In the long river of history, some days are so important that they become nodes that divide eras. September 2, 1945, is just such a day. On this day, with Japan's unconditional surrender on the battleship USS Missouri, the smoke of World War II finally began to dissipate. This article will take you to review the details that took place on the battleship and feel the gravity and solemnity of that historical moment.

I. Gathering on the USS MissouriOn the morning of September 2, 1945, on the main deck of the USS Missouri, a battleship of the United States Navy, people from all over the world gathered. This battleship, as the pride of the US Navy, has witnessed many battles in the Pacific War and will now become a witness to peace.The USS Missouri is the fourth Iowa-class battleship built by the US Navy in 1944. Its standard displacement is close to 45,000 tons. It is the highest-level and largest battleship of the US Navy. It participated in a series of battles in the Pacific War, such as the Battle of Iwo Jima. With a length of 270.4 meters, it is 7 meters longer than the Yamato, which the Japanese are proud of. It is the longest battleship in history.But at this time, this battleship shows no sign of being on combat readiness at all. Because on its main deck, people from all over the world are gathered: some are officers, some are soldiers, some are journalists; some have yellow hair, some have black hair, some have brown hair; some speak English, some speak Russian, some speak Chinese... Everyone's face is filled with a pleasant expression, and the atmosphere on the scene is quite relaxed.As the host of this battleship, the US Navy officers and soldiers from top to bottom are not wearing formal military uniforms. They are not wearing ties or medals. They are all in their usual military casual clothes. If someone who doesn't know sees it, they might think that a party might be held on the deck of this battleship.But at 8:10, the "Admiral's March" suddenly sounded from the ship's speakers. A messenger reported: "General Chester William Nimitz is about to board the ship!" Immediately, Nimitz's five-star admiral flag of the navy was raised on the ship.Not far away, the small boat on which US Navy five-star admiral Nimitz was riding was slowly approaching the USS Missouri.Half an hour later, the messenger reported again: "General Douglas MacArthur is about to board the ship!" Another five-star general flag of the army was raised on the ship. It has never happened in the history of the US Navy that two five-star general flags are raised on a single ship at the same time.At this time, the noise on the deck has obviously decreased. As five-star generals, it is of course impossible for Nimitz and MacArthur to appear in person to attend any party. In fact, their arrival also means that a ceremony is about to officially begin. The unconditional surrender ceremony of Japan.

II. The Contest between Two Five-Star GeneralsBehind the surrender ceremony is the contest between two US five-star generals, Nimitz and MacArthur.They had different opinions on the location and form of the surrender ceremony. Finally, with the mediation of US President Truman, they reached a consensus on holding the ceremony on the USS Missouri.Admiral Nimitz believes that the entire Pacific War began with Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The US "Pacific Fleet" suffered heavy losses. In fact, he also took over as the commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet at this critical moment. After that, from the Coral Sea to Midway Island, from Iwo Jima to Okinawa, in one bloody battle after another, the US Navy and Marine Corps have paid so much blood and lives. Should all the honors go to the US Army in the end?Nimitz is known for his good temper in the US military. Facing this plan, he did not fly into a rage but made a calm statement: I will definitely not attend this ceremony.As the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces in the Pacific theater, not attending the Japanese surrender ceremony? Isn't this a joke? But Nimitz encountered MacArthur, who is tough and likes to be in the spotlight. This general who is always with a corn cob pipe will not back down half a step. In terms of the ocean, "island-hopping tactics" were mainly thought up by me. In terms of land, was the blood shed by our army in Southeast Asia, especially in the Philippines, in vain?Neither of the two five-star generals would give in. Finally, the conflict reached President Truman. Truman had only been president for more than four months after succeeding from the vice president's position. Facing these two military veterans, he dared not offend either and could only laugh it off.In the end, it was the US Secretary of the Navy Forrestal who solved the problem. After careful consideration, Forrestal came up with a plan that no one could refuse. The Japanese surrender ceremony will be held on a US Navy warship, and the entire ceremony will be presided over by an army general. MacArthur will sign on behalf of the Allied countries, and Nimitz will sign on behalf of the United States. At that time, the five-star general flag of the navy and the five-star general flag of the army will be raised on the warship at the same time.As soon as this plan was announced, Nimitz and MacArthur had nothing to say, and Truman also showed a smile. Forrestal really knows how to handle things. The warship chosen for the surrender ceremony is the USS Missouri. This is not only because the USS Missouri has a large displacement, thick armor and powerful firepower, but also because Missouri is Truman's hometown. The launching ceremony of the USS Missouri was presided over by Truman's daughter.Before this surrender ceremony, the Americans, from the president to the two five-star generals, reached an agreement among themselves.

