- February 3rd – Soviet Union agrees to attack Japan once Germany has surrendered.
- March 3rd – Manila, Phillipines, falls to Allies.
- March 9th – The USAF firebombs Tokyo, killing at least 90,000 civilians and leaving a million people homeless.
- March 17th – The USAF firebombs Kobe, killing at least 8,000 civilians and leaving 650,000 people homeless.
- March 26 – Iwo Jima falls to Allies.
- April 5th – Emperor Hirohito replaces KOISO Kuniaki as Prime Minister with retired Admiral KANTARŌ Suzuki.
- April 7th – Battleship Yamato destroyed during Battle of Okinawa.
- April 12th – “Momotaro: Sacred Sailors” is released in Japanese cinemas.
- April 28th – Benito MUSSOLINI executed by Italian partisans.
- April 30th – Adolf HITLER commits suicide.
- May 5th – 5 children and a pregnant Sunday school teacher are killed by a Japanese Fu-Go bomb balloon in Oregon. These are the only six war deaths on the American mainland.
- May 2nd – Axis forces in Italy surrender.
- May 8th – Nazi Germany surrenders, Victory in Europe Day.
- June 21st – Okinawa, fifth largest Japanese island, lost to the Allies.
- July 26th – Allies issue Potsdam Declaration, calling for Japan to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction”. Prime Minister Kantaro does not accept it, and does not make a counter-offer.
- August 6th – American bomber “Enola Gay” destroys Hiroshima with an atomic weapon, killing at least 90,000 people. It is accompanied by two further bombers: “The Great Artiste” to take scientific measurements, and “Necessary Evil” to take photographs.
- August 8th – The Soviet Union declares war on Japan.
- August 9th – American bomber Bockscar destroys Nagasaki with an atomic weapon, killing at least 39,000 people.
- August 15th – Emperor Hirohito accepts the Potsdam Declaration and announces the surrender of the Japanese Empire. The Allied powers mark this as Victory in Japan Day.
This is the only post on this blog that will never have an audio section. Come back on Wednesday, when I’ll be reviewing “MOMOTARO: SACRED SAILORS”. Until then; I’ve been Douglas Howell. Peace.
Image provided by George R. Caron, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.