How Christians responded to the tip of World War Two in 1945

Eighty years ago, VJ Day was celebrated by Christians across the land but not many individuals know that it wasn’t until 2 September 1945 that Japan signed the official instrument of give up. This is the story …

VJ Day 1945

Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945, which led to the tip of war in Europe. This was called VE Day. However, even after Germany’s defeat, her ally Japan kept fighting within the Far East and the war had not ended. 

Arrangements

In anticipation of the upcoming end of the war, initially of August, the British Home Office had sent a circular to local authorities advising them that arrangements should usually follow the practice of VE Day. 

Whenever the day of declaring victory was to be, the next two days were to be declared bank holidays as Peace Celebration days. Places of labor weren’t to open, except shops which were permitted to open to sell supplies, but close early. Bunting could possibly be sold without coupons as long as it didn’t cost greater than 1/3 per square yard. One stipulation was that church bells were allowed to ring.

Announcement 

American President Harry S Truman announced the news of the Japanese give up at a press conference on the White House on 14 August 1945. At midnight that day and into the opening minutes of 15 August 1945, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee spoke to the general public in an unscheduled radio broadcast and said, “Japan has today surrendered … The last of our enemy is laid low. Peace has once more come to the world.” In London crowds who were still up and awake gathered in Piccadilly Circus. Meanwhile outside London most individuals were asleep. 15 August 1945 was called Victory over Japan Day, to mark the tip of hostilities. Today people talk of VJ Day but actually there have been two days of celebration which continued into September. Wednesday 15 August was often called VJ1, and Thursday 16 August was often called VJ2. Sometimes people talked of those being marked by the three Bs “bands, bonfires and bells”.

VJ1

Across much of Britain the morning of Wednesday 15 August was drizzly, and most of the people woke up not knowing the news. Some read the news within the newspaper. Many people turned up at work only to be turned away. Some went to the local railway station to get the train to work and browse an announcement on the station which helped them avoid a useless journey. As news quickly got round, people queued up to purchase supplies for parties, and food, bunting and fireworks all sold out. Long queues wound around the streets as people tried to beat the early closing at noon. 

Street Parties

Houses were decorated with bunting and flags of the Allies. Hurriedly arranged parties were held across the land, often in streets or within the grounds of huge houses. Typically, there was a banquet, followed by singing and dancing, a bonfire with fireworks, and kids got a commemorative beaker or a small sum of money.  

With parties being held on different days, some children managed to attend a couple of party. In the local towns small street parties were held for dozens of kids, but in villages there have been village-wide events. 

Parties were often followed by races and games, and lots of fancy-dress competitions. At the tip children were typically given a VJ beaker with a shilling in it, and sometimes a goody bag with sweets or fruit. 

In the evening after dusk there was a bonfire, followed by dancing and community singing. In some places the party went on for 2 or more days and there was a carnival atmosphere, especially when local soldiers and troops joined in. Typically parties ended with the singing of the National Anthem “God Save the King”, and “Auld Lang Syne” to symbolically mark the beginning of a latest era of peace.

Churches

In many towns the churches were symbolically floodlit with the military search lights which had previously been used to hunt out enemy aircraft. Churches got specific permission to ring bells, which were forbidden to be rung within the war. The bells had also rung on VE Day, and the sound of church bells had turn into a really symbolic sound indicating peace. 

On the evening of Wednesday 15 August 1945, people thronged to special quickly organised united Christian services. In towns there could be one within the parish Anglican church and one in the most important free church, or if it were a village, then one within the church and one within the chapel. Prayers of thanksgiving were offered, and folks sang in sheer joy.

King’s Speech 

In the evening of VJ Day at 9pm, King George VI, who had a robust Christian faith himself, gave a speech on the wireless. Some listened at home and in different places groups gathered round a wireless or a speaker to hearken to him. 

Reflecting on the impact of the war, the king reflected: “Japan has surrendered, so allow us to take part thanking Almighty God that war has ended throughout the world…”  

He went on to say: “Our hearts are full to overflowing, as are your individual. Yet there isn’t one in all us who has experienced this terrible war who doesn’t realise that we will feel its inevitable consequences long after we now have all forgotten our rejoicings today.” The end of his speech was the cue to begin a big bonfire and lightweight fireworks.

Bonfires

In the evening there have been bonfires on the hills and countryside of Britain, with celebrations ending at midnight, and sometimes beyond.

VJ2

For many the VJ1 was too short notice to organise a giant event, so some parties were organised for the following day. Thursday, which was often called VJ2, was a shiny sunny day in most places. Where street parties had not been organised on VJ1 they often happened on VJ2. Sometimes people wheeled out a piano or someone found an accordion resulting in dancing and singing. In some villages events began with a special service of thanksgiving on the village church. 

Sunday after VJ Day

On Sunday 19 August 1945, after VJ1 and VJ2 days, the Sunday services at most churches were of a thanksgiving nature. For some ministers who had their ministry for the reason that outbreak of war, it was the primary service that they had taken in peacetime. Typically, services included prayers of gratitude for peace, remembrance for the fallen, and supplications for lasting reconciliation and a just peace. 

In some churches remarkable testimonies of survival or answered prayer got. Churches prayed not just for the families of those that had died or been wounded – most Christians rejoiced in peace but didn’t gloat in victory. They also prayed and preached about forgiveness and mutual reconciliation, including with former enemies (Matthew 5:44).

Official Surrender on 2 September 1945

The actual give up of Japan was not formally signed until 2 September 1945, which officially ended the Second World War. This was a cause for more parties, prayer meetings, and celebrations.

The Japanese give up was marked by a solemn ceremony aboard the US Navy battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The event began at 9am with a speech by General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Allied Commander. He had a robust Christian faith, and his speech spoke of justice, tolerance, and rebuilding after the war. During the American occupation of Japan, he instructed troops to be polite and well-behaved to realize the trust of the locals, and he actively encouraged Christian missionaries to go to Japan, and lots of did.

Welcoming latest people

For many German and Italian prisoners of war within the UK, in addition to refugees and displaced individuals from places like Ukraine, the UK became their latest home as their homelands were devastated, or lay under a communist regime that they had no desire to live under.  

For many Jewish refugees from places like Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia there have been no families left to welcome them, and so they stayed.  

For much of the Polish community their homelands of former Eastern Poland were now conquered territories within the redrawn borders of the Soviet Union which that they had no appetite to live in. 

Just as Christians had responded after VE Day, so after VJ Day Christians were on the forefront of welcoming these people. Many latest Catholic churches were began, especially for the big numbers of Italians and Poles who now called Britain home.

Inter-church relations

For Christians, the Second World War helped the ecumenical movement by fostering a latest spirit of Christian unity. This was rooted within the shared suffering, humanitarian co-operation, and a collective desire for peace and reconciliation.  

Ministers who had served as military chaplains now returned to their pulpits, and located themselves with former chaplain friends across denominational boundaries. Ordinary Christians who served together within the military had got used to attending ecumenical chapel services on bases.

Rebuilding after the war

Many Americans stayed in England at the various air bases to assist with moving displaced people, rebuilding Europe, after which with the approaching Cold War with events just like the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949. Christians on American bases formed Gospel Teams which played a vital part encouraging British evangelicals.