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8 mei 1945
Instrument of Surrender
of
All German armed forces in HOLLAND, in
northwest Germany including all islands,
and in DENMARK.
1. The German
Command agrees to the surrender of all armed forces in HOLLAND, in
northwest GERMANY including the FRISLIAN ISLANDS and HELIGOLAND and
all islands, in SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, and in DENMARK, to the C.-in-C.
21 Army Group. =This to include all naval ships in these areas=
These forces to lay down their arms and to surrender unconditionally.
2. All hostilities
on land, on sea, or in the air by German forces in the above areas
to cease at 0800 hrs. British Double Summer Time on Saturday 5 May
1945.
3. The German
command to carry out at once, and without argument or comment, all
further orders that will be issued by the Allied Powers on any
subject.
4. Disobedience of
orders, or failure to comply with them, will be regarded as a breach
of these surrender terms and will be dealt with by the Allied Powers
in accordance with the laws and usages of war.
5. This insturment
of surrender is independent of, without pre- judice to, and will be
superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on
behalf of the Allied Powers and applicable to Germany and the German
armed forces as a whole.
6. This instument
of surrender is written in English and in German. The English
version is the authentic text.
7. The decision of
the Allied Powers will be final if any doubt or dispute arise as to
the meaning or intrepretation of the surrender terms.
HANS GEORG von
FRIEDBERG
KINZEL
G. WAGNER
B. L. MONTGOMERY
Field - Marshal
POLECK
FRIEDEL
4 May 1945
1830 hrs.
---------------------------------------
{Reichspresident
Donitz's authorization to Colonel General Jodl} {to conclude a
general surrender:}
Hauptquartier, den
6. Mai 1945.
Ich bevollmachtige
Generaloberst J o d l , Chef des Wehrmachtfuhrungsstabes in
Oberkommando der Wehrmact, zum Abschluss eines Waffenstill-
standsbkommens mit dem Hauptquartier des Generals Eisenhower .
[ SEAL ]
DONITZ
GroBadmiral.
---------------------------------------
Only this text in
English is authoritative.
ACT OF MILITARY
SURRENDER
1. We the undersigned, acting by authority of the German High
Command, hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Commander,
Allied Expeditionary Forces and simultaneously to the Soviet High
Command all forces on land, sea and in the air who are at this date
under German control.
2. The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German
military, naval and air authorties and to all forces under German
control to cease active operations at =2301= hours Central European
time on = 8 May = and to remain in the positions occupied at that
time. No ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be scuttled, or any damage
done to their hull, machinery or equipment.
3. The German High Command will at once issue to the appropriate
commander, and ensure the carrying out of any further orders issued
by the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and by the
Soviet High Command.
4. This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will
be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or
on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and the
German armed forces as a whole.
5. In the event of the German High Command or any of the forces
under their control failing to act in accordance with this Act of
Surrender, the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and the
Soviet High Command will take such punitive or other action as they
deem appropriate.
Signed at RHEIMS at
0241 on the 7th day of May, 1945.
France
On behalf of the
German High Command.
JODL
IN THE PRESENCE OF
On behalf of the
Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, W. B. SMITH
On behalf of the Soviet High Command, SOUSLOPAROV
F SEVEZ, Major
General, French Army
(Witness)
---------------------------------------
SUPREME
HEADQUARTERS,
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
SERIAL 1
ORDERS BY THE
SUPREME COMMANDER,
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE RELATING TO
ARMY AND AIR FORCES UNDER GERMAN CONTROL
1. Local commanders of the Army and Air Force under German control
on the Western Front, in NORWAY and in the CHANNEL ISLANDS will hold
themselves in readiness to receive detailed orders for the surrender
of their forces from the Supreme Commander's subordinate commanders
opposite their front.
2. In the
case of NORWAY the Supreme Commander's representatives will be the
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Scottish Command and Air
Officer Commanding 13 Group RAF.
3. In the
case of the CHANNEL ISLANDS the Supreme Commander's representatives
will be the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command
and Air Officer Commanding 10 Group RAF.
WALTER B SMITH
Signed.................... For the Supreme Commander, RAF.
