Potsdam Declaration

The Potsdam Declaration was issued in July 1945 by the United States, Britain, and China to Japan, demanding its unconditional surrender in World War II. It outlined terms for ending the war, including the disarmament of Japan and the occupation of its territories, with the goal of establishing peace and security. The declaration warned that failure to surrender would result in "prompt and utter destruction." Japan initially rejected the terms, but after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered unconditionally. The declaration was a key diplomatic step leading to Japan’s surrender and the end of WWII.