On this particular August 10th in 1945 everyone was reacting to a rumored end of World War 2. Communique's were going back and forth between the various warring parties, outlining terms of surrender. And then someone read a communique wrong and decided it was the Emperor of Japan who called it quits and the war was over.

Well, not quite. There were still several more days of back and forth and the real end of World War 2 (VJ-Day) was not until the 14th. Still, celebrations were breaking out and even the newsroom from this CBS Radio report from August 10th, buzzes in anticipation as the announcer was attempting caution.

Another slice of history and another August 10th.

(August 10, 1945 - where even a rumor got the presses rolling)

(still pitching)
With the second Atomic Bomb dropped on Nagasaki the day before, all ears were turned in the direction of Japan for any word regarding a surrender.

On August 10th, listening posts picked up broadcasts from the NHK (the Japanese Broadcasting service) reporting that the Emperor (Hirohito) had agreed to a surrender proposal first made in Potsdam on the 26th of July.

The stipulation was the Emperor had to stay in place.

Well . . no, that wasn't the deal and there was no official confirmation of either the report or the Allies agreement to those terms.

But that didn't stop people from assuming the war was over as of August 10th, as this breathless set of bulletins from the Mutual Network (via WOR in New York) attested to. Needless to say, the White House quickly issued a statement that no such agreement was made and by the end of the day, the war was still on.

So August 10th 1945 was a bit manic.

(Celebrating a few days early)

Back to basic history today - August 10, 1945 was when everyone got their hopes up World War 2 was finally over.

Well, no - not for a few days. Speculation was rife that the Japanese Government had accepted the Allied ultimatum, hot on the heels of the Atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki only days earlier.

But negotiations dragged on for several more days until the final acceptance came.

Lots of anticipation and lots of breathless speculation as this newscast and commentary by H.V. Kaltenborn and Cesar Searchinger illustrates.