Dated 0241 7th May,
1945
Rheims France
---------------------------------------
SPECIAL ORDERS BY
THE SUPREME COMMANDER, ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO THE GERMAN HIGH
COMMAND RELATING TO NAVAL FORCES
For the purpose of
these orders the term "Allied Representatives" shall be
deemed to include the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force,
and any subordinate commander, staff officer or agent acting
pursuant to his orders.
SPECIAL ORDERS BY
THE SUPREME COMMANDER, ALLIED
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND
RELATING TO NAVAL FORCES
PART I GENERAL
Definition of Naval
Forces
1. For the purpose
of these orders all formations, units, and personnel of the German
Navy together with the Marine Kusten Polizie shall be refered to as
the German Naval Forces.
2. Members of the
Marine Kusten Polizie will immediately be placed under the command
of the appropriate German Naval Commanders who will be responsible
for their maintenance and supply where applicable, to the same
extent and degree as for units of the German Navy. German Naval
Representatives and information required immediately
3. The German High
Command will dispatch within 48 hours after the surrender becomes
effective, a res- ponsible Flag Officer to the Allied Naval
Commander, Expeditionary Force at his headquarters. This Flag
Officer will furnish the Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary Force,
with:-
a. Corrected copies of charts showing all minefields in Western
Europe waters, including the BALTIC as far as LUBECK (inclusive)
which have been laid by German and German-controlled vessels or
aircraft, positions of all wrecks, booms and other underwater
obstructions in this area, details of the German convoy routes and
searched channels and of all bouys, lights and other navigational
aids in this area. The appropriate navigational publications are
also required.
b. Details of the exact location of all departments and branches of
the German Admiralty (OKM).
c. All available information concerning the numbers and types of
German minesweepers and sperr- brechers in German controlled Dutch
ports and German NORTH SEA ports that can be obtained without
delaying his departure. This German Flag Officer is to be
accompanied by a Communications Officer who is familiar with the
German Naval W/T organization and who is to bring with him the
current naval communications Orders, including allocation of
frequencies, list of W/T and R/T call signs in force, and a list of
all codes and cyphers in use, and intended to be brought into use.
d. Location of all surface warships down to and including "Elbing"
class Torpedo Boats, and of all submarines and "E" Boats.
4. The German High
Command will also dispatch within 48 hours after the surrender
becomes effective a responsibile officer, not below the rank of
Captain, by coastal craft to report to the Admiral Commanding at
DOVER for onward routing to Commander-in-Chief, THE NORE, with:-
a. Corrected copies of charts showing all minefields in the NORTH
SEA SOUTH of 54 30' NORTH and EAST of 1 30' EAST laid by German and
German-controlled vessels or aircraft, positions of all wrecks,
booms and all other underwater obstructions; details of all German
Convoy routes and searched channels in this area, and of all bouys,
lights and other navigational aids which are under German control.
Appropriate naviga- tional publications are also required.
b. All available information concerning the numbers and types of
German minesweepers and sperrbrechers in German contolled Dutch
ports and German NORTH SEA ports that can be obtained without
delaying his departure.
5. Another
responsible German Naval Officer, with similar information is to be
dispatched by un- escorted aircraft painted white to MANSTON
Areodrome position 51 20' NORTH, 1 20' EAST for onward routing to
Commander-in-Chief, THE NORE.
6. The German High
Command will issue instruc- tions to certain German naval commands
as indicated below:-
a. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORTH SEA will dispatch by coastal
craft within 48 hours after the surrender becomes effective a
responsible officer, not below the rank of Captain, to the Admiral
Commanding at DOVER for onward routing to Commander-in-Chief, THE
NORE, with:-
-
(1) details
of minesweeping operations carried out in the German convoy
route between the HOOK OF HOLLAND and HAMBURG and in
approaches to harbours between these two ports during the
previous 60 days;
-
(2) numbers
and postions of all British mines swept during these
operations;
-
(3) details
of all controlled mine- fields in this area and information
whether they have been rendered ineffective;
-
(4) details
of all other mining and types of mines employed in the
harbours and harbour approaches of CUXHAVEN, EMDEN,
TERSCHELLING, TEXEL, IJMUIDEN, AMSTERDAM, SCHEVENINGEN, HOOK
OF HOLLAND and ROTTERDAM;
-
(5)
berthing facilities in the harbours enumerated in paragraph
(6a). (4) above and the numbers of auxiliary minesweepers
which can be accomodated;
-
(6) a list
of all W/T and R/T call signs in use by the German Navy.
