#japanese surrender

[newyorkthegoldenage]

This time, the war was really over. V-J Day celebrations in Times Square, August 15, 1945.

Photo: William C. Shrout for Life magazine

[todaysdocument]

Instrument of Surrender of the Japanese and Japanese-Controlled Armed Forces in the Philippine Islands to the Commanding General United States Army Forces, Western Pacific

Record Group 218: Records of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of StaffSeries: Instruments of Japanese Surrender

Instrument of Surrender

of the

Japanese and Japanese-Controlled Armed Forces in the Philippine Islands

to the

Commanding General

United States Army Forces, Western Pacific

Camp John Hay

Baguio, Mountain Province,

Luzon, Philippine Islands

3 September 1945

Pursuant to and in accordance with the proclamation of the Emperor of Japan accepting the terms set forth in the declaration issued by the hands of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain and China on 26 July 1945, at Potsdam and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and to the formal instrument of surrender of the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters signed at Tokyo Bay at 0908 on 2 September 1945:

1. Acting by the command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanede Government and the Japanese Imperial Guard Headquarters, We hereby surrender unconditionally to the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, Western Pacific, all Japanese and Japanese-Controlled armed forces, air, sea, ground and auxiliary, in the Philippine Islands.

2. We hereby command all Japanese Forces wherever situated in the Philippine Islands to cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve and save damage all ships, aircraft and military and civil property, and to comply with all requirements which may be imposed by the Commanding General, United States Army Forces, Western Pacific, or his authorized representatives.

3. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in the Philippine islands to issue at once to all forces under their command to surrender unconditionally themselves and all Forces under their control, as prisoners of war, to the nearest United States Army Force Commander.

4.We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in the Philippine islands to surrender intact and in good order to the nearest United States Army Force Commander, at times and places directed by him, all equipment and supplies of whatever nature under their control.

5. We hereby direct the commanders of all Japanese forces in the Philippine islands at once to liberate all Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees under their control, and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to places as directed by the nearest United States Army Force Commander.[complete transcript at link]

[blackswaneuroparedux]

The adults sat around their radios and cried. The children gathered outside in the dusty road and whispered their bewilderment. We were most surprised and disappointed that the emperor had spoken in a human voice.

- Kenzaburō Ōe, A Portrait of the Postwar Generation

On On 15 Aug. 1945, Hirohito announced the unconditional surrender to the United States. The future Nobel literature prize winner, Kenzaburō Ōe, was only ten years old when he heard the emperor of Japan on the radio.

Throughout Japanese history, the emperor had been viewed as a demi-god, remote from the populace. That tradition was shattered on this day (Tokyo time) in 1945 when Emperor Hirohito made a 673-word radio broadcast accepting the terms of the July 26th Potsdam Declaration. His announcement marked the first time commoners in Japan, with a few exceptions, had heard the emperor’s voice.

The declaration warned Japan that unless it accepted its terms of “unconditional surrender,” the nation would face “prompt and utter destruction.” The document was signed by President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese Nationalist leader. It made no mention of Hirohito.


The Tokyo leadership, divided over how to proceed, dithered. One faction hoped the Soviet Union would broker a deal. (Instead, the Soviets declared war on Aug. 9, grabbing a share of the spoils.)

Truman responded by authorizing the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and a second bomb on Nagasaki three days later. They devastated the two cities, killing an estimated 246,000 people in matters of seconds.

Hirohito (1901-89) began his broadcast by saying: “To our good and loyal subjects: After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in our empire today, we have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered our government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration.”

The emperor went on the say, falsely, that “we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to insure Japan’s self-preservation and the stabilisation of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandisement.

“But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone - the gallant fighting of our military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state and the devoted service of our 100 million people - the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

“Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilisation.”

Hirohito’s broadcast culminated in the signing of surrender documents on the foredeck of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945.

[militaryhistoryvisualized]

Why blockading Japan into surrender was not really a viable option in the Second World War. Featuring D.M. Giangreco the author of Hell to Pay - the Invasion of Japan 1945-47

[angelkarafilli]

Lord Louis Mountbatten speaking at the Municipal Building after the Japanese surrender September 12, 1945.Singapore

[todaysdocument]

General Jonathan Wainwright and Mrs. Wainwright Unveiling Japanese Surrender Documents, September 12, 1945

Record Group 64: Records of the National Archives and Records AdministrationSeries: Historic Photograph File of National Archives Events and Personnel

General Wainwright pulls a cloth off a display case as his wife looks on.

[todaysdocument]

Surrender of the Japanese at Seoul, Korea

Record Group 218: Records of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of StaffSeries: Instruments of Japanese Surrender

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

APO 235, c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Japanese forces and all forces under Japanese control wherever situated to surrender unconditionally themselves and all forces under their control.

"5. We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to obey and enforce all proclamations, orders and directives deemed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper and to effectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority and we direct all such officials to remain at their posts and to continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless specifically relieved by him or under his authority.

"6. We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government and their successors to carry out the Provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and take whatever action may be required by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by any other designated Representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that declaration.

"7. We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all Allied Prisoners of War and civilians internees now under Japanese control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to places as directed.

"8. The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate these terms of surrender" and

WHEREAS the terms of surrender were, on the 2d day of September 1945 as given by the United States, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and their allied powers, accepted by the Imperial Japanese Government, and

WHEREAS on the 2d day of September 1945 the Imperial General Headquarters by direction of the Emperor has ordered all its commanders in Japan and abroad to cause the Japanese

- 2-

UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN KOREA

HEADQUARTERS XXIV CORPS

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

APO 235, c/o POSTMASTER

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Korea, all persons in Korea south of 38 degrees North Latitude who are in the Armed Forces of Japan, and all military installations, ordnance, ships, aircraft and other military equipment or property of every kind or description in Korea, including all islands adjacent thereto, south of 38 degrees North Latitude over which we exercise jurisdiction or control.

In case of conflict or ambiguity between the English text of this document and any translation thereof, the English shall prevail.

Signed at SEOUL, KOREA, at 1630 hours on the 9th day of September 1945.

[signature] YOSHIO SOZUKI

--------------------------

Senior Japanese commander of all Japanese ground and air forces in Korea south of 38° north latitude.

[signature] GISABURO YAMAGUCHI

-------------------------

Senior Japanese commander of all Japanese naval forces in Korea south of 38° north latitude.

I, Nobuyuki Abe, the duly appointed, qualified and acting Governor General of KOREA do hereby certify that I have read and fully understand the contents of the foregoing Instrument of Surrender, and of all documents referred to therein.

I hereby acknowledge the duties and obligations imposed upon me by said documents, insofar as they apply to all matters within my jurisdiction or control as Governor General of Krea, and recognize the necessity of my strict compliance therewith and adherence thereto. [complete document at link]

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Servicemen in Times Square happily reading the extra editions announcing that Japan's Domei News Agency had reported that Japan was ready to accept unconditional surrender under the Potsdam conference terms if Emperor Hirohito could retain his prerogatives, August 10, 1945. The surrender didn't actually happen until a few days later.

Photo: Harry Harris for the AP