A SNAPSHOT OF EXULTATION
August 15, 1945, marked a pivotal moment in history. The streets of New York City, especially Times Square, were teeming with joy as news of Japan’s surrender echoed through every corner. World War II was finally over. Amidst the elated cheers and relieved sighs, a singular moment of euphoria was captured that would go on to symbolize an era of peace following years of strife – a sailor in a passionate embrace with a woman in a nurse’s uniform. Renowned photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt immortalized this spontaneous kiss, making it an iconic testament of the time.
THE MYSTERY UNRAVELED
For years, the identities of the couple locked in the impromptu embrace remained shrouded in mystery. Who were the jubilant sailor and the woman who found herself in his arms? Their identities would eventually be unveiled as George Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman. But the narrative behind this candid moment was neither one of romance nor a contrived photo opportunity. The story behind the famous kiss was as unscripted and unforeseen as the moment itself. Newer facial recognition technology was used to get confirmation that the pair in the photo are Mendonsa and Friedman.
THE UNEXPECTED BURST OF JUBILATION
On that day, Greta Zimmer Friedman was working as a dental assistant. The fervor of the celebrations pulled her outside, eager to be part of the historic moment. Amidst the exuberant crowd, George Mendonsa, a sailor overflowing with joy, spotted her. He had just heard the news while on a date with Rita Petrie at Radio City Music Hall and was overcome by a wave of relief and gratitude. Seeing Friedman in her uniform, he was reminded of the nurses who had cared for his injured comrades during the war.
Acting on impulse, Mendonsa said, “The excitement of the war being over, plus I had a few drinks. So when I saw the nurse, I grabbed her and I kissed her.” This spontaneous action, fuelled by a mix of elation and gratitude, resulted in one of the most enduring images of the 20th century. Friedman later recounted the unexpected famous kiss, “He was just holding me tight. I’m not sure about the kiss… it was just somebody celebrating. It wasn’t a romantic event.”
Rita Petrie, who was his date that day said later in an interview with CBS “Either I was dopey or something, but it didn’t bother me!” She is seen in the background of the photo. Petrie ended up being Mendonsa’s wife of 70 years.
ALFRED EISENSTAEDT: CAPTURING HISTORY
Behind every great photograph is an equally compelling photographer. In this case, it was Alfred Eisenstaedt, an American photojournalist of German origin, who happened to be in Times Square that day. Working for Life Magazine, he was tasked with capturing the celebration of the end of the war. He discovered the perfect moment at 5:51 pm.
“I saw a sailor running along the street grabbing any and every girl in sight…Then suddenly, in a flash, I saw something white being grabbed. I turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse,” Eisenstaedt recalled. His quick action and sharp eye resulted in a photograph that would adorn the cover of Life Magazine and become his most renowned image: the famous kiss.
Eisenstaedt described a portion of his success as luck, but also emphasized the importance of vigilance. He carried a small Leica IIIa camera, which made him less noticeable. He felt this contributed to the authenticity of his shots. “They don’t take me too seriously with my little camera. I don’t come as a photographer. I come as a friend,” he once said.
AFTER THE KISS
Following the spontaneous kiss, Mendonsa and Friedman went about their own ways. Their identities remained a mystery for years until the 1980s, when Life Magazine and Eisenstaedt contacted them for a reunion to commemorate and recreate the iconic moment.
CONTROVERSY AMID CELEBRATION
Though widely celebrated as an emblem of joy, the photograph has been the center of controversy in recent years. Critics have called out the non-consensual nature of the kiss.
Friedman herself acknowledged this, saying, “I felt he was very strong, he was just holding me tight, and I’m not sure I — about the kiss because, you know, it was just somebody really celebrating. But it wasn’t a romantic event. It was just an event of thank God the war is over kind of thing,” adding “It wasn’t my choice to be kissed. The guy just came over and kissed or grabbed me.”
Mendonsa was not alone in his enthusiastic celebration that day. Other sailors, overwhelmed by the relief of the war’s end, were also kissing women in Times Square. Friedman recalled, “They were happy they didn’t have to go back to war. They had had enough. So, you know, they were not the only sailor that kissed women.”
AN ENDURING LEGACY
Although both Friedman and Mendonsa have passed away, their legacy lives on through the photograph. A statue in Florida immortalizes their famous kiss, ensuring that their spontaneous moment of joy and relief endures. The photograph continues to be one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. It’s more than just a captured moment of passion; it’s a symbol of humanity’s collective sigh of relief at the end of a war-torn era, reminding us of the joyous, impromptu moments that can become the stories of a lifetime.
Additional Facts
August 14th, 1945
was when Japan announced it’s surrender. US fought in WWII for three years and eight months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese pilots on Dec 7th, 1941.
Rhode Island
is the only state that recognizes VJ Day as a legal holiday. Rhode Island lost 10,000 military members in the Pacific.
V-J Day
This is how long Leonardo Da Vinci spent thinking and working on the bronze statue of the horse. He spent years studying horse anatomy, and created elaborate plans for castubg the statue.
