Servicemen and Women Rejoice as Peace Announced in Paris, August 1945

American service men and women show profound joy and relief on their faces as they celebrate VJ-Day in Paris. The newspaper they are holding is the Stars and Strips EXTRA announcing the war is over. Many of these personnel were scheduled to be shipped to the Pacific, but the use of the atomic bomb and Japan's surrender put and end to that impending duty. World War II was finally over.

The photo was taken by a U.S. Army Signal Corps photographer on 15 August 1945 in front of the 'Rainbow Corner' Red Cross club in Paris as crowds gathered to celebrate the unconditional surrender of the Japanese.

The original U.S. Army Signal Corps number is on the lower right of the photo.

Today in WW II: 17 Sep 1939 Soviet troops invade Poland from the east. More ↓

17 Sep 1944 Thousands of Allied planes begin airborne assault on Holland, Operation Market Garden.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.