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

General Order No. 1 directed Japanese forces where to surrender in 1945.

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

The order required Japanese units to surrender to designated Allied commanders, reveal their military deployments, and preserve equipment for disarmament. It also established surrender arrangements across the large areas controlled by Japan at the end of the war.

One important provision divided surrender responsibilities in Korea at the 38th parallel. Japanese forces north of the line surrendered to Soviet commanders, while forces south of it surrendered to U.S. commanders. This wartime administrative decision contributed to Korea’s later division into two occupation zones.