Unconditional surrender is a surrender in which no guarantees are given to the surrendering party. The victor has complete discretion over the treatment of the vanquished. It was a key Allied policy during World War II, aimed at completely dismantling the Axis powers and preventing future aggression. While intended to shorten the war and ensure lasting peace, the policy remains controversial, with some arguing it prolonged the conflict and contributed to immense destruction due to the enemy's unwillingness to negotiate.
