Week 314B - The End of World War Two - WW2 - September 2, 1945

The Japanese sign the official document of surrender and the Second World War is over. There are still some Japanese garrisons yet to surrender, but they begin doing so one after the other. However, war is not over- and there is serious foreboding for future events in places like Vietnam and China - where Mao Zedong is meeting with Chiang Kai-Shek, even as Josef Stalin lurks in the background to secure Soviet interests no matter which Chinese regime comes out on top.

00:00 INTRO
00:59 VIETNAM DECLARES INDEPENDENCE
04:04 THE IMPORTANCE OF MANCHURIA
06:28 JAPAN’S SURRENDER
11:22 THE FINAL SURRENDERS
13:18 CASUALTIES
15:50 THE END

Follow WW2 Day by Day on Instagram: @ww2_day_by_day
Follow TimeGhost History on Instagram: @timeghosthistory

Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Director: Astrid Deinhard
Producers: Astrid Deinhard and Spartacus Olsson
Executive Producers: Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Marek Kamiński
Community Management: Jake McCluskey
Written by: Indy Neidell
Research by: Indy Neidell
Map animations by: Daniel Weiss
Map research by: Sietse Kenter
Edited by: Iryna Dulka
Artwork and color grading by: Mikołaj Uchman
Sound design by: Marek Kamiński
Colorizations by:
Mikołaj Uchman
Iryna Dulka

Image sources:
Japanese Surrender in Color - George F. Kosco, Naval History and Heritage Command, Photographic Section

Soundtracks from Epidemic Sound:
Easy Target - Rannar Sillard
The Story Begins - Hampus Naeselius
Run and Hide - Philip Ayers
The New World - Dream Cave
Heroes On Horses - Gunnar Johnsén
Sense of Betrayal - Experia
Horn - DEX 1200
Secret Life of Clouds - Infinity Ripple
Keep Your Feet Moving - Experia
Deviation In Time - Johannes Bornlof

A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

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[WorldWarTwo]

Well gang, that's it! Six years and one day of chronological coverage of the Second World War each and every week! It's been a long time, it's been a pain in the ass, but it's been an awesome project, and all of us at TimeGhost can point at it for the rest of our lives with pride. Whether you've been with us for the entire ride or just recently joined in, I have nothing but love and thanks for all the support from everyone out there over these years. I can't lie; I'll miss the work on this massive project, but there are other projects out there that await (and it's not like we're gonna run out of wars to cover any time soon), so I shall continue looking to the future, for it is there I'll continue reporting the past. Excelsior!

[justinmueller]

Here we are gentlemen, it's been an honor serving with you.

[livewildeatwild]

My grandpa was aboard the USS Iowa in Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed - SeaBee Ed Larson. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Iowa during WW2 as the inaugural crew as a gunner on a 20mm anti air battery and SeaBee. He was an extremely soft spoken farmer from a small town in Idaho. Years later, he went on a tour of his old boat with his grandkids and great grandkids. He didn't make a big show of it, but word got out that he was on the boat and that made it up to the CO, who came to meet him. He said "Sir, this boat is more yours than mine. Anywhere you want to go, you have full access to your ship." They then made an announcement across the intercom to announce to everyone that one of the ORIGINAL crew was on board. Every single sailor had such reverence and respect for him during that visit.

The one part of the war that he did like to talk about was the surrender on Sept 2nd 1945. He climbed up to the crows nest on the Iowa, and was able to witness firsthand the surrender in Tokyo Bay aboard the Missouri that was parked right next to the Iowa. He lived to the ripe old age of 98 and passed away in 2022. He was married for 76 years to his sweetheart he met while on leave during the war, and then went on to have 4 kids, 25 grandkids, 68 great grandkids, and 1 great great grandchild.

At his funeral as I was listening to the memories, and then the sailors playing his last farewell, I remembered the ending scene from Saving Private Ryan. "Earn this". Ed was a man that truly did earn his life after making it out of a horrific war, and made the most of his days. He raised a great family, was a great husband, and truly loved and worked hard for everyone in his life. Even though he retired before I was even born, he was always a busy guy, playing at least a round of golf once a week into his mid 90s, and would go fishing at his favorite river by himself all the time. Woodworking was one of his favorite things to do, and "Ed's Shed" produced dozens upon dozens of kids toys for his grandkids, great grandkids, and kids all over where he would donate toys anywhere he could. I had the honor of restoring a cradle he had made that my wife was rocked in as a baby, that I was then able to rock my son to sleep in. After my grandma passed last year and we were cleaning out their house, I inherited many of his tools from Ed's Shed, including two of his axes. I'll be restoring them soon to further honor him.

