Which Allied document issued on 26 July 1945 demanded Japan’s surrender and set out postwar terms?

The Allied document issued on 26 July 1945 demanding Japan’s surrender was the Potsdam Declaration.

The United States, United Kingdom, and China released the declaration during the Potsdam Conference. It called for the unconditional surrender of Japan’s armed forces and warned of “prompt and utter destruction” if Japan refused. The document also outlined major postwar principles, including disarmament, punishment of war criminals, occupation of selected Japanese territory, and the removal of militarist influence.

The Soviet Union did not initially sign the declaration because it was still officially neutral in the war against Japan. It joined the declaration after entering the conflict in August 1945. The declaration did not explicitly guarantee that Emperor Hirohito would retain his throne, an omission that complicated Japan’s response.

Japan ultimately accepted the terms after the atomic bombings, the Soviet declaration of war, and intense internal debate. Its provisions later provided a legal and political framework for the Allied occupation of Japan.