;

d. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters will furnish to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers ,within (time limit)of the receipt of this order, complete lists of all United Nations prisoners of war and civilian internees, indicating their location.

10. All Japanese and Japanese-controlled military and civil authorities shall aid and assist the occupation of Japan and Japanese-controlled areas by forces of the Allied Powers.

11. The Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and appropriate Japanese officials shall be prepared on instructions from Allied occupation commanders to collect and deliver all arms in the possession of the Japanese civilian population.

12. This and all subsequent instructions issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or other allied military authorities will be scrupulously and promptly obeyed by Japanese and Japanese-controlled military and civil officials and private persons. Any delay or failure to comply with the provisions of this or subsequent orders and any action which the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers determines to be detrimental to the Allied Powers, will incur drastic and summary punishment at the hands of allied military authorities and the Japanese Government.

Argentina

German submarine U-977 arrives at Mar del Plata and surrenders, having left Kiel on April 13th and sunk a Soviet ship in the Arctic.

Photo: Germany submarine U-977 in Mar del Plata, 17 August 1945



Soviet Union

The Soviet Union informed the US ambassador in Moscow that it had successfully negotiated with the Chinese government on the Chinese recognition of an independent Mongolia with the existing borders of the Mongolia Area of the Republic of China.

Pacific War

Map: Map of the change to the United States in the Pacific Ocean on August 17, 1945



SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

Fighting continues in Manchuria, but the Soviet high command announces that Japanese forces have begun to surrender in several places.

Map: Japanese forces are pushed out or evacuate from their last-ditch positions around Mudanjiang, August 1945



Map: Soviet 15th Army Operations, 9-17 August 1945



CHINESE CIVIL WAR

The Battle of Tianmen was fought:

After the former nationalist turned Japanese puppet regime forces who rejoined the nationalists after the Japanese had surrender to the Allies on August 15th and who had refused to surrender to the communists, the only Chinese force in the region under the order of Chiang Kai-shek’s regime, the 15th Brigade of the 5th Division of the communist New Fourth Army launched its offensive in Tianmen, Hubei, China against these units. Unable to fight off the communists, these former nationalist turned Japanese puppet regime forces who rejoined the nationalists enlisted the help of their former Japanese master, which only further enraged the local population, whose support went to the communist side as a result.

The battle lasted only several hours, and after 50 Japanese troops and over 100 troops of the former nationalist turned Japanese puppet regime forces who rejoined the nationalists were killed, the remaining 5 Japanese troops and 200+ troops of the former nationalist turned Japanese puppet regime forces who rejoined the nationalists were forced to surrender. The communists had captured a cannon, a heavy machine gun, five light machine guns, and over 270 repeating rifles. The communist casualties was light in terms of numbers.

CHINA

B-24 bomber "The Armored Angel" took off from Kunming, Yunnan Province, China with six OSS operatives and one Chinese interpretor on board. They were parachuted over the Weixian Internment Camp, Shandong Province, China for the libration of about 1,400 civilian prisoners at the camp.

President Chen Gongbo (Wade-Giles: Chen Kung-po) of the puppet Reorganized National Government of China in Nanjing fled China for Japan.

The Soviet Union, which had been invited by China to enter its borders to attack the Japanese, ordered Chinese Communist Party troops and Mongolian separatist to move into the historical region of Inner Mongolia without consulting with the Chinese government. The Chinese ambassador in Moscow immediately lodged a protest; the Soviets would not respond until 22 Aug 1945.

(Fourteenth Air Force): Unit moves in China: 91st Fighter Squadron, 81st FG, from Fungwanshan to Huhsien with P-47s; detachment of the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), at Hsian returns to base at Shwangliu with P-61s.

JAPAN

In Nara, Japan, Philippine President José Laurel issued an executive proclamation dissolving his government.

Prince Naruhiko of Higashikuni was named the 43rd Prime Minister of Japan. Among the new government's first actions was to appeal to General MacArthur to help stop the offensive still being pursued by the Soviet Union.

