What was the name of the U.S. order that directed Japanese forces to surrender in 1945?

General Order No. 1 was the U.S. order that directed Japanese forces to surrender in 1945.

The order was prepared by the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff and approved by President Harry Truman on 17 August 1945. General Douglas MacArthur issued it to Japan after the surrender announcement, and Japanese Imperial General Headquarters transmitted it to Japanese forces on 2 September.

The order instructed Japanese forces to surrender to designated Allied commanders, disclose military positions and preserve equipment for disarmament. It also laid out which Allied authorities would receive Japanese surrenders across the former Japanese empire.

One important consequence concerned Korea. Japanese forces north of the 38th parallel were ordered to surrender to Soviet forces, while those south of it surrendered to U.S. forces. This military arrangement contributed to Korea’s postwar division.