Douglas MacArthur’s order directing Japanese forces to surrender to Allied commanders was General Order No. 1.
MacArthur issued General Order No. 1 after becoming Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. It instructed Japanese forces in different regions to surrender to designated Allied commanders and established the immediate military framework for the occupation.
The order covered Japanese forces across the home islands, Korea, Manchuria, Taiwan, and other territories. It separated surrender responsibilities by geographic area, ensuring that Japanese commanders reported to the appropriate Allied authority.
General Order No. 1 was an operational directive, not the same document as the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. The Instrument was signed aboard USS Missouri on September 2, while General Order No. 1 implemented the surrender arrangements across the former Japanese military sphere.