Which July 1945 Allied declaration demanded Japan’s surrender before the formal end of World War II?

The Potsdam Declaration demanded Japan’s surrender before the formal end of World War II.

The declaration was issued on July 26, 1945, by U.S. President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek. It warned that refusal would bring “prompt and utter destruction” and called for the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces.

Its terms addressed Japan’s disarmament, occupation, war-crimes prosecutions, and future political direction. The document also stated that Japanese sovereignty would be limited to the four main islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku—plus smaller islands designated by the Allies.

The Soviet Union did not sign the declaration because it was still officially neutral toward Japan when the document was issued. Japan initially did not accept it publicly. After the atomic bombings and the Soviet entry into the war, the Japanese government accepted its terms, a decision Hirohito announced by radio on August 15.