Until 2020, this memorable date was celebrated on September 2 For many years, residents of the vast Soviet Union triumphantly celebrated Victory Day on May 9, with full confidence that this particular date marked the end of World War II But history gives a different date, claiming that the most merciless war of the 20th century ended in more than 3 months, and this happened not in captured Berlin, but in distant Tokyo Bay The Act of Complete and Unconditional Surrender of Japan was signed on board the US Navy battleship The documents even record the exact time - 9 hours 4 minutes Tokyo time This was the moment when the act was signed by the Chief of Military Staff and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Further, the most important document was signed by representatives of 9 allied countries, including America, Great Britain, and the USSR Immediately after the Japanese surrender, this day was declared a memorable day in all Soviet republics To mark the end of the World War, a solemn military parade was even held in Khabarovsk But a few years later, the significance of the September date faded, the day became a working day and was not declared a holiday, although the contribution of the Soviet troops to the victory over Japan was enormous The Land of the Rising Sun was such a formidable enemy that the United States used atomic bombs for the first time to intimidate, completely destroying two Japanese cities The troops of the Soviet Union began their offensive on August 9, and 10 days later the Japanese military surrendered en masse As a result of the defeat of the Kwantung Army, Japan lost its material and military base and real forces, the war was over as soon as possible