Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Japanese Official Surrender


Okay, it is not a map. However, as a follow-up to a post about the Japanese surrender several weeks ago, I believe this photo is appropriate for today (actually two days ago, can't believe I missed it). September 2, 1945 marked the end of the Second World War. At the cost of an estimated 50 million lives the world could once again live in relative peace. While many people believe all WW2 photographs are black & white, a surprising number of color photos exist. Here the somber Japanese delegation boards the USS Missouri for the signing of documents officially ending the war. Contrary to Japanese belief, the Allied powers did not eliminate the Emperor but instead helped Japan rebuild into one of the great industrial nations of the latter half of the twentieth century.