when did the second world war end

The Second World War ended in 1945, but historians usually distinguish between its end in Europe and its end in Asia.

Quick Scoop: Key Dates

• In Europe , the war effectively ended on 8 May 1945 , when Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender came into force, a date marked as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day.

• Because of time zones, the Soviet Union and some Eastern European countries celebrate this as 9 May 1945.

• In the Pacific , the war ended with Japan’s surrender : Japan announced it would surrender on 15 August 1945 (often called V-J Day), and the formal signing of the surrender documents took place on 2 September 1945 aboard the USS Missouri.

If you just need one simple answer for “when did the Second World War end,” many textbooks use 1945 , with the formal, worldwide end often given as 2 September 1945 , when Japan signed the surrender and global hostilities officially ceased.

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