| Original caption: “President Truman sits before a microphone, holding his speech, at the White House, Washington, DC, May 8, 1945, after he had finished reading his announcement to the nation that Allied Armies have won unconditional surrender from the German forces on all fronts.” On Victory in Europe Day, United States Preisdent Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) had been President 2 days less than 4 weeks. Early that morning, he wrote his mother Martha Ellen Young Truman (November 25, 1852 – July 26, 1947) and his sister, Mary J. Truman (Auguat 12, 1889 – November 3, 1978), about the end of the European war and added, “Isn’t that some birthday present?” At 0815 Hours, the cabinet gathered at the White House to hear the President announce the victory in Europe. 20 minutes later, Truman, surrounded by dignitaries, met the press in the Executive Office. Following the press conference, at 0900 Hours, Truman-surrounded by his wife Elizabeth V. Wallace “Bess” Truman (February 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982) and daughter Mary M. Truman (February 17, 1924 – January 29, 2008), members of the cabinet and Congress, and top American and British military leaders – broadcast to the nation over a battery of microphones. The Boston Globe carried the United Press coverage of his statement by correspondent Frederick C. Othman (March 19, 1905 – December 27, 1958) “Wife and Daughter With Truman as He Reads Statement to Press.” “Washington, May 8 (United Press) – President Truman made history this rainy morning in his Oval Office, reading his proclamation not only to an extra-early press conference, but to his cabinet, congressional leaders, and his family.” “Then he read it to the nation from the broadcasting room in the Executive Office basement. To the assembled reporters, Administration leaders, Missus Truman, and their daughter, the President’s remarks probably sounded even better than they did to the radio audience. He interpolated some extra and exuberant observations as he went along.” “Rain was falling in a downpour, but the apple-green office was brilliantly lighted, not only by electricity, but by the Presidential smile. Truman stood in his double-breasted black suit, shirt with hard collar, and sober blue tie. He remarked that he didn’t want his words released until after 0900 Hours, and said he thought he’d better read his proclamation. He said not to worry. It would take only seven minutes.” “‘The flags of freedom fly all over Europe,’ he began.” “Then he smiled and added that something else was being celebrated, too – his birthday; his sixty-first.” “He went on reading. Then he said he had another little release, a small document which would give the Jap[anese] some idea of what they can expect from now on.” “The Allies, Truman said, are turning loose upon them the greatest war machine in the history of the world. As he talked, he was forced to blink. The photographer stood on chairs around the rear of the room and recorded the historic moment on celluloid. Their photo-flash lamps made a series of flashes, like a streetcar trolley on an icy wire.” “The President looked up from his manuscript, said he’d been ready for this announcement since a week ago Saturday, and announced soberly that America has enormous problems before her. He used the Hollywood word – terrific – and he spoke it soberly.” “He said we could make the world a happy place in which to live, or we could ruin it, depending on whether we worked with our Allies in peace as we have in war. Then he took up his script again:” “‘The victory won in the west,’ he said, ‘must now be won in the east.’” “He thought a moment and said he hoped that this thought could be emphasized time after time.” Back to his speech, he read the phrase: ‘The dictators once thought us soft and weak.’” “And he wondered, he said with a smile, what the Germans think about us now.” “Next Sunday, he said, would be dedicated to prayer; particularly appropriate, too, he added, because it is Mothers’ Day.” “Truman said that he’d sent congratulatory cables to [United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill (November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965)], Marshal Stalin and [Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, United States Army General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969)] and [General Charles de Gaulle (November 22, 1890 – November 9, 1970), Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic]. He started to read them, but settled for the one to Eisenhower, when White House Press Secretary Jonathan W. Daniels (April 26, 1902 – November 6, 1981) interrupted to say he’d better get to his microphone downstairs. The clock said 0857 Hours.” President Truman’s radio remarks were printed alongside Othman’s article: “This is a solemn but a glorious hour. Gen Eisenhower informs me that the forces of Germany have surrendered to the United Nations. The flags of reason fly over all Europe. I only wish that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day.” For this victory, we join in offering our thanks to the Providence that has guided and sustained us through the dark days of adversity. Our rejoicing is sobered and subdued by a supreme consciousness of the terrible price we have paid to rid the world of Hitler and his evil band.” “Let us not forget, my fellow Americans, the sorrow and heartbreak which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors – neighbors whose most priceless possession has been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty. We can repay the debt which we owe to our God, to our dead and to our children only by work — by ceaseless devotion to the responsibilities which lie ahead of us. If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is – work, work, work.” “We must work to finish the war.” “Our victory is but half-won. The West is free, but the East is still in bondage to the treacherous tyranny of the Japanese. When the last Japanese division has surrendered unconditionally, then only will our fighting job be done.” “I call upon every American to stick to his post until the last battle is won. Until that day, let no man abandon his post or slacken his efforts.” “And now, I want to read to you my formal proclamation of this occasion.” “President Truman’s Proclamation Designating Sunday, May 13, 1945, as a Day of Prayer By the President of the United States of America.” “A proclamation:” “The Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with God’s help, have won from Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The western world has been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions of freeborn men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, corrupted their children, and murdered their loved ones. Our armies of liberation have restored freedom to these suffering peoples, whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave.” “Much remains to be done. The victory won in the west must now be won in the east. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which half the world has been freed. United, the peace-loving nations have demonstrated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than the might of dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once called us soft and weak. The power of our peoples to defend themselves against all enemies will be proved in the Pacific as it has been proved in Europe.” “For the triumph of spirit and of arms which we have won, and for its promise to peoples everywhere who join us in the love of freedom, it is fitting that we, as a nation, give thanks to Almighty God, Who has strengthened us and given us the victory.” “Now, therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America, do hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945, to be a day of prayer.” “I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present struggle and guide us into the way of peace.” “I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our victory.” “In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed.” “Done at the city of Washington this eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1945, and of the independence of the United States of America the 169th.” Harry S. Truman. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0902.jpg |
| Image Size | 148.31 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1300 x 967 |
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| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 8, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Washington |
| State or Province | District of Columbia |
| Country | United States |
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| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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