Photo: The U.S. Navy Task Force 38, of the U.S. Third Fleet maneuvering off the coast of Japan, 17 August 1945, two days after Japan agreed to surrender. The aircraft carrier in lower right is USS Wasp (CV-18). Note that her forward hull number on the flight deck is painted to be readable for planes coming from the bow. This was discontinued as escort carriers with such high numbers, like in this case USS Rudyerd Bay (CVE-81), were commissioned. The other identifiable carrier is USS Shangri-La (CV-38) in the left center. She is the only known carrier to have her air group identification letter ("Z") painted in white on her flight deck, instead of her hull number. Also present in the formation are four other Essex-class carriers, four Independence-class light carriers, at least three battleships, two of the Iowa-class and one of the South Dakota-class, plus several cruisers and destroyers



Photo: The U.S. Navy battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64) operating with the U.S. Third Fleet off the coast of Japan on 17 August 1945, two days after Japan accepted Allied surrender terms



THAILAND

Dutch prisoner of war W. A. Warmenhoven met with Japanese authorities on the Thailand end of the Thailand-Burma railway and began taking over as the supervisor. He would remain in charge for about a year, keeping it in operation and slowly repatriating forced laborers and prisoners of war.

BRITISH MALAYA

Japanese personnel in Malaya announced that they would play no further part in the independence movement of Malaya. Meanwhile, men of the 13th Squad of the communist Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army, under the command of Zhang Zuo, took control of Pusing, which was recently vacated by Japanese troops.

KOREA

Lacking strong nationalist leaders in northern Korea, the Japanese administration turned to Protestant church elder Cho Mansik to organize Korean administration for when the Japanese would depart northern Korea.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

The Vietnam General Association of Government Employees convened a meeting in front of the Hanoi Opera House in Tonkin, French Indochina, attracting 20,000 people. During the meeting, troops loyal to the Dai Viet marched into Hanoi, but their leadership did not order them to seize government centers.

Flood waters breached dikes along the Red River north of Hanoi, Tonkin, French Indochina. The flood waters would overcome over a third of Tonkin's rice harvest this fall, but it also bogged down Japanese troops in the area as well as incoming Chinese occupation troops, thus giving local nationalist fighters an advantage.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES (INDONESIA)

At the home of Admiral Tadashi Maeda in Batavia (Jarkata), Dutch East Indies, a draft of the Indonesian independence proclamation was completed by Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, Admiral Maeda, representatives from the Japanese Army, and representatives from the communist Pemuda Rakyat youth group. Hours later, at 1000 hours, Sukarno read the draft in front of Maeda's home, followed by a flag raising ceremony. The flag was sewn by Sukarno's wife Fatmawati the prior evening.

Photo: Sukarno, accompanied by Mohammad Hatta, declaring the independence of Indonesia at 10:00 am on Friday, 17 August 1945, at Pegangsaan Timur 56 (now Jalan Proklamasi), Jakarta



YouTube (Indonesian Independence - 1945)



WESTERN PACIFIC

[Far East Air Force]: Unit moves to Okinawa: HQ 417th BG and 672d and 675th Bombardment Squadrons from San Jose, Mindoro with A-20s; 7th and 8th Fighter Squadrons, 49th FG, from Lingayen Airfield with P-38s

PACIFIC

Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.46 is sunk by mine off Mokpo, Korea, 34°51'N, 126°02'E.

Photo: A re-coloured photograph of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38) underway in the Pacific Ocean, with her crew paraded on the flight deck, 17 August 1945. Note use of the air group identification letter "Z" on the flight deck instead of her hull number ("38")

Day 2168 of World War II, August 19th 1945

United States

US Secretary of State James Byrnes declared that Thailand was "not an enemy but as a country to be liberated from the enemy", in response to Regent Pridi Phanomyong's declaration that Thailand's participation in the war was unconstitutional.

Photo: The U.S. Navy attack transport USS Cambria (APA-36) at anchor off San Pedro, California (USA), on 19 August 1945



United Kingdom

King George and Queen Elizabeth lead nationwide thanksgiving services to mark Victory Sunday.

YouTube (King And Queen Lead Nation's Thanksgiving (1945)



Pacific War

SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

In Manchuria, the Soviet 2nd Far Eastern Front captures Tsitsihar in the Manchurian Plain. Transbaikal Front armor advances toward the town from the west, by-passing pockets of Japanese resistance. Soviet troops link up with Chinese Communist forces.

The Soviet assault at the port of Maoka (now Kholmsk), Southern Sakhalin by the forces of the Soviet Northern Pacific Flotilla of the Pacific Fleet during the South Sakhalin Offensive began.

CHINESE CIVIL WAR

Soviet SMERSH operatives convinced General Otozo Yamada to surrender at Xinjing (Changchun), China.

