# VJ Day (1945)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1945-vj-day
Categories: main-event

Japan's surrender ended the Second World War. Within the broader Early 20th Century & World Wars period, mass democracy, the two world wars, Irish partition, economic crisis and the rise of Labour remade the political and social order. This event is placed at 15 August 1945 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. Britain emerged victorious but financially exhausted and facing rapid imperial and social change.

## Why it matters
Britain emerged victorious but financially exhausted and facing rapid imperial and social change.

Ruler at the time: [George VI](https://english-history.com/rulers/george-vi)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — VJ Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=VJ+Day&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — VJ Day](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=VJ+Day)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history)
- [The National Archives — twentieth-century resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)