We, the representatives of the warring nations, are gathered here today to sign a solemn agreement to restore peace. The terms of the agreement, which embody diametrically opposed ideals and ideologies, have been determined on battlefields around the world and need not be discussed or debated here.
- At 10 o'clock on September 2, 1945, U.S. Army Five-star General MacArthur on Battleship Missouri
More than thirty years ago, " Reader's Digest " (now called "Reader") 1985 The 10th issue of the year published a series of articles commemorating the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II. I was still young at the time, lying on the back of my mother who was reading this book, and accidentally remembered the title of the previous article on page 7, four big characters:
Japan surrendered
"Reader's Digest", Issue 10, 1985, Page 7, the annotation was added by me
As I grew up, I gradually learned that on September 2, 1945, on the USS Missouri battleship in Tokyo Bay, a ceremony to honor Japan was held. Signing ceremony for the unconditional surrender of the anti-fascist allies. American journalist William Clegg created this battlefield newsletter from the perspective of an eyewitness.
The reason why it is called battlefield communication is because there is a sentence in the article:
"Behind the long table, stood solemn representatives from various countries that are still at war with Japan."
Legally speaking, even before the surrender document is signed, even if There was only one minute left and the two sides were still fighting. The cold and antagonistic attitude towards Japan is vividly displayed on the page.
This documentary news report has a strong wartime style. It is straightforward, dignified and solemn. It does not sensationalize, praise or exaggerate. It records that hard-core historical moment with a simple writing style that is almost a sketch.
The title, in particular, has no modifications. It says "Japan surrendered", it is short and sweet, with a "suffocating" feeling.
The whole text only uses association and metaphor writing techniques on one thing, which is the ruthless ridicule of the Japanese surrender delegation. Especially the section where Shigemitsu Aoi, who has a broken leg and is disabled, struggles to climb up the gangway:
"Like Shigemitsu Aoi, Japan has broken limbs and can no longer stand up."
In the whole text, what impressed me the most was the second sentence in MacArthur’s live speech:
"The terms of the agreement embody diametrically opposed ideals and ideologies that have been determined on battlefields around the world and need not be discussed or debated by us here."
Although MacArthur later left a record of mistakes and shame in history, the words he said on behalf of the anti-fascist camp here and now are worthy of being recorded in the annals of history - This is only for the winner The most straightforward and powerful voice: Stop talking nonsense and just do whatever I ask you to do!
The last sentence of the article is not only a true portrayal of weather changes, but also has an obvious metaphorical meaning. A literary man, after experiencing a moment that will go down in history, and seeing God open his eyes again, can't help but embellish and express:
"At this time, a gap opened in the clouds - the sun finally came out."
Here is the " Full translation of "Japanese Surrender", with notes (small blue text) and photos of the scene. From my personal point of view, this news report can be selected into our Chinese teaching materials.
[Editor’s note: The name of the person in the article is Umezu Mijiro, now generally translated as Umezu Meijiro ; Halsey, now generally translated as Halsey; Matthew Beery, now generally translated as Matthew Perry; Suzanne German, or translated as Sutherland.】
Japan surrendered
html On September 2, the day when Japan was punished for its many crimes finally came. This morning was surprisingly cold. Under the gloomy lead-grey sky, four black cars drove at full speed along the coastline of Tokyo Bay towards Yokohama . Riding in the first car was General Umezu Mijiro. He looked gloomy and thought repeatedly about the role he was about to play today. Completely disregarding Umezu's own wishes, the Emperor ordered him to represent the Japanese armed forces at the upcoming ceremony aboard the battleship Missouri to accept Japan's surrender. On the surface, he followed the samurai tradition and respectfully accepted the emperor's will, but deep down he was sad and depressed.
Sitting next to him was Aoi Shigemitsu, a skinny man who wore a pair of glasses and was a veteran diplomat. As a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he will also sign the instrument of surrender.
[Clerger used association techniques in this part. Because he was not in the car, he could only speculate on Umezu's expression and mood at the time. However, what other expressions and moods could Umezu have at that moment? (laughing)]
The car passed through the Yokohama dock area that was flattened by artillery fire, arrived at the central area of the harbor that was messed up by the bombing, and then accelerated. Near the Yokohama Prefectural Government, Mijiro Umezu, Aoi Shigemitsu and nine other members of the Japanese delegation got off the bus. They stood there in silence, waiting for the US military to send a ship to take them to the venue where the surrender ceremony would be held.
[The brief description of the war ruins is specially added here, which is not only realistic, but also hints: why Japan surrendered unconditionally. 】
html At 17:30, the Japanese boarded the Lansdowne, and the destroyer immediately sailed towards the battleship Missouri at a speed of 16 knots per hour.
The Japanese delegation boarded the Lansdowne
The first person from the Japanese delegation to board the ship was Aoi Shigemitsu. Colonel Sydney Mashbill of the US Army served as the liaison officer, and Aoi Shigemitsu climbed up the rickety ladder with great difficulty. Thinking about it, his amputation stump was even more painful at this moment. When his compatriots saw Shigemitsu Aoi's pain, they had miserable expressions on their faces, as if they were thinking of the fate of their motherland - just like Shigemitsu Aoi, Japan's limbs are now broken and can never stand up again.
