Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

Copy of Instrument of Surrender by the Japanese Second Army

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1945

Overview

Dark wood framed copy of the Instrument of Surrender outlining the conditions of surrender by the Japanese Armed Forces and those under Japanese control in the Netherlands East Indies. The document is off-white rectangular paper with a seal depicting the Australian coat of arms encircled by COMMANDER IN CHIEF AUSTRAIAN MILITARY FORCES at the top. Underneath is the heading INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER in italic script, followed by a statement regarding General Order Number One, the proclamation of unconditional surrender and two commands to the Japanese Armed Forces to lay down their arms. Below these are the signatures of the commanders of the Second Japanese Army (in Japanese) and the Commander in Chief of the Australian Military Forces (in English).

Historical information

The end of war with Japan was announced on 15 August 1945. The formal surrender of the Second Japanese Army took place on Morotai Island, the Headquarters of Australia’s forces in the Netherlands East Indies, on 9 September 1945. In the presence of Australian and other Allied troops, the document was signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Forces, General Sir Thomas Blamey, Lt. General Teshima, Commander of the Japanese Second Army and Senior Naval Officer, Captain Omaya. Representatives of the RAAF, RAN, U.S. and NEI forces were present at the signing in addition to those from the AIF.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2010.7.2

Item type

Documents

Themes

Buildings > Military
War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Glass

Paper

Wood

Width

267 mm

Height or length

423 mm

Weight

731 g

Inscriptions and markings

"INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER / In accordance with General Order Number One issued / by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters by direction of / the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers we hereby:
A. Proclaim the Unconditional Surrender to the Commander / in Chief Australian Military Forces of all Japanese Armed / Forces and all Armed Forces under Japanese control in the / Netherlands East Indies, East of and exclusive of Lombok / and in Borneo.
B. Command all Commanders and members of the Japanese / Armed Forces within the Territories, / Islands and Areas aforesaid to cease hostilities immediately, / lay down their arms, remain in their present localities and do / all such acts and things as may be required of them by the / Commander in Chief, Australian Military Forces or his / authorised Representative or Representatives.
C. Command all Civil, Military and navy officials and all members of the Japanese Armed Forces to obey and enforce all Proclamations, Orders and Directions issued by the Commander in Chief, Australian Military Forces, or his authorised Representative or Representatives.
Signed at Morotai on the Ninth day of September 1945. / Commander Second Japanese Army / By Command and on behalf of / Japanese Imperial General Headquarters / Accepted at Morotai on the Ninth day of September 1945 / General Commander in Chief / Australian Military Forces."
The signatures of each Commander appear on the document.

Keywords

Second World War

Instrument of Surrender

Second Japanese Army Surrender

General Sir Thomas Blamey

Morotai

Year

1945

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria