The Global Significance of V-J Day
This historic moment sparked massive celebrations worldwide—from Times Square to Piccadilly Circus—with spontaneous dancing, ticker-tape parades, and emotional. Yet, amidst joy, many people conveyed a complex mix of relief, cautious hope, and lingering uncertainty.
Commemorations Today
In the UK, the 80th anniversary on 15 August 2025 is being marked with a national two-minute silence at midday. At the National Memorial Arboretum, a ceremony hosted by the Royal British Legion, featuring a Red Arrows flypast, historic aircraft, and around 400 Armed Forces personnel will be broadcast live on BBC. Find out more here.
Resources to support in teaching about V-J Day
Use primary sources—eyewitness interviews, photographs and news reports—to help students experience the immediate impact of the war’s end.
· The Imperial War Museum’s Voices of War includes first hand audio accounts that reveal the emotional nuances of V-J Day.
· The Commonwealth War Graves Commission presents Voices of Veterans – VJ Day 80 giving access to personal stories of soldiers who fought in the Far East.
· Eden Camp Modern History Museum has a range of articles and resources on WWII including this V-J Day article.
· Global Perspectives: Around the world nations will be marking V-J Day to remember the part their soldiers and citizens played in the Far East. Discover how the USA reflects on V-J Day at the National WWII Museum. In Australia it’s known as Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day Or, you can encourage exploration of how different nations—the Philippines, Vietnam, the Netherlands, and others—mark V-J Day and similar moments of liberation.
Why Remember V-J Day in Schools?
· It affirms the value of peace and the tremendous cost of global conflict.
· Personal accounts help students connect emotionally to history, not just memorize dates.
· Discussing varied international perspectives fosters inclusive and comparative understanding.
V-J Day stands as both a milestone of triumph and a moment layered with personal, social, and political complexity. By bridging historic reflection with personal stories and diverse narratives, educators have a rich opportunity to cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and a global historical awareness in their students.