Any of the above information which cannot be obtained without
delaying the departure of this officer will be forwarded
subsequently as soon as it is available.
b. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORTH SEA, will also dispatch as
soon as possible by coastal craft to DOVER thirteen German Naval
Officers who must be familiar with the German swept channels between
the HOOK OF HOLLAND and CUXHAVEN. These officers will bring with
them all the charts and books required for naviagation in this area
and will be accompanied by pilots (and interpreters if necessary).
c. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will dispatch by sea within
48 hours after the surrender becomes effective, a responsible
officer, not below the rank of Captain to the Commander-in-Chief,
ROSYTH, with corrected copies of charts showing all German
minefields in the NORTH SEA, NORTH of 56 NORTH, all wrecks, booms
and other underwater obstructions, details of German convoy routes
and searched channels in this area, of the approach channels to the
principal Norwegian ports and of all bouys, lights and other
navigational aids in this area. This officer will also bring with
him the disposition of all "U" Boats and details of all
orders affecting their future movements. He will be accompanied by
six German Naval Officers with pilots (and interpreters if necessary)
who are familiar with the coastal swept channels between OSLO and
TROMSO. These officers will bring with them all the charts and books
required for navigation in Norwegian waters, and a list of all W/T
and R/T call signs in use by the German Navy.
d. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will dispatch a duplicate
party to the above with similar informa- tion by an unescorted
aircraft painted white to DREM Airfield 56 02' NORTH 02 48' WEST.
e. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will report by W/T to the
Commander-in-Chief, ROSYTH, within 48 hours after the surrender
becomes effective, the following information:-
-
(1)
Berthing facilities at OSLO, CHRISTIANSAND, STAVANGER,
BERGEN, TRONDHEIM, NARVIK, and TROMSO.
-
(2) The
appropriate quantities of furnace oil fuel, diesel oil fuel,
and coal at all the principal Norwegian ports between OSLO
and TROMSO.
7. The German
Admiral SKGGERAK will dispatch by sea within 48 hours after the
surrender becomes effective, a responsible officer not below the
rank of Captain, to the Commander-in-Chief, ROSYTH, with corrected
copies of charts showing all German minefields, wrecks, booms, and
other underwater obstructions, details of German convoy routes and
searched channels, bouys, lights and other navigational aids in the
SKAGGERAK, KATTEGAT, THE BEITS AND SOUND, KIEL BAY and BALTIC WATERS
WEST of 14 EAST. This officer will also bring with him the
disposition of all "U" boats in the above area and details
of all orders affecting their future move- ments. He will be
accompanied by three German Naval officers with pilots (and
interpreters if necessary) who are familiar with the coastal swept
channels, and channels in the Swedish territorial waters, in the
waters referred to above. These officers will bring with them all
the charts and books required for navigation in these waters, and a
list of all W/T and R/T call signs in use by the German Navy.
The German Admiral SKAGGERAK will dispatch a duplicate party to that
specified above, with similar information, by air in unescorted
aircraft painted white to DREM Airfield 56 02' NORTH 02 48' WEST.
8. The German Naval
Officers who will be dis- patched to DOVER and ROSYTH by sea will
proceed to positions in latitude 51 19' NORTH longitude 1 43' EAST
and latitude 56 47' NORTH longitude 1 13' WEST respectively, where
they will be met by British warships and escorted to their
destination. The ships or craft in which they travel are to fly a
large white flag at the masthead by day and are to illuminate these
white flags by night. These ships are to broadcast their positions
hourly by W/T on 500 ks. (600 meters) whilst on passage. Information
required within fourteen days
9. The German High
Command will furnish the following information to the Allied Naval
Commander, Expeditionary Force, at by within fourteen days of
cessation of hostilities.
