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German Surrender Documents


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 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    judice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument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
 
     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 constuc-
 
                    tion 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.
 
 
 
               PART II - CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT
 
 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:-
 
             a.  All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and
 
     other craft in harbours are to remain in harbour pending
 
     further directions from the Allied Representatives.
 
               b.  All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships
 
     and other craft at sea are to report their positions in plain
 
     language immediately to the nearest British, US or Soviet Coast
 
     Wireless Telegraphy station on 500 kc/s (600 metres), and are to
 
     proceed to the nearest German or Allied port or such ports as
 
     the Allied Representatives may direct, and remain there pending
 
     further directions from the Allied Representatives.  At night
 
     they are to show lights and to display searchlights with beams
 
     held vertically.
 
               c.  All warships and merchant ships whether in port
 
     or at sea will immediately train all weapons fore and aft.  All
 
     torpedo tubes will be unloaded and breech blocks will be removed
 
     from all guns.
 
               d.  All warships and merchant ships in German or
 
     German-controlled harbours will immediately land and store in
 
     safety all ammunition, warheads and other explosives.  They
 
     will land all portable weapons but, pending further instuctions,
 
     warships will retain onboard the fixed armament.  Fire control
 
     and all other equipment will be maintained on board intact and
 
     fully efficient.
 
               e.  All minesweeping vessels are to carry out the
 
     means of disarmament prescribed in c. and d. above,
 
     (except that they will however, retain on board such portable
 
     weapons and explosives as are required for minesweeping
 
     purposes) and are to be prepared immediately for minesweeping
 
     service under the direction of the Allied Representatives.
 
     They will complete with fuel where necessary.
 
              f.  All German salvage vessels are to carry out
 
     the measures of disarmament prescribed in c. and d. above
 
     (except that they will retain on board such explosives as are
 
     required for salvage purposes.)  These vessels, together with
 
     all salvage equipment and personnel, are to be prepared for
 
     immediate salvage operations under the direction of the Allied
 
     Representatives, completing with fuel where necessary for this
 
     purpose.
 
               g.  The movement of transport on the inland waterways
 
     of GERMANY may continue, subject to orders from the Allied
 
     Representatives.  No vessels moving on inland waterways will
 
     proceed to neutral waters.
 
Submarines
 
         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:-
 
               a.  German naval aircraft are not to leave the
 
     ground or water or ship pending directions from the Allied
 
     Representatives;
 
               b.  naval aircraft in the air are to return
 
     immediately to their bases.
 
Neutral shipping
 
         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:-
 
               a.  No ship, vessel or aircraft of any
 
     description is to be scuttled, or any damage done
 
     to their hull, machinery or equipment.
 
               b.  all harbour works and port facilities
 
     of whatever nature, including telecommunications and
 
     radar stations, are to be preserved and kept free from
 
     destruction or damage pending further directions from the
 
     Allied Representatives, and all necessary steps taken and
 
     all necessary orders issued to prohibit any act of
 
     scuttling, sabotage, or other willful damage.
 
        
       c.  all boom defenses at all ports and
 
     harbours are to be opened and kept open at all times;
 
     where possible, they are to be removed.
 
               d.  all controlled minefields at all ports
 
     and harbours are to be disconnected and rendered
 
     ineffective.
 
               e.  all demolition charges in all ports
 
     and harbour works are to be removed or rendered
 
     ineffective and their presence indicated.
 
               f.  the existing wartime sustem of navigational
 
     lighting is to be maintained, except that all dimmed lights
 
     are to be shown at full brilliancy, and lights only shown
 
     by special arrangement are to be exhibited continously.
 
     In particular:-
 
                    (1)  HELIGOLAND Light is to be burnt
 
                    at full brilliancy.
 
                    (2)  The bouyage of the coastal convoy
 
                    route from the HOOK OF HOLLAND to
 
                    HAMBURG is to be commenced, mid-channel
 
                    light bouys being laid six miles apart.
 
                    (3)  Two ships are to be anchored as
 
                    mark vessels in the following positions:-
 
                         54 20' N,  5 00' E.
                         54 20' N,  6 30' E.
 
     Thse ships are to fly a large black flag at the mast-
 
     head by day and by night are to flash a searchlight
 
     vertically every 30 seconds.
 
               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:-
 
              a.  all personnel in German warships,
 
     auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft, are to remain
 
     on board their ships pending further directions from the
 
     Allied Representatives.
 
              b.  all Naval personnel ashore are to remain
 
     in their establishments.
 
