A ‘teeming mass of humanity’ celebrated V-J Day in Harrisburg, vintage photos

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

The beginning of the end of World War II came on Aug. 15, 1945, (it was Aug. 14 here) when Japan surrendered to the Allies just days after the United States dropped atomic bombs three days apart on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As World War II was entering its sixth year, Nazi Germany had surrendered in May but the Japanese refused to accept the terms of surrender.

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

The United States called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945. Failure to comply would result in “prompt and utter destruction,” according to history.com.

A uranium atomic bomb called "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. The "Fat Man" plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9.

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

On Aug. 15, Japan surrendered to the Allies - Emperor Hirohito went on national radio and announced Japan’s unconditional surrender.

When the surrender was announced, celebrations erupted around the world - and in Harrisburg.

In the evening on Aug. 15, a celebration erupted in Market Square.

V-J Day celebration in Harrisburg, Pa., 1945

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

The front page of the newspaper had a huge headline across the top of the front page – “PACIFIC WAR ENDS”

“JAPAN ACCEPTS TERMS OF UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER”

“CITY WILD OVER NEWS; MARCH IN VICTORY PARADE”

Harrisburg joined the Nation and the world in its happiest and wildest celebration in history last night.

Within minutes after President Truman announced from Washington that World War II had officially ended, the central section of the city was a teeming mass of humanity.

Traffic was virtually at a standstill in the Downtown area but moved rapidly through all other parts of the city as auto horns, whistles, bells and every other noise-making device was called into play.

With every tick of the clock, persons from outside towns and within the city began to pour into the business section to join the celebrators while others with an aversion to being pushed and shoved according to a crowd’s will, quietly sat at home and offered prayers of thanksgiving for this long awaited moment.

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

Stores in the Downtown section, with the exception of several restaurants, were all closed within a half hour after the announcement was made that victory in the Pacific had been won.

Many proprietors closed to allow their own employees a chance to join in the celebration. Others who hadn’t intended to close did so to protect their property from hilarious crowds which knew no bounds in enthusiasm.

Virtually all big industrial plants released night shift workers soon after learning the war was over. The ranks of workers thinned out quickly at other places where no plans were made to celebrate the victory.

Men, women and children alike seemed momentarily stunned when they first heard the news but soon let out with hearty shouts of joy.

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

Romance bloomed spontaneously on virtually all streets as servicemen showed kisses on girls and women with their grasp. And it didn’t take the males in civvies long to do the honors with WAVES and WACS who happened along.

Street vendors appeared seemingly from out of nowhere with large boxes of toy cardboard horns which they sold for 25 cents and up, perhaps two or three times the normal price.

WAVES - Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service - from Mechanicsburg Naval Supply Depot march past the reviewing stand on North Third Street in Harrisburg on V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

For some, however, V-J Day is on Sept. 2, 1945, the day that Japan formally signed the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri.

On Sept. 3, 1945, The Patriot reported on both the signing and the massing of the U.S. First Calvary Division south of Tokyo awaiting an order from Gen. Douglas MacArthur “to march into the city. Behind them were poised an estimated 1,500,000 men who will sweep into Japan immediately to enforce the terms of Japan’s unconditional surrender, signed yesterday sullen representatives of Emperor Hirohito.”

Aboard the USS Missouri, representatives of the 10 Allied nations “were bedecked in uniforms of varied colors.

“The naval and air might of the victors was to be seen and heard. Hundreds of carrier planes of the United States Third Fleet, led by 45 Superfortresses, passed low overhead in perfect formation.”

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

Harrisburg celebrates V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1945. (From The Patriot-News archives)

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