V-J Day in Times Square
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt
Date: August 14, 1945
Location: Times Square, New York City, USA
Alfred Eisenstaedt photographed this iconic scene on August 14, 1945, in Times Square, New York City, during spontaneous celebrations following Japan's announcement of surrender and the end of World War II. The sailor, later identified by multiple claimants as George Mendonsa (a claim disputed by others), grabbed an unknown woman — identified by some as dental assistant Greta Zimmer Friedman — and kissed her. Eisenstaedt captured the moment with his Leica camera. The image was published in Life magazine on August 27, 1945. Several other photographers captured the same scene; Victor Jorgensen's version was also widely published. The photograph's legacy has become complicated in recent decades, as Friedman stated the kiss was not consensual — she described it as a stranger suddenly grabbing her. This has sparked ongoing debate about how the image is interpreted and celebrated.
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