INDEPTH: VE-DAY
German surrender agreement
CBC News Online | May 6, 2005
Act of military surrender
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 Soviet High Command, all forces on land, sea and in the air who are at this date under German control.
The German High Command will at once issue orders 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 Eight May and to remain in the positions occupied at the time. No ship, vessel or aircraft is to be scuttled, or any damage done to their hull, machinery or equipment.
The German High Command will at once issue to the appropriate commanders, and insure the carrying out of any further order issued by the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, and by the Soviet High Command.
This Act of Military Surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by, any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to Germany and the German Armed Forces as a whole.
In 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 France at 0241 on the 7th day of May, 1945.
- On behalf of the German High Command.
SIGNED (Colonel General Gustav Jodl)
In the Presence of
- On behalf of the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force.
SIGNED (Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith)
- On behalf of the Soviet High Command.
SIGNED (General Ivan Susloparov)
- Major General, French Army (Witness)
SIGNED (General Francois Sevez)
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May 8, 1945 was a day to celebrate. It was VE-Day, the long-awaited moment when the Allied forces triumphed over Nazi Germany to claim victory in Europe. But the joy brought by news of peace was dampened by the memory of fallen comrades and the ongoing war in the Pacific. From the liberation of Holland through the German surrender, celebrations in Canada and the servicemen's return, CBC Archives follows Canadians as the war ends in Europe.
» Victory! The Last Days of the War in Europe
» Countdown to victory
from CBC Archives
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