IMAGO International History, Second World War, Surrender of Japan, 80th anniversary on 2 September

Sep 2, 2025

The following photos have been selected for you by the IMAGO picture desk on this topic. For more pictures please use the search function.

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur seated at desk during formal surrender ceremonies aboard USS Missouri as soldiers look on, Tokyo Bay, Japan, U.S. Army Signal Corps, September 2, 1945 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa12834
Signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender 5506234 02.09.1945 The signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on board the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. Signatories on behalf of the Empire of Japan: Foreign Minister Shigemitsu Mamoru and Chief of the Army General Staff Yoshijiro Umezu (standing in the center); on behalf of the allied armies: Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers General of the US Army Douglas McCartur; and on behalf of the USSR:Lt-Gen Kuzma Derevyanko (puts his signature). Temin Sputnik Japan Copyright: xTeminx
JAPANESE SURRENDER, 1945. Admiral Conrad E.L. Helfrich signing the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Netherlands during the formal surrender of the Empire of Japan onboard the USS Missouri. General Douglas MacArthur stands beside him as a crowd of spectators looks on. Photograph, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0644764
JAPANESE SURRENDER, 1945. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu boarding the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay, Japan. Photograph, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0644759
JAPANESE SURRENDER, 1945. Representatives of the Empire of Japan onboard the USS Missouri for the formal surrender to the Allied Powers. In the front row: Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu. Photograph, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0623409
MACARTHUR AND NIMITZ, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur (left) and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on board the USS Missouri at the time of the Japanese surrender, 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0167357
SURRENDER OF JAPAN, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur (at table, right) is saluted at the singing of the surrender of Japan on board the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0167055
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (1880-1964). U.S. Army General. MacArthur arriving at Atsugi Airport, near Tokyo, Japan, on 28 August 1945, to attend the signing of the surrender of Japan to Allied forces. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0114975
RECORD DATE NOT STATED Surrender Ceremony aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, JapanThis historic surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) Tokyo Bay. Jap foreign minister, Namoru Shigemitsu, signs surrender terms as high ranking Allied officers look on. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme commander broadcasts the ceremonies. Copyright: xpiemagsx naramil4pie15102022-113 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur reads the surrender terms to the Japanese representatives on board USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay. Copyright: xpiemagsx admiralww2pie10322-718 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
JAPANISCHE ÜBERGABE General Douglas MacArthur unterzeichnet als Oberster Alliierter Befehlshaber während der offiziellen Kapitulationszeremonie auf der USS Missouri in der Bucht von Tokio am 2. September 1945 Hinter General MacArthur stehen Generalleutnant Jonathan Wainwright und Generalleutnant A. E. Percival Die bedi
General Douglas MacArthur signing the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers 1945 General Douglas MacArthur signing the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers 1945 Copyright: xPhoto12 AnnxRonanxPicturexLibraryx ARP18A27491
- UNLOCATED (FILE) : This file picture dated 30 Ausgust 1965 is about Japan surrender. On the picture : Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamoru Shigemitsu on an american boat. He is about to sign the surrender official act (Instrument of Surrender). ARCHIVES x40491408x
General Douglas MacArthur. 31 August 1945, Manila Philippines Copyright: Topfoto !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! UnitedArchives1328423
Vintage World War II History photo of Admiral Chester Nimitz signing the Japanese surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri Standing behind Nimitz are General Douglas MacArthur Admiral William Halsey and Admiral Forrest Sherman Copyright: JohnxParrot StocktrekxImages JPA101265M
On a forward deck of the battleship USS Missouri , Foreign Minister Shigemitsu on behalf of Emperor Hirohito affixes his signature to the historic document by which Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Nations . Behind him stand other members of the Japanese delegation . At the right ( back to camera ) is General Douglas MacArthur , who commanded all Pacific forces , and at the left are members of the Allied delegations . The scene which marked the dawn of peace , took place on September 1st in Tokyo Bay . By the terms of the surrender the Emperor , as spiritual leader of Japan , must remain untouched . !AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Mono Print UnitedArchives1228409
General Douglas MacArthur (at the microphone) watches the japanese representative, Mamoru Shigemitsu, sign the official Instrument of Surrender, documents on complete capitulation of Japan, September 2, 1945. The photo from the USSR central archives. Repro photo . TASS_268963

Images in this collection

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur seated at desk during formal surrender ceremonies aboard USS Missouri as soldiers look on, Tokyo Bay, Japan, U.S. Army Signal Corps, September 2, 1945 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa12834

JAPANESE SURRENDER, 1945. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu boarding the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay, Japan. Photograph, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0644759

JAPANESE SURRENDER, 1945. Representatives of the Empire of Japan onboard the USS Missouri for the formal surrender to the Allied Powers. In the front row: Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu. Photograph, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0623409

MACARTHUR AND NIMITZ, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur (left) and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on board the USS Missouri at the time of the Japanese surrender, 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0167357

SURRENDER OF JAPAN, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur (at table, right) is saluted at the singing of the surrender of Japan on board the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0167055

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (1880-1964). U.S. Army General. MacArthur arriving at Atsugi Airport, near Tokyo, Japan, on 28 August 1945, to attend the signing of the surrender of Japan to Allied forces. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0114975

Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur reads the surrender terms to the Japanese representatives on board USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay. Copyright: xpiemagsx admiralww2pie10322-718 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!

General Douglas MacArthur signing the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers 1945 General Douglas MacArthur signing the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers 1945 Copyright: xPhoto12 AnnxRonanxPicturexLibraryx ARP18A27491

- UNLOCATED (FILE) : This file picture dated 30 Ausgust 1965 is about Japan surrender. On the picture : Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamoru Shigemitsu on an american boat. He is about to sign the surrender official act (Instrument of Surrender). ARCHIVES x40491408x

General Douglas MacArthur. 31 August 1945, Manila Philippines Copyright: Topfoto !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! UnitedArchives1328423

Vintage World War II History photo of Admiral Chester Nimitz signing the Japanese surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri Standing behind Nimitz are General Douglas MacArthur Admiral William Halsey and Admiral Forrest Sherman Copyright: JohnxParrot StocktrekxImages JPA101265M

General Douglas MacArthur (at the microphone) watches the japanese representative, Mamoru Shigemitsu, sign the official Instrument of Surrender, documents on complete capitulation of Japan, September 2, 1945. The photo from the USSR central archives. Repro photo . TASS_268963