a. Locations of all warships, auxiliaries and armed coastal craft
operating under the orders of the German Naval Command stating
particulars of the operational unit to which they are attached,
giving approximate totals of all naval personal embarked in each
vessel, (including naval flak and merchant ship flak).
b. A statement of the organizations of all naval shore Commands,
giving location of all naval establishments, including
establishments for experiment and research, names of all Commanding
Officers and Principal Staff Officers of the rank of Commander in
each establishment.
c. A statement of the strength and location of all naval land forces
including naval infrantry, naval flak, merchant ship flak and naval
personnel manning naval coast artillery and full particulars of all
Coastal and port defenses giving nature and locations.
d. Lists of stocks of furnace oil fuels, diesel oil fuel, petrol,
and coal of 500 tons or more at, or in the vicinity of, all ports
between IJMUIDEN and HAMBURG inclusive.
e. A statement of location of the principal naval armament depots
with approximate overall stocks of each major item held.
f. The following communications information:-
-
(1)
location and details concerning all V/S, W/T (including D/F)
and radar stations in use by, and under constuc- tion for
the German Navy, these details to include types and
capabilities of all equipment fitted.
-
(2) details
of the current naval W/T organization, lists of W/T and R/T
call signs in force, and allocation of all frequencies for
communication and radar purposes. (3) location and details
of all naval communications (including Infra-Red) and naval
radar training and research establishments.
g. Full details of
all German minefields in the NORTH SEA, SKAGGERAK, KATTEGAT, BEITS,
and SOUND.
h. Full details of the German naval minesweeping organization
including the communications organization.
j. Full details of the communications (including Infra-Red) and
radar equipment fitted in all German minesweepers and sperrbrechers.
k. Technical details of all types of minesweeping gear used by the
German Navy.
l. Details of all mining and types of mines employed and of berthing
facilities available for ships of 150 feet in length and 16 feet
draught at:-
-
BREMERHAVEN
-
WILHELMSHAVEN
-
SCHIERMONNIKOOG
-
DELFZIJL
10. The German High
Command will also furnish the Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary
Force, with two copies of all coding and cyphering systems which
have been, are being, or were to be used by the German Navy with the
necessary instructions for their use and the dates between which
they have been, or were to have been used.
PART II - CONTROL
AND DISARMAMENT
Orders to warships,
auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft
11. The German High
Command will forthwith direct all German and German-controlled
warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft to comply with
the following instructions:-
a. All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft in
harbours are to remain in harbour pending further directions from
the Allied Representatives.
b. All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft at sea
are to report their positions in plain language immediately to the
nearest British, US or Soviet Coast Wireless Telegraphy station on
500 kc/s (600 metres), and are to proceed to the nearest German or
Allied port or such ports as the Allied Representatives may direct,
and remain there pending further directions from the Allied
Representatives. At night they are to show lights and to display
searchlights with beams held vertically.
c. All warships and merchant ships whether in port or at sea will
immediately train all weapons fore and aft. All torpedo tubes will
be unloaded and breech blocks will be removed from all guns.
d. All warships and merchant ships in German or German-controlled
harbours will immediately land and store in safety all ammunition,
warheads and other explosives. They will land all portable weapons
but, pending further instuctions, warships will retain onboard the
fixed armament. Fire control and all other equipment will be
maintained on board intact and fully efficient.
e. All minesweeping vessels are to carry out the means of
disarmament prescribed in c. and d. above, (except that they will
however, retain on board such portable weapons and explosives as are
required for minesweeping purposes) and are to be prepared
immediately for minesweeping service under the direction of the
Allied Representatives. They will complete with fuel where necessary.
f. All German salvage vessels are to carry out the measures of
disarmament prescribed in c. and d. above (except that they will
retain on board such explosives as are required for salvage purposes.)
These vessels, together with all salvage equipment and personnel,
are to be prepared for immediate salvage operations under the
direction of the Allied Representatives, completing with fuel where
necessary for this purpose.
g. The movement of transport on the inland waterways of GERMANY may
continue, subject to orders from the Allied Representatives. No
vessels moving on inland waterways will proceed to neutral waters.
