Date: September 2, 1945
Photographer: American Karl Maedner – Photographer for Life Magazine
Details: The background of the photo capturing Japan’s surrender dates back to the summer of 1945 when Japan’s defeat in World War II was imminent. After the destruction of most of its military forces, a maritime blockade, and intense bombing raids that devastated its cities and crippled its economy, Japan faced an unavoidable surrender. By the end of June, American forces had captured Okinawa, a crucial island that could serve as a launch point for an invasion of the Japanese mainland, scheduled for November of that year. Anticipated American casualties were expected to be massive, exceeding the Allied losses during the Normandy invasion. Fortunately for the Americans, in July, they had a new option when the United States secretly detonated the world’s first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert. Days later, the Allies issued the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender of all its armed forces, with the threat of complete destruction if the demand was not met. Japanese Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki rejected the ultimatum, declaring that his government paid no heed to it. Consequently, President Harry Truman ordered the first atomic bomb to be dropped on Hiroshima, causing massive destruction and thousands of casualties. In response, a faction of the Japanese Supreme War Council supported accepting the Potsdam Declaration, but the majority resisted unconditional surrender. A few days later, the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, resulting in similar devastation, while the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria and Japanese positions.
As a result, Emperor Hirohito convened a meeting of the Supreme War Council. After extensive discussion, he supported a proposal by Prime Minister Suzuki to accept the Potsdam Declaration on the condition that it did not undermine the emperor’s privileges as the country’s sovereign. On August 10, Japan communicated its acceptance to the United States. The response received on August 12 stated that the authority of the emperor and the Japanese government would have to submit to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers. Two days later, after further debate, the emperor declared that peace was preferable to destruction and ordered the Japanese government to prepare a surrender document. Some military officers were dissatisfied with this decision; on August 15, Major Kenji Hataka led a coup, seizing the imperial palace and burning Prime Minister Suzuki’s residence. However, the coup was swiftly crushed, and the emperor addressed the nation via radio to announce Japan’s surrender.
Meanwhile, President Truman chose General Douglas MacArthur to oversee the signing of Japan’s surrender and selected the USS Missouri as the venue for the signing. The battleship, which had seen numerous engagements in the Pacific theater, was chosen for this historic event, with September 2 set as the day for the signing to allow representatives from all major Allied powers to arrive.
On September 2, more than 250 Allied warships anchored in Tokyo Bay, with flags of the United States, Britain, the Soviet Union, and China flying above the USS Missouri. The Japanese delegation, consisting of 11 members, arrived to sign the surrender document. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed on behalf of the Japanese government, followed by General Yoshijiro Umezu as the representative of the Japanese military. Shigemitsu’s aide wept during the signing, and then Supreme Allied Commander MacArthur signed, followed by signatures from representatives of the United States, China, Britain, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The signing ceremony concluded within 20 minutes.
During these moments, Karl Maedner, a Life magazine photographer, was on board the battleship to document the event. Standing on a platform behind General MacArthur, Maedner, who had once been a prisoner of war during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, described the moment he captured the photo: “I saw Mr. Shigemitsu hobbling forward, his wooden leg tapping on the deck as he approached silently with the assistance of two soldiers, leaning on his cane. He then removed his hat and gloves, looking momentarily dazed. I imagined it was a horrifying moment for him. Suddenly, I felt all my suppressed wartime anger dissipate, replaced by a surge of compassion.” Maedner added that his experience during the war and relationships with generals allowed him the privileged position to capture this historic moment.
