Recalling the ceremony for Japan's surrender in China Theater

This file photo shows the ceremony held in Nanjing on September 9, 1945. [Photo exclusively provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ceremony for Japan's surrender in China Theater was held in the auditorium of the Central Military Academy in Nanjing on September 9, 1945.

The surrender of Japan to the Allies was announced by Emperor Hirohito by broadcast on August 15 and was formally signed on the United States Navy Battleship USS Missouri on September 2.

Since the Japanese government had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and called for an unconditional surrender, it was asked by the Chinese government to cease all the military operations in China.

The ceremony lasted for 15 minutes and General He Yingqin, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army, and Okamura Yasutsugu, Commander-in-Chief of Japan's China Expeditionary Army, represented their respective governments.

Yasuji Okamura signed the Act of Surrender-China Theater, which was later handed to He Yingqin. Japan declared its unconditional surrender.

The Japanese surrender party departed for Nanjing on August 23. A party of 160 Chinese officers also arrived in Nanjing on August 27 to establish an advance headquarters for the ceremony.

Also in attendance were representatives from the United States, Britian, France, Russia and other counties of the Allies of World War II.

This ceremony is one of the most important moments in Chinese history. It signifies the victory of China's eight-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

One of the invitation letters of the ceremony was displayed in the Museum of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, which was from General Gou Jitang.

The letter of invitation to the ceremony listed some notes asking not to offend the representatives of Japan verbally or physically and not to smoke or make noise during the ceremony.

The photo is exclusively provided to chinadaily.com.cn by Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and cannot be used without permission.