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 millions Jews and millions of others had been murdered in the Holocaust.
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.
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.
A crowd gathers in Times Square to celebrate Victory in Europe Day.
A parish priest waves a newspaper with news of Germany's unconditional surrender to elated pupils of a Roman Catholic parochial school in Chicago.
Merchant Marine Bill Eckert wildy impersonates Hitler as a reveler playfully chokes him amidst a crowd in Times Square during a massive V-E Day celebration.
Young people in a car celebrate victory in Europe at the end of World War II, in Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 1945.
People crowd on top of a van during a V-E Day celebration in London.
Patients at England's Horley Military Hospital, all severely wounded in France and Italy, celebrate V-E Day with nursing staff.
U.S. war veterans returning home from Europe, on a converted troop ship.
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.
Wounded veteran Arthur Moore looks up as he watches the ticker tape rain down from New York buildings.
General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, signs the Japanese surrender document aboard the battleship, U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan, on September 2, 1945. At left is Lietenant General A.E. Percival, British Army.
New York City June 17, 1945. Cheering and waving from the deck of the transport which brought them back to the United States today, men of the 86th Infantry Division of the third Army stand on deck of their ship while women on the dock wave to them, awaiting their arrival.
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.
A British soldier arrives home to a happy wife and son after serving in World War II.
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.
Soldiers hug while being lifted onto the shoulders of a crowd on VJ Day, in Newark, New Jersey, August 18, 1945.
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.
An apartment house on 107th Street in New York City is decorated for celebration at the end of World War II (V-J Day).
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.
Joyous American soldiers and WACS fresh from bed parade through the London night celebrating V-J Day and the end of WWII.
A women jumps into the arms of a soldier upon his return from World War II, New York, NY, 1945.
An American soldier with lipstick on his face after V-J day celebrations.
Soldiers celebrating victory over Japan in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 15, 1945.
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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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 power that had originally drawn the United States into war with its 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.
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