Woonsocket in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
World War II Ends
May 1945 & September 1945
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 27, 2022
1. World War II Ends Marker
On April 30, 1945 Adolf Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker as Berlin crumbled above under a massive Soviet onslaught.
German forces had been surrendering piecemeal in the field for several weeks to the Western Allies (British and American) but on May 7, 1945 the German High Command in the person of General Alfred Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of all German forces. The following day was declared V-E (Victory in Europe) Day.
For fear of casualties exceeding 1,000,000 with an invasion of the Japanese home islands, President Harry S. Truman ordered the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) to try to force Japan to capitulate. On August 15, 1945 Japanese Emperor Hirohito went on national radio for the first time to announce Japan's surrender. The formal surrender ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay on the deck of the battleship U.S.S. Missouri on September 2, 1945.
World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history with total casualties estimated between 70 and 85 million. The Soviet total of military and civilian deaths alone stands at 27 million. The United States suffered 417,000 military deaths in the conflict.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 30, 1945.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this memorial is in the Blackstone Valley and in Greater Providence. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Battle of the Bulge (here, next to this marker); Battle of Stalingrad (here, next to this marker); General George S. Patton, Jr. (here, next to this marker); D-Day (here, next to this marker); Battle of Midway (here, next to this marker); Pearl Harbor (here, next to this marker); Major John T. Godfrey (here, next to this marker); Battle of Britain (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woonsocket.
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 27, 2022
2. World War II Ends Marker
Photographed by Michael Herrick, April 27, 2022
3. Markers at the American Legion Fairmount Post 85 Veterans Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 6, 2022, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