         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=
       =Rheims, France=
 
 
 
                                               ANNEXURE  'A'
 
 
              SURRENDER OF GERMAN "U" BOAT FLEET
 
 
          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.
 
     (B)  Report immediately in P/L your position in
 
     latitude and longitude and number of your "U" Boat
 
     to nearest British, US, Canadian or Soviet coast W/T
 
     station on 500 kc/s (600 metres) and to call sign GZZ 10
 
     on one of the following high frequencies: 16845 - 12685
 
     or 5970 kc/s.
 
     (C)  Fly a large black or blue flag by day.
 
     (D)  Burn navigation lights by night.
 
     (E)  Jettison all ammunition, remove breachblocks from
 
     guns and render torpedos safe by removing pistols.
 
     All mines are to be rendered safe.
 
     (F)  Make all signals in P/L.
 
     (G)  Follow strictly the instructions for proceeding
 
     to Allied ports from your present area given in
 
     immediately following message.
 
     (H)  Observe strictly the orders of Allied Representatives
 
     to refrain from scuttling or in any way damaging your
 
     "U" Boat.
 
     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.
 
          The following are the areas and routes for "U" Boats
 
     surrendering-
 
     (1)  Area 'A'.
 
          a.  Bound on West by meridian 026 degs West and South by
 
     parallel 043 degs North in Barents Sea by meridian 020 degs
 
     East in Baltic Approaches by line joining the Naze and Hantsholm
 
     but excludes Irish Sea between 051 degs thirty mins and 055 degs
 
     00 mins North and English Channel between line of Lands End
 
     Scilly Islands Ushant and line of Dover-Calais.
 
          b.  Join one of following routes at nearest point and
 
     procceed along it to Loch Eriboll (058 degs 33 minutes North
 
     004 degs 37 mins West)
 
     Blue route:  All positions North and West unless otherwise
 
     indicated
 
     049 degs 00 mins     009 degs 00 mins     053 degs 00 mins
 
     012 degs 00 mins     058 degs 00 mins     011 degs 00 mins
 
     059 degs 00 mins     005 degs 30 mins thence to Loch Eriboll.
 
     Red route:   053 degs 45 mins North     003 degs 00 mins East
 
     059 degs 45 mins     001 degs 00 mins     059 degs 45 mins
 
     003 degs 00 mins thence to Loch Eriboll.
 
          c.  Arrive at Loch Eriboll between sunrise and 3 hours
 
     before sunset.
 
     (2)  Area 'B'
 
          a.  The Irish Sea between parallel of 051 degs 30 mins
 
     and 055 degs 00 mins North.
 
          b.  Proceed Beaumaris Bay (053 degs 19 mins North 003
 
     degs 58 mins West) to arrive between sunrise and 3 hours
 
     before sunset.
 
     (3)  Area 'C'
 
          a.  The English Channel between line of Lands End -
 
     Scilly Isles - Ushant and line of Dover - Calais.
 
          b.  'U' Boats in area 'C' are to join one of following
 
     routes at nearest point:  Green route:  position 'A' 049 degs
 
     10 mins North 005 degs 40 mins West position 'B' 050 degs 00
 
     mins North 003 degs 00 mins West thence escorted to Weymouth.
 
     Orange route:  position 'X' 050 degs 30 mins North 000 degs 50
 
     mins East position 'Y' 050 degs 10 mins North 001 degs 50 mins
 
     West thence escorted to Weymouth.
 
          c.  Arrive at either 'B' or 'Y' between sunrise and 3 hours
 
     before sunset.
 
     (4)  Area 'D'
 
          a.  Bound on West by lines joining The Naze and Hantsholm
 
     and on East by lines joining Lubeck and Trelleborg.
 
          b.  Proceed to Kiel.
 
     (5)  Area 'E'
 
          a.  Mediterranean Approaches bound on North by 043 degs
 
     North on South by 026 degs North and on West by 026 degs West.
 
          b.  Proceed to a rendezvous in position 'A' 036 degs 00
 
     mins North 011 degs 00 mins West and await escort reporting
 
     expected time of arrival in plain language to Admiral Gibraltar
 
     on 500 kc/s.
 
          c.  Arrive in position 'A' between sunrise and noon G.M.T.
 
