Surrender Documents

GERMANY (MAY 4-8, 1945)

May 4, 1945Instrument of Surrender of All German armed forces in HOLLAND, in northwest Germany including all islands, and in DENMARK, signed at Luneburg.
May 6, 1945Reichspresident Donitz's authorization to Colonel General Jodl to conclude a general surrender.
May 7, 1945Instrument of surrender of all German forces, signed at Reims.
May 7, 1945Orders relating to the surrender of the German Army and Air Forces.
May 7, 1945Orders relating to the surrender of the German Naval Forces.
Agreement to execute a formal ratification of the unconditional surrender, signed by Jodl at Reims
Reichspresident Donitz's authorization to German representatives to execute ratification.
May 8, 1945Instrument of surrender signed at Berlin.
May 8, 1945Instrument of surrender signed at Berlin (in German)


JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 2-12, 1945)

Foreign Minister Shigemitsu's credentials authorizing him to sign the instrument of surrender at Tokyo Bay.
Translation of Foreign Minister Shigemitsu's credentials.
General Umezu's credentials authorizing him to sign the instrument of surrender at Tokyo Bay.
Translation of General Umezu's credentials.
September 2, 1945Instrument of surrender signed at Tokyo Bay.
Emperor Hirohito's rescript announcing the surrender and ordering the people to carry out the provisions of the instrument of surrender.
Translation of Emperor Hirohito's rescript.
September 3, 1945Instrument of surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines
September 9, 1945Instrument of surrender of Japanese forces in southern Korea
September 12, 1945Instrument of surrender of Japanese forces in South East Asia

Last updated on March 5, 2005 (National Archives and Records Administration)