Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day
VP (Victory in the Pacific) Day, also referred to as Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, is celebrated on 15 August. This date commemorates Japan’s acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender on 14 August 1945.
For Australians, it meant that the Second World War was finally over.
Major General Uno, Imperial Japanese Army, Commanding the Japanese Forces in the area, lays his sword at the feet of NX349 Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Murray Robson, Commanding Officer, 2/31 Infantry Battalion during the Japanese surrender ceremony.
Surrender of Japanese aboard USS "Missouri". General Yoshijiro signing the instrument of surrender on behalf of Japan.
The following day, 15 August, is usually referred to as VP Day. In August 1945 Australian governments gazetted a public holiday as VP Day and most newspapers reported it as such.
However, the governments of Britain, the United States and New Zealand preferred VJ Day. It is not true, as some have claimed, that the day was originally called VJ and that the name was surreptitiously changed later.
Miss Lois Martin was captured celebrating the end of the war on a Melbourne street by a roving photographer. She stood out among the crowd with her handmade vest and painted face.
Victory in the Pacific parade in Melbourne, 1945
Watch the Victory in the Pacific parade Melbourne 24 August 1945
Victory in the Pacific celebrations in Sydney, 1945
Watch the Victory Pacific Day [Sydney]Sources
“VP or VJ Day?”, Wartime 21, 2003, p. 5
Further Information
Prime Minister J. B. Chifley announcing the end of the war against Japan, 15 August 1945, Click on the play button next to "the war is over" to hear Prime Minister Chifley’s announcement of Japan's surrender
Eric Carpenter, "Accepting the Japanese surrender", Wartime 31, 2005, pp. 30-33