Thank you, truly, for producing this series. It has made a profound impact on everyone that viewed it.

[JerkerMontelius]

This series is one of the absolute high points of the internet.

[conormacneill]

And so it ends. Gentlemen, it’s been an honor and a privilege to follow this series with you.

[scottsmith]

Did anyone else find someone suddenly chopping onions when Indy was getting choked up thanking everyone? It has been a pleasure ladies and gentlemen, some weeks when there hasn't felt like much else to look forward to, there has always been the weekly episodes and specials to keep my spirits buoyed.

[ColburnFreml]

My son wasn't born when this series started. He goes to kindergarten tomorrow. The scale of the war is so much more full now in my mind. Thank you all for making this possible, the crew and the supporters. This was great!

[belvele]

"I'm Indy Neidell, that was World War 2." Couldn't have ended the series a better way. Thank you Timeghost History. It's been on heck of a ride.

[abushix]

I found the Great War eight years ago when Indy broke down the Battlefield 1 trailer and have watched practically every weekly and special episode since. Back then, I was 19 and had just finished my freshman year of college. Now, I’m 28 and have since graduated, moved away, started my career as an accountant, became a homeowner, got married, and am two semesters away from finishing my MBA. Thank you Indy and team for your dedication to the covering both World Wars and I am looking forward to watching your future projects.

[Idekwtph]

I was a Junior in High School Algebra when I saw the notification for the first episode. I was starting my first job when France fell in 1940. We were locked away from Covid when Barbarossa started. My first relationship ended when the Germans were at Moscow. I started college when Stalingrad was surrounded. I visited Europe for the first time when the Battle of Kursk happened. I started a new job when the Allies landed at Anzio, and made more friends in my life than ever before since the Germans surrendered. And now my life is opening to new possibilities and opportunities as the war is over. It’s incredible how time goes by when you experience it at the same time as the Second World War went by. Thank you to everyone who put this together. You have no idea how much this series has meant and how much it’s been a part of me.

[dorrin]

I've been with you since 2015. I remember getting emotional at "I'm Indy Neidel. That was the Great War."

Thanks for another amazing ride!

[VictorZitacuaro-zvdh]

Joined the Marine Corps when I started this chanel. I was 18. Now im 24 and my son just turned 3 months. I would listen to these episodes in the field or while on duty. What a journey this was!

[BarryH]

The GREATEST documentary of World War II of all time. NOBODY could ever top this. The detail, the research, the drama. Thank you Indy, Spartacus and Astrid for all you have done to bring history to life for everyone. This series should be declared a national treasure for all historians and students.

[williamcastillo]

When this started six years ago, I was recently divorced, heavily depressed, and on the verge of suicide. I almost lost my children in the custody battle and had no direction. Six years later, I have an amazing career. I’m about to buy a house and I’m on the path to mental health recovery. Each one of these episodes helped me week and week out. My boys still have a father because of this channel, this channel gave me that extra push when I really needed it. I wish I could’ve contributed more monetarily, and helped you guys as much as you helped me. It’s been an honor watching this with all of you. God bless.

[manofarms]

Been here since The Great War. A masterclass on what academic historical work on the internet can and should be. You all are nothing short of inspiring.

[CatnicImprover]

I discovered this channel six years ago when I was single and had just been diagnosed with cancer, and now I’m watching this episode as a married man with my six month old son asleep on my chest. We’ve all come a long way.

Onwards and upwards! I’m sure there’s still much better to come.

[rosswebster]

Three cheers for Indy, Spartacus, Astrid, Anna, Sebastian, and all of the Time Ghost Crew for six incredible years of this landmark series!! I also raise my glass to all of you who've been following WWII from the beginning.

[danepatterson]

I wish I could afford more. You have produced a master work like nothing ever seen before. It follows in footsteps, now forever larger, of series like The Second World War. I did not miss one single week. My thanks to your tremendous team. This was the best series of my lifetime.

[BubblewrapHighway]

I am so impressed with this channel. It was an absolute honor. -disabled U.S. Army Intel veteran, grandson of a Korean War veteran

[DavidWLavoie]

Has it really been six years? I was living with my parents unemployed after dropping out of my PhD program when this series began, and know I am married with a baby boy on the way and have an amazing job. It's truly incredible to think about how much my life has changed during the length of time that this war has been going on, and even having context for how much time was between the big events like Pearl Harbor and D-Day. Thank you for all of this incredible work Indy + Team, it has really meant alot to me.