By: Madison Horne
World War II Ends: 21 Photos of Jubilant Celebrations After Allied Victory
Soldiers and civilians let out a collective sigh of relief—and then celebrated—after Germany's and then Japan's surrender.
World War II was more destructive than any war before it. During the six-year conflict, millions of people were injured, landmarks were destroyed, and an estimated 45-60 million people lost their lives. Adolf Hitler's rise to power had spelled disaster for Germany and threatened anyone outside of his National Socialist Nazi party. Under Hitler's sadistic rule, six million Jews and millions of others had been murdered in the Holocaust.
This Day in History: 05/08/1945 - V-E Day is celebrated in American and Britain
This Day in History - May 8, 1945, was the day Hitler killed himself and Nazi Germany declared an end to the war. People called the day V-E Day, for it was a celebration for their victory.
When the war came to an end in 1945, it seemed the world released a sigh of relief to be rid of the pain and horrors. The beginning of the end started in the spring when German troops throughout Europe laid down their arms. On May 8, both Great Britain and the United States celebrated Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day. Cities across the Allied nations rejoiced in the defeat of Hitler and the Nazis with mass parades and celebrations.
Months later, in the summer, the war would conclude with another Allied victory. President Harry Truman decided to take drastic measures to ensure the defeat of the Axis powers that had originally drawn the United States into war with their attacks on Pearl Harbor. In early August 1945, the United States unleashed the devastating destruction of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
By August 14, 1945, Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. This day became known as “Victory Over Japan Day,” or V-J Day. The term has also been used for September 2, 1945, when General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s formal surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, while anchored in Tokyo Bay.
While victory was in hand, many soldiers still had to wait to head home. It had taken four years to get the estimated 7.6 million troops overseas, and it would take more than four months to get them back. But once troops set off to finally go home, it became a joyous journey.
Keystone/Getty ImagesWounded but Home
World War II was more destructive than any war before it. An estimated 45-60 million people lost their lives and millions more were injured. Here, Private Sam Macchia from New York City returns home, wounded in both legs, to his elated family.
Corbis/Getty ImagesCatholic School Celebration
A parish priest waves a newspaper with news of Germany’s unconditional surrender to elated pupils of a Roman Catholic parochial school in Chicago.
Tony Linck/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesTimes Square Antics
Merchant Marine Bill Eckert wildly impersonates Hitler as a reveler playfully chokes him amidst a crowd in Times Square during a massive V-E Day celebration.
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesEnd of WWII
Young people in a car celebrate victory in Europe at the end of World War II in Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 1945.
Bentley Archive/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesLondon Tower
People crowd on top of a van during a V-E Day celebration in London.
Popperfoto/Getty ImagesMilitary Hospital
Patients at England’s Horley Military Hospital, all severely wounded in France and Italy, celebrate V-E Day with nursing staff.
Keystone/Getty ImagesHomeward Bound
U.S. war veterans returning home from Europe on a converted troop ship.
Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesWall Street Jam
Wall Street is jammed as Financial District workers celebrate the reported end of the war in Europe. Celebrants clamber over the statue of George Washington as thousands of others stand amid falling ticker tape.
Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesTicker Tape
Wounded veteran Arthur Moore looks up as he watches the ticker tape rain down from New York buildings.
Keystone/Getty ImagesInjured, but Happy
Private B. Potts of the Middlesex Regiment makes a “V” sign from the porthole of the hospital ship “Atlantis” as he arrives home from World War II with an injury.
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty ImagesFamily Reunion
A British soldier arrives home to a happy wife and son after serving in World War II.
Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesConga Line
Sailors and Washington, D.C. residents dance the conga in Lafayette Park, waiting for President Truman to announce the surrender of Japan in World War II.
Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesVJ Day Celebration
Soldiers hug while being lifted onto the shoulders of a crowd on VJ Day, in Newark, New Jersey, August 18, 1945.
Anthony Potter Collection/Getty ImagesSick, but Smiling
U.S. servicemen in the sick bay of the S.S. Casablanca smile and point to a newspaper on August 15, 1945, with the headline “JAPS QUIT!” after the Japanese surrender in World War II.
Ossie Leviness/NY Daily News Archive/Getty ImagesDecorated High-Rise
An apartment house on 107th Street in New York City is decorated for celebration at the end of World War II (V-J Day).
Weegee/International Center of Photography/Getty ImagesBonfire
A V-J Day rally in New York City’s Little Italy on September 2, 1945. Local residents set fire to a heap of crates to celebrate the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.
US Signal Corps/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNighttime Parade
Joyous American soldiers and WACS fresh from bed parade through the London night celebrating V-J Day and the end of WWII.
Irving Haberman/IH Images/Getty ImagesReunited
A women jumps into the arms of a soldier upon his return from World War II, New York, NY, 1945.
MPI/Getty ImagesMarked With a Kiss
An American soldier with lipstick on his face after V-J day celebrations.
Eliot Elisofon/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesVictory from Honolulu
Soldiers celebrating victory over Japan in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 15, 1945.
Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesHome to Hawaii
The 42nd Regiment arrive back home to Hawaii on July 2, 1946. They are greeted by cheering friends and loved ones throwing leis.
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Citation Information
- Article Title
- World War II Ends: 21 Photos of Jubilant Celebrations After Allied Victory
- Author
- Madison Horne
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 21, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- August 13, 2025
- Original Published Date
- November 09, 2018
