ISSUE 48 – STEVE KOVACS FUN WITH MAPS

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 14, 2020) – In Issue 48 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps feature we celebrate the end of World War II

My Father, Thomas W. (Bill) Gibson, U.S. Army WWII, Pacific Theater (Personal File) 

V-J Day Anniversary

Today is the 75th anniversary of V-J Day, the surrender of Japan, effectively ending World War II.  As a bit of a twist, thanks to differences in time zones, the surrender’s date to the Japanese is August 15… 

This was a rather bloody war, killing an estimated 70-85 million people, or about 4% of the world’s population at the time.  About 2/3 of the deaths were among the civilians. 

Instead of economically punishing the losing sides, the Allied Powers, and the US specifically, chose to provide economic aid to help rebuild both (West) Germany and Japan following the war.  This was partly to avoid repeating the mistakes made in dealing with the losing side after World War I, but also to keep these former enemies on the side of the US and West Euro nations against the new enemy, the Soviet Union. 

My very dear friend Rene Janssens, U.S. Navy, WWII, Iwo Jima (Personal File) 

And, the next chapter in 20th century politics kicks off on the heels of World War II, the Cold War.  

Do you have a relative who participated in World War II?  Most do.

NOTE: Pictured here in today’s “Fun With Maps” Feature are two true American Heroes – Veteran’s of World War II. My Father who served in the Army in the Pacific Theater and returned home to raise his family. Also very impactful in my life, my dear friend Rene Janssens who was decorated with a Purple Heart for his service on the Naval Destroyer U.S.S. Leutze  (DD-481) fighting the fiercest naval battles in the history of war. Both men are loved and missed. RIP!

Here is a Turner Dated Events Map issued soon after V-J Day in 1945, showing in fine print some of the major battles.  Also shown are images of Pearl Harbor under attack, the iconic raising of the US Flag on Iwo Jima, and of course the A-Bomb’s mushroom cloud.

Turner Dated Events Map issued soon after V-J Day in 1945 (Credit Steve Kovacs) 

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Click here to visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.