On September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63) the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was formally signed, effectively ending World War II.
The surrender was signed by Japanese officials on one side, representing the Empire of Japan, and by Allied officials on the other side, representing the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, the Soviet Union and other allied Nations.
The signing of the Instrument of Surrender marked the official end of hostilities in the Pacific theatre of World War II and the beginning of the post-war reconstruction period in Japan. This event is often referred to as the "Japanese surrender ceremony".
" It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice." - General Douglas MacArthur
The choice of this particular ship was of significance. ( It is amazing to think this battleship was still used in combat almost 50 years later in Desert Storm.)
The USS Missouri was a symbol of American naval power and victory. It was one of the most powerful battleships of its time and had played a significant role in the Pacific theatre of World War II. Using such a prominent and powerful ship for the surrender ceremony was intended to underscore the Allied victory and Japan's defeat. The ship was named after the state of Missouri, which was the birthplace of President Harry S. Truman. President Truman had made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which played a pivotal role in Japan's decision to surrender. Using the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremony was seen as a way to connect President Truman's decision to the ultimate conclusion of the war.
It was also one of the few ships available at the time that had the size and facilities necessary to host such a significant diplomatic event. It had a large deck space where the signing ceremony could take place, and it could accommodate the representatives from both the Allied and Japanese sides. The USS Missouri had been the site of the formal surrender of Germany earlier in the year. Using the same ship for both the German and Japanese surrenders created a sense of continuity and finality in ending both major theatres of the war.
Planners of the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945—marking the end not just to World War II but to 15 years of Japan’s military rampage across Asia. - had time to consider the symbolism attached to such a momentous occasion. On July 8, 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry had sailed with four ships into Tokyo Bay, forcing open Japan’s gates to the outside world and specifically to the United States, as formalised in the Treaty of Kanagawa when Perry returned, on March 31, 1854. The fragile original banner flown by Perry in 1853 was prominently displayed above the ceremonial proceedings in 1945—symbolising not just the past, but the intended future reopening of Japan to the world.
The surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri was attended by representatives from the Allied powers and Japan. Here are some of the key individuals who were present at the ceremony:
Allied Powers:
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General Douglas MacArthur: As the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers (SCAP), MacArthur presided over the ceremony and accepted the Japanese surrender on behalf of the Allied nations. He delivered a speech and signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the United States.
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Admiral Chester Nimitz: Nimitz represented the United States Navy and served as a witness to the signing of the Instrument of Surrender. He was the Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet.
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Lieutenant General Jonathan Wainwright: Wainwright was a U.S. Army officer who had been a prisoner of war in the Philippines. He was present as a witness to the ceremony.
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General Arthur Percival: Percival was a British officer who had commanded British and Commonwealth forces during the fall of Singapore in 1942. He also served as a witness to the signing.
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Lieutenant General Kuzma Derevyanko: Derevyanko represented the Soviet Union and was one of the signatories of the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Soviet government.
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General Hsu Yung-Ch'ang: Hsu represented China and signed the Instrument of Surrender as a representative of the Chinese government.
“A million eyes seemed to beat on us with the million shafts of a rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire,” recalled Japanese diplomat Toshikazu Kase. “Never have I realized that the glance of glaring eyes could hurt so much. We waited . . . standing in the public gaze like penitent boys awaiting the dreaded schoolmaster.”
Japanese Representatives:
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Mamoru Shigemitsu: Shigemitsu was the Japanese Foreign Minister and headed the Japanese delegation at the ceremony. He signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Japanese government.
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General Yoshijiro Umezu: Umezu was the Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff and represented the Japanese military. He also signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Japanese government.
Other military officers, diplomats, and staff from both the Allied and Japanese sides were also present at the ceremony. The ceremony itself involved the formal signing of the Instrument of Surrender, speeches by General MacArthur and others, and the raising of flags by various nations. The event marked the official end of World War II and set the stage for the post-war occupation and reconstruction of Japan.
Within half-an-hour of the signing, a convoy of 42 US ships entered Tokyo Bay and landed 13,000 American troops.
Ten ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) were among those gathered in the bay: the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire, the light cruiser HMAS Hobart, the destroyers HMA Ships Napier, Nizam, and Warramunga, the frigate HMAS Gascoyne, and the minesweepers HMA Ships Ballarat, Cessnock, Ipswich, and Pirie.
The surrender came after almost two years of continuous defeats for the Imperial Japanese Army, compounded by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August 1945. Word of the Japanese surrender became public on August 14, when President Truman addressed the nation, and August 15 was marked by victory celebrations across the world.
On September 7, the Japanese Surrender Instruments were presented to President Truman in Washington, DC, and less than a week later, they were put on public display in the Rotunda of the National Archives, where the the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights reside today.
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