Crews on Tinian Island loaded the atomic bomb 'Fat Man' aboard a B-29, one day before it would fall on Nagasaki.

The B-29 Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb 'Little Boy' on Hiroshima, killing an estimated 70,000 people instantly and tens of thousands more from radiation.

The first news photographs and reports of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima reached the world, one day after the blast.

Allied firebombing raids destroyed much of Nagoya, Japan, including the centuries-old Nagoya Castle and its famous golden shachihoko ornaments.

The Soviet Union declared war on Japan, honoring its Yalta pledge, and prepared to launch a massive invasion of Manchuria within hours of the declaration.

The US dropped a plutonium bomb, 'Fat Man', on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 instantly and tens of thousands more from injuries and radiation.

One day after the Nagasaki bombing, Japan's government transmitted its willingness to surrender to the Allies, provided Emperor Hirohito's status was preserved.

Emperor Hirohito informed the Japanese people of surrender in a radio broadcast, while President Truman announced Japan's capitulation to the world, ending World War II.

Emperor Hirohito's surrender broadcast, recorded the day before, aired to the Japanese public, and Allied nations celebrated VJ Day as World War II officially ended.

Sukarno proclaimed Indonesian independence from Japanese and Dutch rule in Jakarta, launching a four-year war against returning Dutch colonists.

Aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japanese officials signed the instrument of surrender, formally ending World War II.

Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam independent in Hanoi, quoting the American Declaration of Independence to a crowd of 500,000.