August 9, 2018 (Thursday)
On Monday we wrote about the atom bomb that destroyed the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later on this date, August 9, 1945, an even bigger bomb hit a second city, Nagasaki. That was 73 years ago.
The Japanese leaders had sworn to resist an Allied Forces invasion and fight until millions more from all sides would die. Ultimately, however, those Japanese leaders who advocated surrender prevailed and the war ended. Surrender was announced on August 15, and official documents ending the war were signed on September 2, 1945. Victory had been achieved in Europe on May 8, 1945. (The Soviets had a separate celebration on May 9).
Adolph Hitler had planned to rule the world, but he ended his own life with suicide April 30, 1945. The Japanese Emperor had been considered a god, but announced that he was no longer to be thought of in that way.
In Europe World War II had begun shortly after the end of World War I with the rise of the Nazi party. Adolph Hitler became the party leader in 1921. He was appointed Chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg on January 30, 1933. Hitler rapidly established a totalitarian regime known as the Third Reich. He annexed Austria, then demanded and was given control of Czechoslovakia. He invaded Poland September 1, 1939. By the time the United States entered the war in late 1941, most of Western Europe was under Nazi occupation, Great Britain was being bombed but was adamantly refusing to surrender to the Nazis who were planning invasion of the island nation.
In Japan World War II effectively started with their invasion of China July 7, 1937. After they attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, America declared war on Japan and all the Axis powers. A Japanese Admiral was quoted as saying his country had “awakened a sleeping giant.” History proved his statement to be correct.
Victory in Europe was celebrated on “VE Day,” and victory over Japan with “VJ Day.” The war was now officially over. Occupation forces took control and the nations involved began rebuilding the infrastructure and restructuring their governments.
America fought against Germany and Japan, but here we are in 2018 and they are allies of the United States. Tensions exist in the world and diplomacy has replaced actual warfare in most places, with some exceptions where world peace is threatened by autocratic and tyrannous governments. Trouble is always brewing somewhere in the world.
Our country seeks peace and works to that end throughout the world. World War II is over, but we have had other wars since, and we face enemies on all sides. It has become evident that the quest for peace among men is never-ending.