The Head of state of Mengjiang, Demchugdongrub and his followers departed Kalgan, Chahar Province (now Zhangjiakou), China for Beijing, China as Soviet-backed Outer Mongolian troops neared the city from the north and communist Chinese troops approached from the south, thus effectively ending the Japanese puppet state of Mengjiang.

The Battle of Yongjiazhen ended in communist victory.

Chiang Kai-shek forbids Japanese forces from surrendering to the Red Chinese forces and demands of the communist forces that they not advance. The Communist forces disregard the demand.

CHINA

(Fourteenth Air Force): Unit moves in China: 16th Fighter Squadron, 51st FG from Chengkung to Nanning with P-51s (the detachment at Pakhoi also moves to Nanning); detachment of 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), at Liangshan returns to base at Shwangliu with P-61s.

US forces entered Shanghai, China to prevent Chinese communists from occupying the city.

JAPAN

Japanese troops were told by their government that surrendering under the terms of a ceasefire would not be considered a loss of honour under the Bushido code which demanded fighting to the death. As a result thousands began laying down their arms. Meanwhile, more than 100 Allied warships waited off the coast of Japan for the order to enter her ports.

Photo: Scoreboard of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Bennington (CV-20). The ship's captain, Captain Boynton Lewis Braun, USN, is looking from the bridge, 20 August 1945



PHILIPPINES

On instructions from Douglas MacArthur, a Japanese delegation led by Japanese Imperial Army Vice Chief of Staff Lt General Torashiro Kawabe traveled from Tokyo, Japan to Ie Jima just off Okinawa where they were transferred from their two specially marked Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ bombers to a USAAF C-54 Skymaster for the second leg of their trip to Manila, Philippines where they met with MacArthur to conclude the surrender of the remaining Japanese troops and receive instructions on the plans for the occupation of Japan and the signing of the surrender documents. Meanwhile, General MacArthur ordered a halt to all amphibious landing operations.

Photo: After circling three times, a Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” which carried the envoys from Japan landed at Ie Shima airfield before proceeding to the Philippines and a meeting with General Douglas A. MacArthur/ Note the Red Crosses on the plane. The envoys were transferred immediately to a waiting C-54 to continue the trip. Photograph released August 19, 1945



Photo: A Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” which carried the envoys from Japan to General Douglas MacArthur in Manila, stops at Ie Shima airfield before proceeding to the Philippines. Note the Red Crosses on the plane. Photograph released August 19, 1945



Photo: Major General Charles A. Willoughby, Intelligence Officer on General MacArthur's Staff, shown with members of the 16-man Japanese surrender arrangement delegation, as they arrived at General Headquarters in Manila, PI, to present their authorization from Emperor Hirohito. Photo: Lt. Wands, 19 August 1945



Photo: Major General Charles A. Willoughby, left, G2 on MacArthur’s staff, is seen with members of the 16-man Japanese surrender arrangement delegation upon arrival at General Hdqs., in Manila, to present their credentials from Emperor Hirohito. Second from left is LTG Kawabe Takashiro, Vice Chief of the Imperial Staff and head of the delegation, 19 August 1945



YouTube (Japanese delegates reach Le Shima, Ryukyu Islands and then advance towards Manila)



BURMA

The first public conference of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, which was held at the Naythuyain Theater on Kandawgyi Lake in Rangoon, Burma, came to a close. Aung San, who promised to unite the various anti-colonial groups in Burma, emerged the foremost leader of Burmese nationalists, especially as the communists broke away from the AFO.

HONG KONG

A band of Chinese guerrilla fighters attacked a company of Japanese Army troops at Mui Wo, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. In retaliation, acting company commander Lieutenant Chozaburo Matsumoto ordered several civilians nearby to be tied to stakes and beaten. When company commander Lieutenant Yasuo Kishi returned to duty later that day, he ordered the arrest and beheading of village elders Tsang Sau and Lam Fook. Later in the evening, Matsumoto ordered further arrests.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES (INDONESIA)

President Sukarno of the newly founded Republic of Indonesia announced the names of his cabinet ministers. Meanwhile, the Peta militia and Heiho volunteers, both of which pro-Japanese para-military war-time organizations, began to be disbanded.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

Ho Chi Mihn, backed by Vo Nguyen Giap's 30,000-strong Chu Luc force, took over control of Hanoi, Vietnam, French Indochina.

