THE GERMAN SURRENDER DOCUMENTS - WWII:
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 instrument 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superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of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
KINZEL
G. WAGNER
B. L.
MONTGOMERY
Field - Marshal
POLECK
FRIEDEL
4th.
of May 1945
1830 hrs.
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{Reichs president Donitz's
authorization to Colonel General Jodl}
{to conclude a general surrender:}
Hauptquartier, den 6. Mai
1945
Ich bevollmachtige
General oberst J o d l , Chef des Wehrmachtfuhrungsstabes in Ober
kommando der Wehrmact, zum Abschluss eines Waffenstillst and sbkommens mit dem
Haupt quartier des Generals
E i s e n h o w e r .
[ SEAL ] DONITZ
GroBadmiral.
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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, On behalf of the Soviet Allied
Expeditionary Force.
High Command
W. B.
SMITH
SOUSLOPAROV
F SEVEZ
Major General, French Army
(Witness)
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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
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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 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:-
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 navigational 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 instructions 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
positions of all British mines swept during these operations;
(3) details of
all controlled minefields 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
navigation 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:-
(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 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.
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 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.
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 construction 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.