III. The Choice of the Japanese DelegationOn the Japanese side, they were also troubled by who would attend the surrender ceremony.Logically, the one who represents Japan in surrender should be the Japanese emperor. Considering the various rules and regulations of the emperor and the various emotions that bind hundreds of millions of Japanese people, at least it should be the prime minister of Japan, that is, the cabinet premier.At that time, the Japanese prime minister was 77-year-old Suzuki Kantaro. In April 1945, at the repeated request of Emperor Hirohito, he was entrusted to form a cabinet. Then, three hours after Emperor Hirohito announced the "end of the war" on the radio on August 15, he immediately submitted his resignation. His reason for resignation is simple but firm: his mission when he took office was to end the war. Now that the war is over, his mission is also completed.This naval general who is highly respected in both Japanese political and military circles firmly resigned with the bullet left in his head from the February 26 Incident (he was miraculously not killed after being hit by three bullets in that incident). Even the emperor did not dare to stop him and could only continue to look for a successor.The new prime minister found by the emperor is his uncle, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko, who is also of the imperial family. Although Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko was also active in the war of aggression against China, after Japan announced its surrender, he still helped his nephew, the emperor, clean up the mess. At that time, there were still 7 million fully armed soldiers in Japan proper, China, the Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. It was actually very difficult to persuade them to abandon the brainwashing education of "one hundred million people sacrificing their lives" and lay down their weapons.With the identity of "the emperor's uncle", Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko completed the task entrusted to him by the emperor in just a few dozen days. All 7 million Japanese soldiers laid down their weapons.But when the emperor proposed to Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko to lead a delegation to represent Japan in surrender on the USS Missouri, he encountered another dilemma. The ancestors of Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko had served as representatives to make peace with the United States in the "Black Ships Incident" when Japan was forced to open its doors. As a result, they suffered domestic criticism and had a tragic end. So he firmly refused.When the emperor finally persuaded his uncle, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko put forward another unchangeable condition: "I can negotiate surrender, but I will definitely not go to an American warship. If I must go, I will definitely resign!"Helplessly, the emperor could only look for another candidate. After several important figures in the military department were successively refused, Emperor Hirohito also felt helpless. There are many people in the Japanese army who believe in such a statement: "The word'surrender' does not exist in the dictionary of Japanese soldiers. If weapons are lost, fight with hands. If hands are not available, use feet. If hands and feet are not available, bite with teeth. If it is really impossible, bite off one's own tongue and commit suicide."The one who said this was Umezu Yoshijiro, the chief of staff of the Japanese military department at that time. Touched, the emperor gave a firm order: You go!The military representative is only a deputy. The head of the entire Japanese surrender delegation must also be a political figure. Emperor Hirohito finally chose Shigemitsu Mamoru, the foreign minister who recognized surrender as an important prerequisite for "the rejuvenation of the Japanese nation". Shigemitsu Mamoru also left unforgettable memories in China. After the January 28th Songhu Battle in 1932, when he attended the "Tenno's Birthday Festival" held by the Japanese military in Hongkou Park to celebrate the emperor's birthday, he was blown off his left leg by a bomb thrown by the Korean patriot Yoon Bong-gil and was disabled for life.In this way, led by these two people, the Japanese surrender delegation was formed.

