“V–J day in Times Square” Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1945

August 14, 1945, the news about the capitulation of Japan proclaimed the end of the Second World War. Tumultuous celebrating began at New-York streets, but, probably, no one from the people in the city did not as feel free, as militaries did. Among the happiest people, gathered that day in Times Square, was one of the most talented photojournalist of the XX century, the German immigrant Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Picking out the pictures of celebration with his camera, he noticed a sailor, “walking down the street and seizing every girl on his way.” Later he said that he did not care was she “a granny, slim, fat, old or young” – he made no differences. Of course, this legendary shot, depicting the kiss of a venerable pensioner, would never appear at the Life’s cover, but when a dashing military man spun around and kissed an attractive nurse, and Eisenstaedt took a picture, this shot was spread around in newspapers all over the country.
In stands to reason, “V–J day in Times Square” was not the picture of two lovers, separating by the war. However, even to the present day this shot remains the symbol of the USA at the end of the long struggle for piece.