Japan Signs Surrender
The 2nd of September 1945 AD
Even after the use of two atomic weapons in early August elements in Japan wished to continue their fight against the Allies, now with the Soviet Union supporting them in the East – Stalin declared war on Japan on August 8m the day Nagasaki was devastated by the second A-bomb.
The reality of Japan’s defeat was finally brought home to the populace with a broadcast by Emperor Hirohito on August 15, when he said with a degree of understatement: “The war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage”, and on September 2 by the signing of a formal and unconditional surrender to the Allies. The ceremony on board USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay was attended by senior military and diplomatic personnel from many countries which had fought against and suffered under the Japanese.
For Britain the main signatory was Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, but General MacArthur had requested the symbolic presence of General Arthur Percival, the British officer who had been in command in Singapore when the Japanese took it, their victory followed by the slaughter of more than 50,000 ethnic Chinese and many other acts of brutality. It is estimated that the Japanese killed some 30 million people across the Far East during the war .
With the Japanese surrender allied POWs were freed, though thousands of those originally captured had died in camps and as forced labour.
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