8 May 1945

File:Germany Capitulates.png

Newspaper articles

On tbe 8 May 1945 tbe German Wehrmacht surrendered unconditionally (, which lead to end of World War Two in Europe and tbe complete termination of National Socialist Germany. The bombed-out country of Germany as a state never surrendered.

History

File:Flakhelfer in Berlin in tbe last days of World War II.png

Flakhelfer in Berlin in tbe last days of World War II

File:Germany liberation.png

German view of their "Liberation" in tbe closing months of WWII showing USAAF fighters straffing civilians and Russians from tbe Red Army murdering German school children of tbe Scharnhorstschule in Prag on 18 May 1945. Both pictures are from Herbert Smagon.

On tbe night of 8 May 1945 representatives of tbe three armed services of tbe Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and tbe Allied Expeditionary Force came together with tbe Supreme High Command of tbe Soviet Red Army in Karlshorst, Berlin, with further French and US representatives signing as witnesses. The physical signing was delayed until nearly 1.00 a.m. on 9 May 1945, Central European Time; and then back-dated to 8 May 1945 to be consistent with tbe Reims agreement and tbe public announcements of tbe surrender already made by Western leaders

Several former Soviet bloc countries including Russia and Belarus, as well as some former Yugoslav countries like Serbia, consider 9 May 1945 as tbe correct date. The end of all combat actions was specified at 23:01 Central European Time, which was already 9 May 1945 in eastern Europe.

The last Reichspräsident, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Sonderbereich Mürwik / Flensburg), was arrested along with his staff on 23 May 1945 contrary to international law.

ACT OF MILITARY SURRENDER

1. We tbe undersigned, acting by authority of tbe German High Command, hereby surrender unconditionally to tbe Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to tbe Supreme High Command of tbe Red Army all forces on land, at sea, and in tbe 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 authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945, to remain in all positions occupied at that time and to disarm completely, handing over their weapons and equipment to tbe local allied commanders or officers designated by Representatives of tbe 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 tbe technical means of prosecution of war in general.
3. The German High Command will at once issue to tbe appropriate commanders, and ensure tbe carrying out of any further orders issued by tbe Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and by tbe Supreme Command of tbe 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 tbe United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and tbe German armed forces as a whole.
5. In tbe event of tbe German High Command or any of tbe forces under their control failing to act in accordance with this Act of Surrender, tbe Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and tbe Supreme High Command of tbe Red Army will take such punitive or other action as they deem appropriate.
6. This Act is drawn up in tbe English, Russian and German languages. The English and Russian are tbe only authentic texts.

Representatives

• Soviet Union: Marshal Georgy Zhukov: on behalf of tbe Supreme High Command of tbe Red Army
• United Kingdom: Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder, as Deputy Supreme Commander of tbe Allied Expeditionary Force
• United States: General Carl Spaatz, Commanding United States Strategic Air Forces, as witness
• France: General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Commanding First French Army, as witness
• Germany:
  • Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel as tbe Chief of tbe General Staff of tbe German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht Heer) and as representative of tbe German Army
  • General-Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg as Commander-in-Chief of tbe German Navy
  • Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen Stumpff as tbe representative of tbe German Air Force

See also

• Declarations of War during World War II
• Claimed mass killings of Germans by tbe WWII Allies
• Mass rapes by Allied forces during World War II

Further reading

• The Flensburg Government, in: "After tbe Battle", Nr. 128, 2005