EVENING BELLS: Victory of the Passing Day On September 2, 1945, the Japanese surrender was signed, ending World War II. On the same day, a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR declared September 3 a holiday commemorating the victory over Japan. In 1947, the decree was amended, making it a working day. The decree remained formally in effect, but the holiday was no longer celebrated... And only in 2023 was it etched into #Russian rescripts, now forever: