The Potsdam Declaration was a statement issued on July 26, 1945, during World War II by the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, and China. It outlined the terms for Japan's surrender, demanding the end of its militarism and the establishment of a peaceful government. The declaration emphasized that failure to surrender would result in "prompt and utter destruction." The declaration was significant as it set the stage for the eventual conclusion of the war in the Pacific. After Japan's refusal to accept the terms, the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to Japan's surrender in August 1945.