IV. The Low-Key Attendance of the Chinese DelegationAt the same time, the Chinese delegation, led by General Xu Yongchang, attended the surrender ceremony in a low-key manner.General Xu Yongchang, with his low-key and pragmatic style, became the representative of China at this historical moment.The Chinese delegation arrived at the USS Missouri on the destroyer USS Nicholas at 8:30 together with the delegations of the Allied countries.The head of the Chinese delegation is General Xu Yongchang. From the Northern Expedition to the warlord melee and then to the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Xu Yongchang is not a very familiar name.In fact, the reason why Xu Yongchang was selected is precisely because he has a high military rank but is low-key and pragmatic.In terms of seniority, few soldiers in the Kuomintang at that time could compare with Xu Yongchang. Xu Yongchang was born in 1887. He graduated from the Army University. He experienced the Xinhai Revolution and participated in the movement to overthrow Yuan Shikai. At the age of 40, he was the "commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route of the Northern National Revolutionary Army". During the Central Plains War, he was the main general of the Jin-Sui Army commanding 200,000 troops.In terms of character, Xu Yongchang has always opposed warlord melee and advocated resting with the people. After the Northern Expedition ended in 1928, all the warlords wished to keep their troops for self-protection. Only he did the opposite. He voluntarily gave up his military power and became the chairman of the Suiyuan Provincial Government. He actively requested not to lead troops anymore and later volunteered to garrison and reclaim the border areas.But Chiang Kai-shek, on the contrary, took the initiative to invite him for talks several times and discussed the concepts of governing the country and leading the army with him. Xu Yongchang's views were deeply approved by Chiang Kai-shek.In terms of military rank and official rank, Xu Yongchang is a second-class general of the army. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he has always been the minister of military orders of the Military Commission and is in charge of operations. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he, together with He Yingqin, minister of military affairs, Bai Chongxi, minister of military training, and Chen Cheng, minister of political affairs, are known as the "four giants of the Military Commission". Nominally, he is the second-in-command in China's theater military command after Chiang Kai-shek.Such a person with seniority, military rank, no factions and no party struggles is naturally not missed by Chiang Kai-shek.Looking at the representatives of various countries participating in the Japanese surrender ceremony, the United States sent two five-star generals. If China only sends a lieutenant general to participate, it seems to admit that it did not contribute much in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. In any case, a person above the rank of general must be sent to set the record straight. Xu Yongchang is indeed a very suitable candidate.

V. The Solemn Moment of the Surrender CeremonyAt exactly 9:00 am on September 2, 1945, the surrender ceremony officially began.An eleven-member Japanese delegation appeared on the deck. The representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Shigemitsu Mamoru were basically wearing formal tailcoats and striped trousers and also wearing top hats. The seven officers led by Umezu Yoshijiro were wearing unironed military uniforms and unpolished military boots, looking a bit slovenly.Some reporters on the scene guessed that it might be that Japanese soldiers felt that "a defeated general is not worthy of speaking bravely" and were embarrassed to look energetic. But more people think that deep down in their hearts, Japanese soldiers are unwilling to surrender. In fact, what they think is to drag the ordinary Japanese people to carry out a "one hundred million people sacrificing their lives".The Americans also put thought into their clothing. Although the US military uniforms of the participants in the surrender ceremony were all new, they were all military casual clothes in the form of uniform shirts. From Nimitz and MacArthur down, none of them wore ties or medals. It was completely not a dress for attending a formal occasion. The US military wanted to express a kind of contempt for the surrendering Japanese army through this dressing.In fact, the route for the Japanese delegation to board the ship was also designed. They had to climb two flights of stairs. After climbing the first flight of stairs, they had to pass under the triple-mounted 406mm giant gun barrel of the No. 2 turret of the USS Missouri and bow their heads. The second flight of stairs was narrower and steeper.After they climbed the stairs panting, the representatives of the victorious countries such as MacArthur on the second deck of the bridge would leisurely walk down the stairs. The contrast in aura was immediately apparent.As for the US Navy soldiers on the USS Missouri, they did not designate a special position for them. So they occupied what they thought was the best viewing position. Some even directly sat by the railing and stretched out their feet, just like watching an open-air movie.After seeing MacArthur, the host of the surrender ceremony, Shigemitsu Mamoru and Umezu Yoshijiro saluted him at the same time, but MacArthur had no expression on his face and did not return the salute.Not returning the salute was intentional on MacArthur's part. But in fact, he was really not feeling well at that time. Although this surrender ceremony arrangement finally satisfied him, after experiencing so many great storms, he was inevitably a little nervous on this important day. Before this, in the toilet of the captain's room, he had just vomited out everything he ate in the morning.After the ship's chaplain prayed, MacArthur walked to the microphone and began to read the declaration: "...Today, representatives of our warring countries gather here to sign a solemn document so that peace can be restored. Disputes involving completely opposite ideals and ideologies have been decided on the battlefield. We do not need to discuss them here. As representatives of most people on the earth, we are not gathered here with mistrust, malice or hatred. The responsibility of both the victorious and defeated sides is to achieve a higher dignity. Only this dignity is conducive to the sacred goal we are about to strive for and enables all our people to faithfully execute the understanding we are about to achieve without reservation...."After reading it, he pointed to the chair in front of the table and said coldly, "Now I order the representatives of the Japanese imperial government and the Japanese army commander-in-chief to sign at the designated place on the surrender document!"On the long table beside, two pre-prepared surrender documents had already been placed. The text for the Allies to keep has a dark green leather cover; the text on the Japanese side has a cheap black canvas cover.This surrender document was drafted by the Allies because they had been tricked once before. On August 15, 1945, the Japanese emperor issued an edict of surrender, and the whole world rejoiced. But soon the Allies found that in this so-called "Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War" by the Japanese emperor, there was not a single word "surrender", only saying "cease fighting".So, the Allies drafted another "edict" again. The Japanese side was no longer allowed to participate. Instead, the emperor was asked to sign directly. In this edict, "surrender" was clearly mentioned twice.However, because the Japanese side has always liked to play tricks. Especially on the Pacific battlefield, there have been many "false surrender" incidents, which have caused considerable losses to the US military. So the US side even worried: If this surrender ceremony on the USS Missouri battleship is also a "false surrender", what if the Japanese come up with something like "kamikaze" or "fight to the death"?Therefore, a fleet commanded by US Admiral Spruance was on high alert in the nearby sea area at that time. Once something unexpected happens on the USS Missouri, the US military will immediately launch an attack on the Japanese.