     (6)  Area 'F'
 
          a.  The North and South Atlantic West of  026 degs West.
 
          b.  Proceed to nearest of one of following points
 
     arriving between sunrise and 3 hours before sunset:  W 043
 
     degs 30 mins North 070 degs 00 mins West approach from a
 
     point 15 miles due East X 038 degs 20 mins North 074 degs
 
     25 mins West approach from a point 047 degs 18 mins North
 
     051 30 mins West on a course 270 degs Z 043 31 mins North
 
     065 degs 05 mins West approach from point 042 degs 59 mins
 
     North 054 degs 28 mins West on a course 320 degs.
---------------------------------------
 
                       UNDERTAKING
 
            GIVEN BY CERTAIN GERMAN EMISSARIES
 
                TO THE ALLIED HIGH COMMANDS
 
 
 
              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.
 
               Chief of the High Command
 
               Commander-in-Chief of the Army
 
               Commander-in-Chief of the Navy
 
               Commander-in-Chief of the Air Forces.
 
 
 
     SIGNED
 
 
     =JODL=
 
 
 
                Representing the German High Command.
 
 
     DATED  =0241   7th May 1945=
              =Rheims, France=
---------------------------------------
 
{Reichspresident Donitz's authorization to German representatives
 to execute ratification}
 
                                           A b s c h r i f t.
 
 
Der Oberste Befehlshaber
                                      Hauptquartier, den 7.5.45.
       der Wehrmact
/Bitte in der Antwort vorstehendes
 Geschaftszeichen, das Datum und
   kurzen Inhalt anzugegen./
 
 
                    ICH BEVOLLMACHTIGE
 
                      GENERALFELDMARSCHALL   K E I T E L
 
                         ALS CHEF DES OBERKOMMANDOS DER
 
                         WEHRMACHT UND ZUGLEICH ALS OBER-
 
                         BEFEHLSHABER DES HEERES,
 
                      GENERALADMIRAL VON FRIEDBERG
 
                         ALS OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER KRIEGSMARINE,
 
                      GENERALOBERST  S T U M P F
 
                         ALS VERTRETER DES OBERBEFEHLSHABERS
 
                         DER LUFTWAFFE
 
 
                    ZUR RATIFIZIERUNG DER BEDINGUNGSLKSEN
 
              KAPITULATION DER DEUTSCHEN STREITKRAFTE GEGEN-
 
              UBER DEM OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER ALLIIERTEN
 
              EXPEDITIONSSTREITKRAFTE UND DEM SOWYET-OBER-
 
              KOMMANDO.
 
 
                                          DONITZ
 
                                   GROBADMIRAL.
 
Siegel.
---------------------------------------
 
                 ACT OF MULITARY SURRENDER
 
 
          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=       =Keitel=         =Stumpff=
 
            On behalf of the German High Command
 
                               
 
                      IN THE PRESENCE OF:
 
 
   =A.W.Tedder=
 On behalf of the                 On behalf of the
    Supreme Commander                Supreme High Command of the
    Allied Expeditionary Force       Red Army
                                               =Georgi Zhukov=
 
      At the signing also were present as witnesses:
 
 
   =F. de Lattre-Tassigny=           =Carl Spaatz=
  General Commanding in Chief     General, Commanding
    First French Army               United States Strategic Air Force
---------------------------------------
 
      BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
 
                        A PROCLAMATION
 
 
 
      The Allied armies, through sacrifice and devotion and with
 
God's help, have wrung from Germany a final and unconditional
 
surrender.  The western world has been freed of the evil forces
 
which for five years and longer have imprisoned the bodies and
 
broken the lives of millions upon millions of free-born men.
 
They have violated their churches, destroyed their homes, cor-
 
rupted their children, and murdered their loved ones.  Our Armies
 
of Liberation have restored freedom to these suffering peoples,
 
whose spirit and will the oppressors could never enslave.
 
      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.
 
      I call upon the people of the United States, whatever their
 
faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory
 
we have won and to pray that He will support us to the end of our
 
present struggle and guide us into the way of peace.
 
      I also call upon my countrymen to dedicate this day of prayer
 
to the memory of those who have given their lives to make possible
 
our victory.
 
      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
    |   T H E   G R E A T   S E A L   |
    |                                 |      and of the
    |                                 |
    |           O F   T H E           |       Independence
    |                                 |
    |                                 |       of the United
    |    U N I T E D   S T A T E S    |
    |                                 |      States of America
    |               O F               |
    |                                 |       the one hundred
    |          A M E R I C A          |
    |                                 |      and sixty-ninth.
    |                                 |
    -----------------------------------
 
        By the President:             =Harry S. Truman=
 

-------------------------------------
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