Which 1945 document demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender and warned of “prompt and utter destruction”?

The Potsdam Declaration demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender and warned of “prompt and utter destruction.” It was issued on 26 July 1945 by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China during the final stage of World War II.

The declaration outlined Allied terms for ending the war with Japan. It called for the elimination of militarism, the occupation of designated points in Japanese territory, the disarmament of Japanese forces, and the limitation of Japanese sovereignty mainly to the home islands and other islands determined by the Allies.

The document did not directly explain what would happen to Emperor Hirohito, an omission that complicated Japanese decision-making. Japan’s government initially did not accept the terms. After Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Soviet declaration of war, Hirohito ordered the government to accept the declaration, leading to the surrender announcement on 15 August.