Submarines
12. The German High
Command will tranmit by W/T on appropriate frequencies the two
messages in Annexures 'A' and 'B' which contain instructions to
submarines at sea. Naval Aircraft
13. The German High
Command will forthwith direct that:-
a. German naval aircraft are not to leave the ground or water or
ship pending directions from the Allied Representatives;
b. naval aircraft in the air are to return immediately to their
bases. Neutral shipping
14. The German High
Command will forthwith direct that all neutral merchant ships in
German and German- controlled ports are to be detained pending
further directions from the Allied Representatives. Orders relating
to sabotage, scuttling, safety measures, pilotage and personnel
15. The German High
Command will forthwith issue categorical directions that:-
a. No ship, vessel or aircraft of any description is to be scuttled,
or any damage done to their hull, machinery or equipment.
b. all harbour works and port facilities of whatever nature,
including telecommunications and radar stations, are to be preserved
and kept free from destruction or damage pending further directions
from the Allied Representatives, and all necessary steps taken and
all necessary orders issued to prohibit any act of scuttling,
sabotage, or other willful damage.
c. all boom defenses at all ports and harbours are to be opened and
kept open at all times; where possible, they are to be removed.
d. all controlled minefields at all ports and harbours are to be
disconnected and rendered ineffective.
e. all demolition charges in all ports and harbour works are to be
removed or rendered ineffective and their presence indicated.
f. the existing wartime sustem of navigational lighting is to be
maintained, except that all dimmed lights are to be shown at full
brilliancy, and lights only shown by special arrangement are to be
exhibited continously. In particular:-
-
(1)
HELIGOLAND Light is to be burnt at full brilliancy.
-
(2) The
bouyage of the coastal convoy route from the HOOK OF HOLLAND
to HAMBURG is to be commenced, mid-channel light bouys being
laid six miles apart.
-
(3) Two
ships are to be anchored as mark vessels in the following
positions:
54 20' N, 5
00' E.
54 20' N, 6 30' E.
These ships
are to fly a large black flag at the mast- head by day and
by night are to flash a searchlight vertically every 30
seconds.
g. All pilotage services are to continue to operate and all pilots
are to be held at their normal stations ready for service and
equipped with their charts.
h. German Naval and other personnel concerned in the operation of
ports and administrative services in ports are to remain at their
stations and to continue to carry out their normal duties. Personnel
16. The German High
Command will forthwith direct that except as may be required for the
purpose of giving effect to the above special orders:-
a. all personnel in German warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and
other craft, are to remain on board their ships pending further
directions from the Allied Representatives.
b. all Naval personnel ashore are to remain in their establishments.
17. The German High
Command will be responsible for the immediate and total disarmament
of all naval personnel on shore. The orders issued to the German
High Command in respect of the disarmament and war material of land
forces will apply also to naval personnel on shore.
H. M. BURROUGH,
Signed....................... For the Supreme Commander, AEF.
Dated 0241 7th May
1945
Rheims, France
ANNEXURE 'A'
SURRENDER OF GERMAN
"U" BOAT FLEET
To all "U" Boats at sea:
Carry out the
following instuctions forthwith which have been given by the Allied
Representatives
(A) Surface
immediately and remain surfaced.
(B) Report immediately in P/L your position in latitude and
longitude and number of your "U" Boat to nearest British,
US, Canadian or Soviet coast W/T station on 500 kc/s (600 metres)
and to call sign GZZ 10 on one of the following high frequencies:
16845 - 12685 or 5970 kc/s.
(C) Fly a large black or blue flag by day.
(D) Burn navigation lights by night.
(E) Jettison all ammunition, remove breachblocks from guns and
render torpedos safe by removing pistols. All mines are to be
rendered safe.
(F) Make all signals in P/L.
(G) Follow strictly the instructions for proceeding to Allied ports
from your present area given in immediately following message.
(H) Observe strictly the orders of Allied Representatives to refrain
from scuttling or in any way damaging your "U" Boat.
2. These
instructions will be repeated at two-hour intervals until further
notice.
ANNEXURE 'B'
To all
"U" Boats at sea. Observe strictly the instructions
already given to remain fully surfaced. Report your position course
and speed every 8 hours. Obey any instructions that may be given to
you by any Allied authority.
