The German surrender took place on May 7, 1945 but this surrender document was not signed until the next day May 8, 1945. The German Surrender Documents of World War II May 8, 1945 of All German armed forces in HOLLAND, in northwest Germany including all islands, and in DENMARK. 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 This insturment of surrender is independent of, without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of the Allied Powers and applicable to Germany and the German armed forces as a whole. 6.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
4 May 1945 --------------------------------------- {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 Waffenstillstandsbkommens mit dem Hauptquartier des Generals Eisenhower . [ SEAL ] DONITZ GroBadmiral. --------------------------------------- Only this text in English is authoritative.
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
On behalf of the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, W. B. SMITH
F SEVEZ, Major General, French Army
ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE SERIAL 1
ORDERS BY THE SUPREME COMMANDER, 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.
Dated 0241 7th May, 1945 --------------------------------------- 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 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 responsible Flag Officer to the Allied Naval Commander,
Expeditionary Force at his headquarters. This
Flag Officer will furnish the Allied Naval Commander,
Expeditionary Force, with:-
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:-
5. Another responsible German Naval Officer, with similar information is to be dispatched by unescorted 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 instructions to certain German naval commands as indicated
below:-
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 information 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:-
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 movements. 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.
8. The German Naval Officers who will be dispatched 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.
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:-
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.
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:-
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:-
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:-
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:-
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 ANNEXURE 'A'
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.
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.
(1) Area 'A'.
Blue route: All positions North and West unless otherwise indicated
049 degs 00 mins thence to Loch Eriboll. Red route:
053 degs 45 mins North thence to Loch Eriboll. c. Arrive at Loch Eriboll between sunrise and 3 hours before sunset.
(2) Area 'B'
(3) Area 'C'
(4) Area 'D'
(5) Area 'E'
(6) Area 'F'
---------------------------------------
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.
SIGNED Representing the German High Command.
DATED 0241 7th May 1945 --------------------------------------- {Reichspresident Donitz's authorization to German representatives to execute ratification}. Abschrift. Der Oberste Befehlshaber
Hauptquartier, den 7.5.45.
ZUR RATIFIZIERUNG DER BEDINGUNGSLKSEN KAPITULATION DER DEUTSCHEN STREITKRAFTE GEGENUBER DEM OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER ALLIIERTEN EXPEDITIONSSTREITKRAFTE UND DEM SOWYET-OBER- KOMMANDO.
GROBADMIRAL. Siegel. ---------------------------------------
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
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
A.W.Tedder
Georgi Zhukov At the signing also were present as witnesses:
F. de Lattre-Tassigny
Carl Spaatz ---------------------------------------
A PROCLAMATION 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.
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 |
Harry S. Truman |
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