Which 1945 proclamation demanded Japan's unconditional surrender before the atomic bombings?

The Potsdam Declaration demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender before the atomic bombings.

Issued on July 26, 1945, the proclamation was released by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China during the Potsdam Conference. It warned that rejection would bring “prompt and utter destruction” and set out broad terms for Japan’s disarmament, occupation, and postwar political transformation.

The declaration did not explicitly mention the atomic bomb, which had been successfully tested in New Mexico shortly before its publication. It also did not clearly state what would happen to Emperor Hirohito, an omission that contributed to uncertainty within Japan’s leadership.

Japan did not immediately accept the proclamation. After Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Soviet entry into the war against Japan, Hirohito supported accepting its terms. The Japanese government ultimately notified the Allies of acceptance in August, followed by the formal surrender ceremony in September.