The following are the areas and routes for "U" Boats
surrendering-
(1) Area 'A'.
a. Bound on West by meridian 026 degs West and South by parallel 043
degs North in Barents Sea by meridian 020 degs East in Baltic
Approaches by line joining the Naze and Hantsholm but excludes Irish
Sea between 051 degs thirty mins and 055 degs 00 mins North and
English Channel between line of Lands End Scilly Islands Ushant and
line of Dover-Calais.
b. Join one of following routes at nearest point and procceed along
it to Loch Eriboll (058 degs 33 minutes North 004 degs 37 mins West)
Blue route: All
positions North and West unless otherwise indicated
049 degs 00 mins
009 degs 00 mins
053 degs 00 mins
012 degs 00 mins
058 degs 00 mins
011 degs 00 mins
059 degs 00 mins
005 degs 30 mins
thence to Loch
Eriboll.
Red route:
053 degs 45 mins
North
003 degs 00 mins East
059 degs 45 mins
001 degs 00 mins
059 degs 45 mins
003 degs 00 mins
thence to Loch
Eriboll.
c. Arrive at Loch
Eriboll between sunrise and 3 hours before sunset.
(2) Area 'B'
a. The Irish Sea between parallel of 051 degs 30 mins and 055 degs
00 mins North.
b. Proceed Beaumaris Bay (053 degs 19 mins North 003 degs 58 mins
West) to arrive between sunrise and 3 hours before sunset.
(3) Area 'C'
a. The English Channel between line of Lands End - Scilly Isles -
Ushant and line of Dover - Calais.
b. 'U' Boats in area 'C' are to join one of following routes at
nearest point: Green route: position 'A' 049 degs 10 mins North 005
degs 40 mins West position 'B' 050 degs 00 mins North 003 degs 00
mins West thence escorted to Weymouth. Orange route: position 'X'
050 degs 30 mins North 000 degs 50 mins East position 'Y' 050 degs
10 mins North 001 degs 50 mins West thence escorted to Weymouth.
c. Arrive at either 'B' or 'Y' between sunrise and 3 hours before
sunset.
(4) Area 'D'
a. Bound on West by lines joining The Naze and Hantsholm and on East
by lines joining Lubeck and Trelleborg.
b. Proceed to Kiel.
(5) Area 'E'
a. Mediterranean Approaches bound on North by 043 degs North on
South by 026 degs North and on West by 026 degs West.
b. Proceed to a rendezvous in position 'A' 036 degs 00 mins North
011 degs 00 mins West and await escort reporting expected time of
arrival in plain language to Admiral Gibraltar on 500 kc/s.
c. Arrive in position 'A' between sunrise and noon G.M.T.
(6) Area 'F'
a. The North and South Atlantic West of 026 degs West.
b. Proceed to nearest of one of following points arriving between
sunrise and 3 hours before sunset: W 043 degs 30 mins North 070 degs
00 mins West approach from a point 15 miles due East X 038 degs 20
mins North 074 degs 25 mins West approach from a point 047 degs 18
mins North 051 30 mins West on a course 270 degs Z 043 31 mins North
065 degs 05 mins West approach from point 042 degs 59 mins North 054
degs 28 mins West on a course 320 degs.
---------------------------------------
UNDERTAKING GIVEN
BY CERTAIN GERMAN EMISSARIES TO THE ALLIED HIGH COMMANDS
It is agreeed by
the German emissaries undersigned that the following German officers
will arrive at a place and time designated by the Supreme Commander,
Allied Expeditionary Force, and the Soviet High Command prepared,
with planary powers, to execute a formal ratification on behalf of
the German High Command of this act of Unconditional Surrender of
the German armed forces.
-
Chief of the
High Command
-
Commander-in-Chief
of the Army
-
Commander-in-Chief
of the Navy
-
Commander-in-Chief
of the Air Forces.
SIGNED
JODL
Representing the
German High Command.
DATED 0241 7th May
1945
Rheims, France
---------------------------------------
{Reichspresident
Donitz's authorization to German representatives to execute
ratification}.
Abschrift.
