August 15, 1945 Japan agrees to surrender if the allies will allow the Mikado can stay on the throne.

The previous offers of Japan to surrender had included a proviso that they be allowed to keep captured territory and not suffer any consequences.

America responded by dropping Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Despite what revisionist historians claim the Japanese Army refused to accept the surrender and attempted to destroy the records and keep on fighting. They planned to put the Mikado under house arrest and kill the civilians that had convinced him to agree to the Allies terms.

Emperor Hirohito made the official announcement on the radio on August 15 via a pre recorded statement.

An invasion that would have caused half a million Allied and millions of Japanese casualties had been averted. Additionally, the British and Commonwealth nations were able to cancel a planned invasion of Malaya, saving more lives.

The actual surrender ceremony took place in Tokyo Harbor on September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri.