President Harry S. Truman announced the unconditional surrender of Japan at 7 p.m. on Aug. 14, 1945, addressing reporters gathered at the White House. The news sent millions of American and Allied troops and civilians out into streets around the world to celebrate, though the Japanese didn’t formally sign surrender documents ending World War II until Sept. 2. Americans celebrate victory over Japan, or V-J Day, on this date; in Great Britain, V-J Day is Aug. 15, which was when the announcement arrived in the United Kingdom.