Unconditional surrender

Unconditional surrender refers to a surrender without conditions, except for those provided by international law. The most notable use of the term was in the Second World War.

United States usage

Normally a belligerent will only agree to surrender unconditionally if completely incapable of continuing hostilities. Announcing that only unconditional surrender is acceptable puts psychological pressure on a weaker adversary.

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The first use of the phrase occurred during the Battle of Fort Donelson in the Civil War. Commanding Union General Ulysses S. Grant received a request for terms from the fort's commanding officer, Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr. Grant's reply was brief: "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works." When news of Grant's victory—one of the Union forces' first in the Civil War—was received in Washington, newspapers of the day published (and President Lincoln endorsed) that Grant's first two initials, "U.S.", stood for "unconditional surrender".

Related Topics:
Battle of Fort Donelson - Civil War - Ulysses S. Grant - Simon Bolivar Buckner, Sr. - Washington - Newspapers - Lincoln

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However, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse was not an unconditional surrender as Grant agreed to allow the men under Lee's command to go home under parole and to keep sidearms and private horses.

Related Topics:
Army of Northern Virginia - Robert E. Lee - Appomattox Courthouse

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Its use was revived during World War II at the Casablanca conference when American President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered it to the other Allies and the press as the objective of the war against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Related Topics:
World War II - Casablanca conference - Franklin D. Roosevelt - Allies - Germany - Italy - Japan

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