The Americans recover Manila within four weeks, completely clearing the city by March 4, 1945.

The Allied forces in Burma capture Mandlay in March 1945.

Rangoon fall to the Allies on May 3, 1945.

The Japanese forces fall back to the Thai border.

Japan, by early 1945, is near collapse; its supply lines drastically overextended, its raw materials cut off, its air fleet seriously crippled, its merchant fleet decimated, and its navy reduced by 19 aircraft carriers, 11 battleships, 34 cruisers, almost 150 submarines, and dozens of other combat vessels.

Approximately 1.5 million troops remain to defend the home islands; another 3 million fight in China, Manchuria and the Pacific.

Following the capture of Iwo Jima in mid-March, Allied strategist plan the capture of the main island of the southern Ryuku Archipelago, Okinawa, whose airfields lie within about 350 miles (560 kilometers) of Japan.

On April 1, in the Pacific Theater’s largest operation, the US tenth Army begins landing the first of its 172,000 troops.

The Americans, in the face of stiff resistance and 1,500 individual Kamikaze attacks, capture four-fifth of the island within three weeks.

By the time organized Japanese resistance ends on June 17, 12,000 American soldiers are dead or missing and 100,000 Japanese arter dead, many by suicide in avoidance of capture.

In the spring and summer of 1945, the Chinese Nationalists, trained and led by US advisors, launch their first major offensive against the weakened Japanese forces on the Chinese mainland, capturing several major airfields.

As Japan’s military domination crumbles, the increasing political and military contest between China’s Nationalists and Communists becomes entrenched.

By July 5, The Allied reconquest of the Philippines is officially complete.

Japan has lost the supply lines and 400,000 of her finest troops.

Intensive Allied strategic bombing has destroyed almost half of Tokyo by the end of July 1945.

Japanese refusal to surrender to the July 26, 1945 ultimatum issued from Potsdam spurs Truman to order the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, population 300,000.

On August 6, the bomb explodes at ground level with a force in excess of 20,000 US tons of TNT, killing at least 78,000 instantly, permanently “disappearing” another 10,000, injuring over 70,000 and destroying over two-thirds of the city.

The USSR declares war on Japan on August 8, 1945, two days after Hiroshima.

On August 9, the Americans drop a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, population 250,000.

40,000 people die; another 40,000 are injured.

Japan sues for peace the following day, stipulating that the emperor’s position of sovereign ruler be maintained.

On August 11, the Allies reply that that the vivctors will decide the emperor’s status.

The emperor urges unconditional surrender, and an imperial conference accepts the Allied terms on August 14; a cease fire commences the following day.

Indonesia proclaims its independence from the Netherlands on August 17, 1945; her Dutch masters will recognize the new state four years later.

At the end of the Second World War on August 15, 1945, Thailand’s new government, under prime minister Khuang Abhaiwong, issues a proclamation explaining that the 1942 declaration of war is null and void as it had been issued against the wishes of the Thai people.

Japanese representatives formally surrender on September 2, 1945 aboard the US battleship Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay.

Under the conditions of the Japanese surrender in 1945, all conquered territories are forfeit.

The Japanese return Formosa to China (as Taiwan) as well as Manchuria.

Korea’s independence is re-confirmed, but the Potsdam Conference held by the Allies on August 2 results in the partition of the country along the 38th parallel, mandating a US-dominated sphere of influence in the North and a Soviet sphere in the South.

Indonesian Nationalist Party founder Sukarno proclaims Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945.

Vietnam’s Ho pressures Bao Dai to abdicate and proclaims the independence of the Democratic republic of Vietnam on September 2 and becomes the country’s first president.

Laotian nationalist forces oppose the resumption of French control in Laos.

The French begin to establish a semi-independent Laotian state.