August 15th marks the 68th anniversary of Japan's surrender in the second world war. It's also an occasion for Chinese people to commemorate those who died in the eight-year war of resistance against Japanese aggression.

The Japanese had suffered a series of defeats for nearly two years by 1945.

On July 26th, 1945, the allies delivered the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan's prompt surrender.

In early August, the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing catastrophic long-lasting effects.

Within the first two to four months of the bombings, between 90 and 166-thousand people were killed in Hiroshima, and 60 to 80-thousand were killed in Nagasaki.

Japan's official surrender came on August 15th. Emperor Hiro-hito announced over the radio that the country would lay down its arms and accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration unconditionally.

A signing ceremony was held on September 2nd, 1945, aboard a US battleship.

And in 1951, September 3rd was designated the date to commemorate China's victory in the war of resistance against the Japanese Aggression.

During World War II, China was the major battlefield in the fight against Japanese fascist aggression, as well as the major oriental battlefield in the war against fascism worldwide.

At least 20 million Chinese people are estimated to have lost their lives during the eight-year war.