What ultimatum, issued on July 26, 1945, demanded Japan’s surrender before the final Allied attacks?

The Potsdam Declaration, issued on July 26, 1945, demanded Japan’s surrender before the final Allied attacks.

The declaration was issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China during the Potsdam Conference. It called on Japan to surrender its armed forces and warned that refusal would bring “prompt and utter destruction.” The Soviet Union was not yet at war with Japan and therefore did not sign the declaration at the time.

The document outlined broad Allied goals: Japan’s militarism would be removed, its territory would be limited, its armed forces would be disarmed, and war criminals would be punished. It also promised that the Japanese people would not be enslaved or destroyed as a nation.

Japan’s government did not immediately accept the declaration. After the atomic bombings, Soviet entry into the war, and internal political debate, Japan accepted its terms in August. Emperor Hirohito referred to the “joint declaration” in his surrender broadcast.