Surrender Ceremony Aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan
9/2/1945
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On September 2, 1945, in a formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan, representatives of the Japanese government signed the Instrument of Surrender, officially ending World War II.
The terms called for “the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control wherever situated.” However it also preserved the Japanese Imperial House.
Signing for Japan was Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff. General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific, signed for the United States and accepted the surrender in his capacity as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz also signed for the United States.
Then representatives from eight other Allied nations signed, including the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. The ceremony took less than 30 minutes.
The original caption for this photograph reads: This historic surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) Tokyo Bay. Jap foreign minister, Namoru Shigemitsu, signs surrender terms as high ranking Allied officers look on. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme commander broadcasts the ceremonies.
The terms called for “the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under Japanese control wherever situated.” However it also preserved the Japanese Imperial House.
Signing for Japan was Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff. General Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest Pacific, signed for the United States and accepted the surrender in his capacity as the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz also signed for the United States.
Then representatives from eight other Allied nations signed, including the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. The ceremony took less than 30 minutes.
The original caption for this photograph reads: This historic surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) Tokyo Bay. Jap foreign minister, Namoru Shigemitsu, signs surrender terms as high ranking Allied officers look on. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme commander broadcasts the ceremonies.
This primary source comes from the General Records of the Department of the Navy.
National Archives Identifier: 23658002
Full Citation: Photograph 80-G-700777; Surrender Ceremony Aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan; 9/2/1945; General Photographic Files, 1943 - 1968; General Records of the Department of the Navy, Record Group 80; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/surrender-ceremony-uss-missouri, June 4, 2023]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.