---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judice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument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
E i s e n h o w e r .
[ 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, On behalf of the Soviet
Allied Expeditionary Force. High Command
=W. B. SMITH= =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
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