VI. Signals of PeaceAfter the surrender document was placed, it was time to sign.Shigemitsu Mamoru was the first to come up. He took off his top hat and gloves and sat down. But when he sat down, his cane slipped and fell to the ground. The people around took a look and none of them meant to pick it up. And the attendants were still far away. Shigemitsu Mamoru, who was not very agile, could only pick it up by himself.Facing the surrender document, Shigemitsu Mamoru hesitated again. It was not that he didn't want to sign, but that he didn't know where to sign. MacArthur said to his chief of staff, "Tell him where to sign!"Under the guidance of others, Shigemitsu Mamoru quickly signed his name.Then Umezu Yoshijiro came up. He did not sit down but stood to sign. And he did not even look at the surrender document. After signing, he quickly stepped back.MacArthur then announced, "The supreme commander of the Allied countries now signs on behalf of all the belligerent countries!" What MacArthur said actually referred to himself.Immediately, he invited Major General Jonathan Wainwright and Lieutenant General Arthur Percival to accompany him in signing. Wainwright was the American general who was captured after being the last to hold out after MacArthur evacuated from the Philippines. Percival was the British general who was captured when Singapore fell. Both of them had just come out of the prisoner-of-war camp in Shenyang and had endured three years of torture and destruction as prisoners of war.MacArthur, who has always been good at public relations and publicity, then took out six pens and used each pen to sign "Douglas", "Mac", "Arthur" as well as his military rank, time and place.He gave the first and second pens to Wainwright and Percival who accompanied him in signing on the spot. The latter pens were given to his wife, the National Archives of the United States, West Point Military Academy and the Naval Academy respectively.After that, according to the compromise agreement between the two five-star generals before, Admiral Nimitz signed on behalf of the United States. Then it was the turn of the Chinese representative. The Chinese representative ranked second among the delegations of the Allied countries after the American representative.General Xu Yongchang, accompanied by General Shang Zhen, stepped forward and signed his name in the column of the recipient countries on behalf of China.Zhu Qiping, a reporter from the Chongqing Ta Kung Pao, was on the ship and witnessed the entire signing process. In his long news report "The Setting Sun", he wrote: "This signature has washed away the great humiliation of the Chinese nation. This scene is simple, solemn and solemn, and will never be forgotten."After the representatives of all countries had signed, the short surrender ceremony had come to an end.According to Nimitz's order, as soon as the ceremony ended, coffee and cigarettes could be provided to the Japanese delegation. Before this, the representatives of the Allied countries had unlimited supply of coffee and cigarettes when they boarded the ship, but only the Japanese delegation did not. The Americans believed that coffee and cigarettes were for entertaining friends.MacArthur finally took the stage and made the last concluding speech: "We jointly wish that the world will restore peace from now on. May God bless the eternal existence of peace! Now the ceremony is over."As soon as his words fell, everyone raised their heads to the sky. At this moment, a thunderous roar was resounding through Tokyo Bay. 400 American B-29 heavy bombers, escorted by 1,500 American naval carrier-based aircraft, flew over the USS Missouri in a collective.This was also deliberately designed by the US side. In the huge roar, the Americans seemed to send a signal to the Japanese: "Want to fight to the death? Do you have the qualification?"At this time, Li Xiushi, a reporter from the Guilin Ta Kung Pao who was also interviewing on the ship, looked down at his watch. It was exactly 9:18 am.