Der Oberste
Befehlshaber
Hauptquartier, den
7.5.45.
der Wehrmact
/Bitte in der Antwort vorstehendes
Geschaftszeichen, das Datum und
kurzen Inhalt anzugegen./
ICH BEVOLLMACHTIGE
GENERALFELDMARSCHALL KEITEL ALS CHEF DES OBERKOMMANDOS DER WEHRMACHT
UND ZUGLEICH ALS OBER- BEFEHLSHABER DES HEERES, GENERALADMIRAL VON
FRIEDBERG ALS OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER KRIEGSMARINE, GENERALOBERST S T U
M P F ALS VERTRETER DES OBERBEFEHLSHABERS DER LUFTWAFFE
ZUR RATIFIZIERUNG
DER BEDINGUNGSLKSEN KAPITULATION DER DEUTSCHEN STREITKRAFTE GEGEN-
UBER DEM OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER ALLIIERTEN EXPEDITIONSSTREITKRAFTE UND
DEM SOWYET-OBER- KOMMANDO.
DONITZ
GROBADMIRAL.
Siegel.
---------------------------------------
ACT OF MULITARY
SURRENDER
1. We the
undersigned, acting by authority of the German High Command, hereby
surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Commander, Allied
Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Supreme High Command
of the Red Army all forces on land, at sea, and in the air who are
at this date under German control.
2. The German High
Command will at once issue order to all German military, naval and
air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease
active operations at 2301 hours Central European time on 8th May
1945, to remain in all positions occupied at that time and to disarm
completely, handing over their weapons and equipment to the local
allied commanders or officers designated by Representatives of the
Allied Supreme Commands. No ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be
scuttled, or any damage done to their hull, machinery or equipment,
and also to machines of all kinds, armament, apparatus, and all the
technical means of prosecution of war in general.
3. The German High
Command will at once issue to the appropriate commanders, and ensure
the carrying out of any further orders issued by the Supreme
Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and by the Supreme Command of
the Red Army.
4. This act of
military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded
by any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of
the United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and the German armed
forces as a whole.
5. In the event of
the German High Command or any of the forces under their control
failing to act in accordance with this Act of Surrender, the Supreme
Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and the Supreme High Command
of the Red Army will take such punitive or other action as they deem
appropriate.
6. This Act is
drawn up in the English, Russian and German languages. The English
and Russian are the only authentic texts.
Signed at Berlin on
the 8 day of May, 1945
Von Friedeburg
Keitel
Stumpff
On behalf of the
German High Command
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
A.W.Tedder
On behalf of the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force
Georgi Zhukov
On behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army
At the signing also
were present as witnesses:
F. de
Lattre-Tassigny
General Commanding in Chief
First French Army
Carl Spaatz
General, Commanding
United States Strategic Air Force
---------------------------------------
BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
The Allied armies,
through sacrifice and devotion and with God's help, have wrung from
Germany a final and unconditional surrender. The western world has
been freed of the evil forces which for five years and longer have
imprisoned the bodies and broken the lives of millions upon millions
of free-born men. They have violated their churches, destroyed their
homes, cor- rupted their children, and murdered their loved ones.
Our Armies of Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering
peoples, whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave.
Much remains to be done. The victory won in the West must now be won
in the East. The whole world must be cleansed of the evil from which
half the world has been freed. United, the peace-loving nations have
demonstrated in the West that their arms are stronger by far than
the might of dictators or the tyranny of military cliques that once
called us soft and weak. The power of our peoples to defend
themselves against all enemies will be proved in the Pacific was as
it has been proved in Europe.
For the trimuph of spirit and of arms which we have won, and of its
promise to peoples everywhere who join us in the love of freedom, it
is fitting that we, as a nation, give thanks to Almighty God, who
has strengthened us and given us the victory.
NOW, THEREFORE, I,
HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America, do
hereby appoint Sunday, May 13, 1945 to be a day of prayer.
I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their faith,
to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have
won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our present
struggle and guide us into the way of peace.
I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer to the
memory of those who have given their lives to make possible our
victory.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States
of America to be affixed.
Done at the City of
Washington this eighth day of May in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and forty-five and of the Independence of the United States
of America the one hundred and sixty-ninth.
| THE GREAT SEAL OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA |
By the President:
Harry S. Truman
  
|