Photo:Occupation of the Tonkin Palace, Hanoi, on 19 August 1945



In Tonkin, French Indochina, tens of thousands of villagers in support of the Viet Minh marched from the countrysides into Hanoi. Amongst them was an armed unit of Viet Minh which dispersed the local police while Japanese forces refrained from interference. By 1100 hours, the crowd grew to about 200,000. Shortly after, the Viet Minh took over the Viceroy's Palace. A number of Japanese tanks approached with plans to maintain peace, but they departed after some negotiations.

Day 2170 of World War II, August 21st 1945

United States

President Truman orders the supply of Lend-Lease aid to stop immediately.

Asiatic Wing, Naval Air Transport Service, is established at Oakland California.

At Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States, American physicist Harry Daghlian, Jr. of the Manhattan Project accidentally dropped a tungsten carbide brick onto a plutonium bomb core and received a fatal dose of 510 rems of radiation.

Photo: The former German destroyer Z 39 underway off Boston, Massachusetts (USA), on 22 August 1945. The U.S. Navy designated the destoyer DD-939



United Kingdom

The Labour government announces its intention to nationalize the Bank of England.

Egypt

Photo: A 2-inch mortar team of 1st Battalion, The Caribbean Regiment in Egypt preparing to return from Egypt to the West Indies, 21 August 1945



Pacific War

SOVIET-JAPANESE WAR

Soviet forces have occupied nearly all of Manchuria. Troops of the Japanese Kwantung Army are surrendering at a rate of 100,000 per day. The Red Army continues to advance and seize territory.

Photo: Soviet troops enter the liberated Harbin, 21 August 1945



CHINA

Photo: The U.S. Navy large cruisers USS Guam (CB-2) and USS Alaska (CB-1) at anchor off the coast of China, 21 August 1945



(Tenth Air Force): The 71st Liaison Squadron, Tenth AF, moves from Kunming to Liuchow, China with UC-64s, L-1s and L-5s.

(Fourteenth Air Force): The detachment of the 426th Night Fighter Squadron, Fourteenth AF (attached to 312th Fighter Wing), operating from Ankang, China with P-61s, returns to base at Shwangliu.

The first major Japanese surrender ceremony in China took place at the Zhijiang Airport in Hunan Province. Xiao Yisu accepted the Japanese surrender at Zhijiang, Hunan Province, China, and for the following two weeks prepared for the main surrender to be taken place in the capital of Nanjing.

Photo: Lieutenant General Xiao Yisu speaking with the local Japanese surrender delegation, Zhijiang, Hunan Province, China, 21 August 1945



JAPAN

Japan appeals to Kamikaze pilots to cease operations. A joint statement by the Japanese Imperial headquarters and the government instructs the general public in Japan to go about its business calmly and, according to the official news agency, authorities have forbidden fraternization saying "there will be no direct contact between the general public and the Allied landing forces."

Japanese escort vessel Miyake is damaged by mine near Moji, Japan, 33°58'N, 131°00'E.

RYUKYU ISLANDS

Tenth Army security patrols on Okinawa by this point have captured 69 Japanese and killed 218 since the island is declared secure.

[Far East Air Force]: The 408th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 22d BG (Heavy), moves from Clark Field, Luzon to Okinawa with B-24s.

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

(Eleventh Air Force): 2 B-24s are prevented by cloud cover from taking photos of the Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands; 4 others abort a photo mission to Paramushiru and Shimushu due to weather.

NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES (INDONESIA)

The interim Japanese administration of Palopo in southern Sulawesi, Indonesia announced the formation of the new republic.

FRENCH INDOCHINA (VIETNAM)

A coalition consisted of Cao Dai, Trotskyists, Hoa Hao, and Vanguard Youth personnel formed the National United Front and launched a demonstration in Cochinchina, French Indochina.

BRITISH MALAYA

Malay-Chinese ethnic tensions broke out into violence near Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya.

PACIFIC

Two Chinese junks (Lieutenant Livingston Swentzel Jr., USNR) manned by 7 Americans and 20 Chinese guerrillas are attacked by Japanese junk (with a crew of 83 men) while enroute from Haimen to Shanghai, China. In a 45-minute action, the Chinese craft, directed by Lieutenant Swentzel, engage the enemy with bazookas, machine guns, and grenades. Upon boarding the Japanese craft, the Allied force finds 45 dead and 35 wounded; the victory has been achieved at the cost of four Chinese killed, and one American and five Chinese wounded. For his heroism above and beyond the call of duty, Lieutenant Swentzel is awarded the Navy Cross in what probably proves to be the last surface action of World War II.