Episode 194: The End of WWII

President Truman put out an announcement that the United States had officially received the unconditional surrender of Japan. As many people throughout the world celebrated that WWII was over, the Japanese Emperor spoke out for the first time about their tragic loss.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to World War Two chronicles aweekly tribute to America's fighting men and women
in commemoration of the Second World War. These programs are narrated by Ed Hrlihy
and are based on the news broadcastsof the war period from the recorded sound
collection of the National Archives in Washington, d C. I have received this

(00:27):
afternoon a message from the Japanese governmentin reply to the message forward to that
government by the Secretary of State onAugust eleventh. I d this reply a
full acceptance of the Pup's Damn Declaration, which specifies the unconditional surrender of Japan.
In the reply, there is noqualification. The instant President Truman's statement

(00:52):
is flashed on the news. Giantcelebrations are sparked all over the land.
World War Two is over. Thereare street parties in Washington, Chicago,

(01:14):
San Francisco, Seattle, but asas often the case, New York City
tops them all with a non stopthree day bash in Times Square. As
President Truman makes it official. Inthis country, the Land of the Rising
Sun's leaders have already broken the newsthey had been fatally crushed in the war,
forced into abject surrender. At twelvenoon, August fifteenth, listeners to

(01:40):
Japanese national radio are told to stand, the national anthem played, and an
unfamiliar, high pitched voice makes theannouncement. It is the Emperor himself,
the first time common people have everheard him speak. The word on home
front now was reconstruction. We wantto create in America jobs for all of

(02:07):
those who are ready and willing towork, and economy that will provide a
steadily rising standard of living. Wewant a stable economy which will avoid the
disasters of inflation and deflation. Weknow the moves that must be made,

(02:27):
and all of you must play yourpart. Every man in government is still
at battle station as far as reconversionis concerned. There will be no let
up until our men and women areback at work in steady peacetime jobs.
Civilion goods like ironers are already tricklingfrom factories, and shortly, washing machines

(02:52):
and other luxuries we've missed will bepouring from the factories at nineteen forty two
presents, and soon you'll be ableto give at Jelapia well earned rest.
With gasigan plentiful, and with newcars and new tires on the way,
America will be rolling with a prewar flourish Yes Cars, Radio's vacuum Cleaners,
Nylon's juicy Stakes. It sounds almostlike a dream. I'm in Hurli.

(03:17):
He join me next time. TheWorld War Two Chronicles. World War
Two Chronicles was produced by the AmericanVeterans Center and Radio America in cooperation with
the National Archives. To listen tomore episodes, subscribe on iTunes, or
visit American Veterans Center dot org.We need your help to keep the legacy

(03:42):
of our World War Two generation alive. Visit American Veterans Center dot org to
make a donation to support World WarTwo Chronicles and the ongoing work of the
American Veterans Center.