VII. Reflection and Prayer for PeaceOn the USS Missouri, not only Japan but every country needs to reflect.

General Xu Yongchang's words remind us that the maintenance of peace requires the joint efforts and introspection of every country. At that time, General Xu Yongchang actually refused to be interviewed. But after thinking about it, he still said this to Chinese and foreign journalists: "Today is a day for everyone to reflect. Every country represented here today can also think about the past. If its conscience tells it that it has made mistakes, it should bravely admit its mistakes and repent."

Some people present might find these words inexplicable. Aside from the defeated country Japan needing to repent, what do we need to repent for? But upon further consideration, General Xu Yongchang's words have deeper meanings.

First of all, China itself needs to draw lessons. Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, the great celestial empire has been complacent and engaged in internal strife. It has missed many opportunities for reform. As a result, its neighboring country Japan rose rapidly and invaded China as if there were no resistance. In the end, only the flesh and blood of its own military and civilians could be used to resist the invaders' steel cannons. Before the establishment of the Anti-Japanese National United Front, some people still emphasized "resisting foreign aggression after suppressing internal unrest", causing fratricidal strife and giving the invaders an opportunity.

Secondly, doesn't the United Kingdom need to reflect? At first, it continuously yielded to Japan for fear of being drawn into the fire. In a small way, it detained the "Lonely Battalion" led by Xie Jinwen who retreated into the British concession at the request of Japan. In a big way, it also closed the "Burma Road", the lifeline of China's resistance against Japan at the request of Japan. In Hong Kong, Burma, and Southeast Asia, it was also defeated at the first touch. In the Burma battlefield, it even used the Chinese army as a shield and never regarded China as a true ally.

Thirdly, doesn't the Soviet Union need to review? Although the Soviet Union silently supported China with a lot of military supplies, especially the air force, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in 1941, when China had been resisting Japan for the tenth year, the Soviet Union signed the "Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact" and recognized Japan's "puppet Manchukuo" in exchange for Japan's recognition of Outer Mongolia, which should have belonged to China. This allowed Japan to feel free to "march south". Although it was from the perspective of avoiding being involved in a two-front war for its own country, the interests sacrificed were those of China and others.

Finally, of course, the United States also needs to reflect. Admittedly, throughout World War II, in terms of the number of Japanese troops eliminated, the U.S. military was indeed leading. Several key battles that dealt heavy blows to the Japanese were also fought by the Americans. But it must also be admitted that Japan was also "nurtured" by the United States. Since 1931, in the face of Japan's obvious acts of aggression, the Americans turned a deaf ear and still traded oil, scrap iron, and steel with Japan. These were all important supports for Japan's aggression against China. It was not until the second half of 1941, when the Americans realized the seriousness of the problem, that they began to impose an embargo on Japan. After being slapped in the face by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, they began to increase their assistance to China, hoping that the Chinese battlefield could hold back the main force of the Japanese army.

So, General Xu Yongchang was not wrong in saying that every country needs to repent. In a sense, the Japanese militarism demon, from its birth to showing its claws and then to becoming bloodthirsty, has been enabled step by step by the appeasement and concessions of various countries.

On that day, in General MacArthur's speech, there was also such a passage: "After this solemn ceremony, we will bid farewell to the old world full of bloody massacres and welcome a very beautiful world, a world that safeguards human dignity, a world that is committed to pursuing freedom, tolerance, and justice. This is my most fervent hope and also the hope of all mankind!"

I believe these words were from his heart at that time. But just five years later, it was General MacArthur who commanded the "United Nations Army" to bring the flames of war of the Korean War to the banks of the Yalu River and even had planes directly bomb Dandong, China. And the battleship "Missouri" also appeared in the Korean War, providing artillery support to bombard the Chinese People's Volunteer Army onshore.

Just five years later. Upholding human dignity and pursuing freedom, tolerance, and justice should have been the ideal of everyone on this planet. But this ideal always seems close, and even seems about to be realized, but in fact it is still far away. This is also the reason why we always have to remember some days.

May there be world peace.

Conclusion: The wheels of history roll forward, but there are some days that we cannot forget. September 2nd, this day when we witnessed the dawn of peace on the "Missouri", is worth remembering forever. May there be world peace.