September 2, 1945 — V-J Day, Japan formally surrenders
Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japanese officials signed the instrument of surrender, ending World War II. Six years of world war, over — with the ceremony held on the deck of an American battleship named for the state that gave the world Harry Truman.
Common Questions
What happened on September 2 in American history?
In 1945: V-J Day, Japan formally surrenders. Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japanese officials signed the instrument of surrender, ending World War II.
Why is September 2 significant?
Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japanese officials signed the instrument of surrender, ending World War II. Six years of world war, over — with the ceremony held on the deck of an American battleship named for the state that gave the world Harry Truman.
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