Post VJ-Day August 1945

(Pacific)

On the 16^th August 1945, the day after VJ-Day, “Emperor Hirohito” issued an order for all Japanese forces to cease fire. Simultaneously the Japanese cabinet resigned therefore acknowledging the Second World War was over. The one exception to “Hirohito’s” order, was an intelligence officer, Hiroo Onoda who refused to believe the was over.  For nearly thirty years he conducted a guerrilla war on Lubang Island in the Philippines and living mostly off the land. He refused to surrender when contacted in 1974 until he was relieved of duty by his former commanding officer. Upon returning to Japan he received a hero’s welcome and afterwards led an interesting life and died at the age of 91 in 2014.

Prior to taking over command of the Japanese government, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur issued General Order No 1 on the 17^th August 1945. This order was approved by U.S. President Truman and announced at the Japanese Surrender Ceremony on the 2^nd September 1945. The order instructed, firstly, that all Japanese forces surrender to designated Allied commanders. Secondly that all military developments must be revealed and finally that all military equipment was to be preserved for later disarmament.

For over three years the British Crown colony of Hong Kong was occupied by Imperial Japan. The outnumbered British defenders, after fierce fighting, surrendered to the Japanese on the 25^th December 1941 and many thousands of defenders taken as prisoners-of-war. HMS Swiftsure, a light cruiser, entered Hong Kong harbour as flagship for the British Pacific Fleet. On the 30^0h August 1945 Swiftsure hoistedher flag to accept the Japanese surrender.

0n the 29^th August 1945 U.S. General MacArthur was ordered by his president to administer authority over the Japanese government in Tokyo. The task was duly carried out on the 31^st August 1945. American high command chose to allow the Japanese state to exist, which included “Emperor Hirohito”, would be ultimately under U.S. control. While the majority of Allies wanted “Hirohito” to step down and face war criminal charges, MacArthur disagreed and he argued that a cooperating “Hirohito” would establish a peaceful allied occupation. MacArthur created a plan for the emperor to be retained as a figurehead monarch and separated him from the militarists, therefore absolving him of any war crime activities. As “Hirohito” was always considered “God” by the Japanese population MacArthur was assured cooperation of the Japanese people. Anything that went wrong would automatically be blamed on the previous Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo.

(Other Theatres)

Norway was a neutral country prior to the German invasion of 1940. Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian military officer and politician who had fascist views regarding the Norwegian Jewish community. When Germany occupied Norway, Quisling washead of the country’s government as a Nazi collaborator. As well as participating in Germany’s war efforts the collaborationist government deported many Jews out of the country. Their destination was to concentration camps n occupied Poland, where most were killed. At the end of the Second World War in Europe, during the legal purge of the collaborationist government, Quisling was put on trial for war crimes. He was found guilty of high treason against the Norwegian State. The charges also included murder and embezzlement for which he was sentenced to death. Quisling was executed by firing squad on the 24^th October 1945.

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