[On April 29, 1932, Shigemitsu Aoi, the then Minister to China, was cast into the "Songhu War Victory Ceremony" held by the Japanese side in Hongkou Park after the "128" incident by the North Korean youth Yin Pengji. He was injured by the bomb and his right leg was amputated. 】
The next person to climb up the ladder was Mijiro Umezu, and the rest of the people also filed up. Finally, all 11 members of the Japanese delegation came up. They faced a long table covered with green tablecloth and stood neatly in three rows. Behind the long table stood representatives from various countries that were still at war with Japan.
famous scene: Japanese representatives boarded the Missouri and lined up in three lines
Today, the flagship of Admiral William Hullsey became the center of world attention. He ordered the battleship to be specially decorated and equipped with a cultural relic with historical symbolic significance. The guests saw a faded American flag on the warship . 92 years ago, in 1853, this flag flew on the bow of a warship commanded by Matthew Beary as it sailed into Tokyo Bay.
[The above paragraph was deleted by Reader's Digest at the time because it smacked of American "stuffing private goods" and involved colonialism, which was inconsistent with our three views. 】
At the bottom right of the photo is the American flag, with only 31 stars
At this time, the movie camera rustled and the reporters were busy snapping and snapping photos. The Japanese looked nervous, waiting for the ceremony to begin. The Americans attending the ceremony all wore military uniforms without ties, which was incompatible with the solemn atmosphere of the occasion.
Members of the British delegation wore short-sleeved military tops, short military trousers, and white stockings that reached their knees. Russians all wear red epaulettes and are gorgeously dressed. The Chinese, French and Canadian soldiers present were all solemnly dressed, in sharp contrast to the Americans' casual uniforms.
[It is said that the US officers and soldiers deliberately wore military civilian clothes at that time to humiliate Japan. But Clegg doesn't seem to agree with this approach. In this paragraph, the five permanent members of the United Nations are highlighted. 】
The Soviet representative signed, and behind him were the neatly dressed representatives of China, Britain, France and other countries. At 110 o'clock, a hatch on the Missouri was opened, and General Douglas MacArthur, accompanied by Nimitz and Hersey, walked. He walked briskly to the opposite side of the Japanese. As soon as he stood still, MacArthur began to read out something on a small piece of paper in his hand:
"Today we, representatives of the warring countries, gather here to sign a solemn agreement to restore peace. In the agreement The conditions contained diametrically opposed ideals and ideologies that have been established on battlefields around the world and need not be discussed or debated here."
When MacArthur read some of the following. His hands were shaking a little: "...the document before you records the terms and conditions for Japan's surrender and acceptance of that country's surrender."
"As the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, I pledge that I will abide by the traditions of the countries I represent. to fulfill their duties in a spirit of justice and tolerance, and to take necessary measures to ensure that the terms of surrender are fully, promptly and faithfully implemented."
The general took a step back and made a gesture to ask the Japanese to sign. At this great moment, when Aoi Shigemitsu trudged to the long table, the whole place fell into silence. Shigemitsu Aoi slowly sat down on the chair. At this time, the sea breeze blew his hair away. He placed his tall hat on the long table, then nervously took off his gloves and placed them on top of the hat.
Shigemitsu Aoi took out the pen and stared at the documents on the table, seemingly at a loss.
At this time, MacArthur said sternly: "Suzland, tell him where to sign!" Chief of Staff Suzland walked to the table and pointed where Shigemitsu Aoi signed. The foreign minister was embarrassed and his face turned red. He lowered his head to sign. It was 10:04.
[The Americans are arrogant and pointing, and the Americans are doing official business without any politeness. They just want to make the Japanese side look embarrassed and red-faced in front of the public. 】
Shigemitsu Aoi took out a pen and was about to sign but was at a loss for a moment
A copy of the surrender letter on the Missouri
Umezu Mijiro then walked to the long table. Without even looking at the document, he quickly wrote his name under Shigemitsu Aoi's name. After signing, he walked back to the ranks of the Japanese delegation without any expression and without squinting his eyes. At this time, tears rolled down the cheeks of some Japanese people.
Then, MacArthur and representatives from other countries also signed. When the last one was signed, MacArthur walked to the front and announced:
"World peace has finally been restored. Let us pray for it and ask God to maintain peace forever. I declare: the ceremony is over."
[Of course, later as Japan" MacArthur's actions greatly violated what he said in public. Even before the founding of the People's Republic of China, Japan began to use a large number of Japanese World War II war criminals to carry out anti-China activities. See what I wrote a few days ago: MacArthur's signature
The surrender commemorative card with the signatures of MacArthur, Nimitz, Halsey and Captain Murray of the Missouri
When the Japanese representative received his own surrender document, he found that Something went wrong: it turned out that the Canadian representative signed in the wrong place.General Suzland immediately sat down again and made the necessary changes. Then, the Japanese walked towards the gangway. As they passed by a cordon of Allied officers, they accepted the latter's salute. Mijiro Umezu had a stern expression and did not look away, but he returned the gift. Other members of the delegation also returned the gift.
[At that time, Americans were still particular about appearances. Before the signing, the war was still in a state of war, and Japan was not polite to them; after the signing, the war was over, and it was treated with a little dignity. 】
The Allied officers saluted the Japanese representative, and it could be seen that the Japanese representative was raising his hand in return.
At this time, a gap opened in the clouds - the sun finally came out.
