The Potsdam Declaration was issued on 26 July 1945 during the final weeks of World War II. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender.
The declaration warned Japan that refusing the terms would bring “prompt and utter destruction.” It called for the elimination of Japanese militarism, occupation of selected Japanese territory, and the establishment of conditions leading to peace and democratic government.
The Soviet Union did not initially sign the declaration because it was still neutral toward Japan. After the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on 8 August, it joined the other major Allied powers in the final defeat of Japan.
Japan’s government did not immediately accept the declaration. After the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the war, Japanese leaders accepted its terms, which Hirohito announced in his 15 August broadcast.