Peace
Fails to persuade Hirohito to make peace
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1945 in Japan
Explore 119 historical events and records for Japan in 1945.
Historical records for Japan in 1945
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 119 unique records.
119Unique records
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31Named events on this page
21Named people on this page
8Places on this page
February
Defense of Iwo Jima
Kuribayashi holds much of his fire until American Marines are ashore, then opens a coordinated defense from concealed positions.
Naval Defense of Iwo Jima
Ichimaru commands the principal Japanese naval contingent defending Iwo Jima alongside Kuribayashi's army forces.
Tank Defense of Iwo Jima
Nishi commands the Twenty-Sixth Tank Regiment, whose vehicles are largely employed as fortified firing positions on Iwo Jima.
Battle of Manila
Suicidally chooses to destroy the Intramuros & loses over 16,000 Japanese dead. Manila is isolated from Yamashita main forces. Ignores Yamashitas orders not to defend the city
Bombing of Tokyo
The USA bombs Tokyo, 200,000 are killed
Capture of Japan
The US recapture Corregidor
Declaration of War
Stalin secretly agrees with Roosevelt & Churchill to fight Japan after German defeat
Neutrality
Japan approaches Russia, as neutrals, to arrange peace but receives no reply
Peace
Japan approaches Russia, as neutrals, to arrange peace but receives no reply
March
Bombing of Tokyo
2 million have been made homeless in Tokyo
Final Attack on Iwo Jima
Kuribayashi's remaining troops launch a final attack near the northern end of Iwo Jima before organized resistance ends.
Final Fighting on Iwo Jima
Ichimaru dies during the final phase of organized Japanese resistance on Iwo Jima.
Battle of Okinawa
After 3 months fighting 110,000 Japanese soldiers & 150,000 civilians died
Diplomatic Negotiations at Washington
Japan & the US begin negotiations to settle their differences
Peace
Decides because the navy & army will fight at Okinawa it is not a good time for peace
April
Defense in Depth on Okinawa
Yahara's operational planning emphasizes defense in depth, conservation of forces, and attritional fighting in southern Okinawa.
Defense of Okinawa
Ushijima allows the American landing to proceed largely unopposed while preserving his main forces in fortified southern positions.
Destroyer Escort in Ten-Go
Komura commands the destroyer screen accompanying Yamato and Yahagi on Operation Ten-Go.
Kikusui No. 1
Ugaki directs massed naval kamikaze operations as the first Kikusui attack strikes American forces off Okinawa.
Operation Ten-Go Departure
Ito leads Yamato and its escorts from Tokuyama on the one-way Operation Ten-Go sortie toward Okinawa.
Yahagi Sortie
Hara commands light cruiser Yahagi as it accompanies Yamato during Operation Ten-Go.
Yamato Sortie
Aruga commands battleship Yamato as it sails with the Surface Special Attack Force toward Okinawa.
Death of Seiichi Ito
Ito cancels the failed Ten-Go mission after catastrophic air attacks and dies aboard Yamato when the battleship sinks.
Loss of Yahagi
Hara survives the sinking of Yahagi after repeated American carrier-aircraft attacks during Operation Ten-Go.
Loss of Yamato
Aruga orders Yamato abandoned after uncontrollable flooding and remains aboard when the battleship capsizes and explodes.
Election
Holds Japans 1st post war election
Battle of Okinawa
Commands the Japanese defense HQ of 85,000 troops
Capture of Okinawa
US troops land on Okinawa Island
Neutrality
Russia informs Japan it will not renew the Sovietese neutrality pact
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
Appointed Prime Minister of Japan
Russia informs Japan it will not renew the Sovietese neutrality pact
Russia informs Japan it will not renew the Sovietese neutrality pact
May
Counterattack on Okinawa
Cho supports a major Japanese counteroffensive that leaves the Thirty-Second Army weakened after costly attacks on American lines.
Okinawa Counteroffensive
Ushijima authorizes a broad counterattack that fails to break the American positions and causes severe Japanese losses.
Battle of Okinawa
Takes advantage of bad weather to wihdraw to the south & make a last stand
Peace
Stalin reveals Japans request for peace to the USA, issued by Japan in Feb
June
Defense of Oroku
Ota's naval base force defends the Oroku Peninsula after American Marines begin operations against the position.
Death of Minoru Ota
Ota dies by suicide as organized resistance by his naval base force collapses on the Oroku Peninsula.
Battle of Okinawa
The US forces divide the Japanese garrison into 3 encircled pockets
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.