- — Europe:
Founding of the Republic at Þingvellir
After an overwhelming referendum, Icelanders proclaimed a republic at Þingvellir, ending the union with Denmark; Sveinn Björnsson became the first president and 17 June became the national day.
Era: Occupation, the Republic and NATO
Sources: Iceland Becomes a Republic · EBSCO Research Starters, History of Iceland from 1944 · nordics.info (Aarhus University), Sveinn Björnsson · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
U.S. recognition of Lebanon
The United States formally recognises Lebanon as an independent state, and establishes diplomatic relations later that year.
Era: Independence and the Golden Age
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Lebanon · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- — Asia:
Proclamation of Independence
Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaim Indonesia an independent republic in Jakarta, days after Japan's surrender; they become president and vice-president the next day.
Era: Japanese Occupation, Independence and the Revolution
Sources: Proclamation of Indonesian Independence · Wikipedia, Indonesia Regains Its Independence (Research Starters) · EBSCO
- — Asia:
Plebiscite affirms independence
Mongolians affirm their independence in a plebiscite in October 1945. Inner Mongolia remains part of China.
Era: Independence, Revolution, and the People's Republic
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Mongolia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Outer Mongolia · Wikipedia
- — Asia:
Liberation from Japan
Japan's surrender ends 35 years of colonial rule; Koreans celebrate Gwangbokjeol, the Restoration of Light, even as foreign occupation and division loom.
Era: Japanese Colonial Rule
Sources: Korea Under Japanese Rule · Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Korean War and Japan's Recovery · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- — Asia:
Declaration of independence
As Japan surrenders, the Viet Minh seize power in the August Revolution and Ho Chi Minh proclaims the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi's Ba Dinh Square.
Era: French Indochina
Sources: Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945) · Columbia University, Asia for Educators, Ho Chi Minh · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
Independence of the Hashemite Kingdom
Following the Treaty of London, the British mandate ended and Transjordan became a fully independent kingdom, with Abdullah re-designated as king; 25 May is celebrated as Independence Day.
Era: The Arab Revolt, the Emirate of Transjordan and Independence
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country: Jordan · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Jordan: Transjordan, the Hashemite Kingdom, and the Palestine war · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
French withdrawal completed
The last French troops leave Lebanon, completing the country's transition to full sovereignty.
Era: Independence and the Golden Age
Sources: History of Lebanon · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Lebanon · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- — Asia:
Independence of the Republic of the Philippines
The United States relinquishes sovereignty and recognises Philippine independence under the Treaty of Manila; Manuel Roxas becomes first president of the republic.
Era: Japanese Occupation, Independence and the Marcos Dictatorship
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: The Philippines · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States · The National WWII Museum
- — Asia:
Independence — evacuation of French troops
After international recognition in 1944, the last French soldiers leave Syria on 17 April 1946, marking full independence — still commemorated as Evacuation Day.
Era: The French Mandate and Independence
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Syria · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Syria — history · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
Independence and Partition
India becomes independent from Britain under Prime Minister Nehru as the subcontinent is partitioned into India and Pakistan, unleashing mass migration and communal violence.
Era: Independence, Partition and the Modern Republic
Sources: Partition of India · Wikipedia, Republic Day, India · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir
Maharaja Hari Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to India, effective on Governor-General Mountbatten's acceptance on 27 October. Mountbatten added that the question should be settled by a reference to the people once order was restored. India says the accession was lawful, complete and final. Pakistan says it was obtained under duress and in breach of the Standstill Agreement, and has not accepted it.
Era: Independence, Partition and the Modern Republic
Sources: Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) · Wikipedia
- — Oceania:
Statute of Westminster adopted
New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster, ending the British Parliament's power to legislate for it and confirming the country's full legal independence — the last Dominion to do so.
Era: Nationhood, the world wars, and the welfare state
Sources: Statute of Westminster enacted · NZ History (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), New Zealand (country) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- — Asia:
Indian Independence Act passed
The British Parliament passes the Indian Independence Act, partitioning British India and providing for the creation of the dominions of India and Pakistan.
Era: The British Raj and the Pakistan Movement
Sources: Indian Independence Act · Encyclopædia Britannica
- — Asia:
Independence of Pakistan
Pakistan becomes independent under the Indian Independence Act, with Jinnah as Governor-General and Liaquat Ali Khan as prime minister, comprising West and East Pakistan.
Era: Partition and Independence
Sources: Mohammed Ali Jinnah · Encyclopædia Britannica, Indian Independence Act · Encyclopædia Britannica
- — Asia:
Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir
Maharaja Hari Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to India, effective on Governor-General Mountbatten's acceptance on 27 October. Mountbatten added that the question should be settled by a reference to the people once order was restored. India says the accession was lawful, complete and final. Pakistan says it was obtained under duress and in breach of the Standstill Agreement, and has not accepted it.
Era: Partition and Independence
Sources: Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir) · Wikipedia
- — Europe:
Independence of India and the start of decolonisation
India and Pakistan became independent, beginning the rapid dismantling of the British Empire as dozens of colonies gained independence over the following decades.
Era: World wars, decolonisation, and the modern UK
Sources: The end of the British Empire after the Second World War · Imperial War Museums
- — Asia:
Independence of the Union of Burma
Burma becomes a fully independent republic outside the Commonwealth under Prime Minister U Nu, soon facing communist and ethnic insurgencies.
Era: Independence, Ne Win, and Decades of Military Rule
Sources: History of Myanmar · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Burma · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- — Asia:
Independence of the Dominion of Ceylon
Ceylon becomes an independent dominion within the Commonwealth as its 1947 constitution takes effect, with D. S. Senanayake as first prime minister.
Era: British Ceylon and the Road to Independence
Sources: History of Sri Lanka: Independent Ceylon (1948–71) · Encyclopædia Britannica, Path to Freedom: 1815 Convention and Dominion Status · Department of National Archives, Sri Lanka, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Sri Lanka · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- — Asia:
Recognition of sovereignty
Following the Round Table Conference in The Hague, the Netherlands formally transfers sovereignty and recognises the independence of Indonesia.
Era: Japanese Occupation, Independence and the Revolution
Sources: Indonesia Regains Its Independence (Research Starters) · EBSCO, Proclamation of Indonesian Independence · Wikipedia
- — Europe:
Declaration of the Republic
The Republic of Ireland Act, signed 21 December 1948 and in force from 18 April 1949, declared the twenty-six-county state a republic, removed the King's last role and left the Commonwealth.
Era: Rising, Independence and Partition
Sources: Republic of Ireland Act comes into effect in 1949 · IrishCentral
- — Europe:
Indonesian independence
After a violent four-year war, the Netherlands transfers sovereignty over the Dutch East Indies to the Republic of Indonesia.
Era: The World Wars, Decolonisation and the Modern Netherlands
Sources: Netherlands · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Independence, Decolonization, Violence and War in Indonesia, 1945–1950 · NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Independence in the 1940s
Every event in the Terralore archive tagged independence — declarations, recognitions and transfers of sovereignty, narrowed to the 1940s — 22 of them, drawn from 17 nations, running from 1944 to 1949. Each entry keeps the sources it was verified against and links back to the chronicle it came from.
- Events
- 22
- Nations
- 17
- Earliest
- 1944
- Latest
- 1949
- Asia
- 17
- Europe
- 4
- Oceania
- 1
Every entry below is the same record, with the same sources, as the one on its nation’s chronicle.