World War II Day by Day: August 1945

In this final year of the war, Germany and Japan were defeated by a relentless tide of aircraft, tanks, ships, and men. Their cities were devastated by fleets of bombers, their armies were encircled and then annihilated, and their merchant and naval fleets were either sunk or trapped in port. There was no match for the economic might of the United States and the numerical superiority of the Soviet Union. Atomic bombs finally ended the war against Japan.

4 August

Far East, Burma

The last remnants of the Japanese Twenty-eighth Army are killed. The Allies have lost just 96 men killed.

6 August

Air War, Japan

The Japanese city of Hiroshima, devastated by the first use of an atomic bomb in warfare on August 6, 1945
The Japanese city of Hiroshima, devastated by the first use of an atomic bomb in warfare on August 6, 1945

The B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing 70,000 and injuring the same number.

9 August

Far East, Manchuria

A massive Soviet offensive by 1.5 million men begins against the Japanese Kwantung Army. The swiftest campaign in the Red Army’s history has begun.

Air War, Japan

A second US atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, following Tokyo’s non-compliance with an ultimatum that further bombs would be dropped unless there was an immediate surrender. The bomb kills 35,000 people and injures a further 60,000.

10 August

Politics, Japan

Following a conference, during which the emperor voices his support for an immediate acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan announces its willingness to surrender unconditionally.

15 August

Politics, Japan

Emperor Hirohito broadcasts to the Japanese people for the first tine calling on them to respond loyally to his command to surrender.

23 August

Far East, Manchuria

The campaign in Manchuria ends in total Soviet victory. The Japanese have lost over 80,000 dead and 594,000 taken prisoner. Soviet losses are 8000 men killed and 22,000 wounded.