Who handed over the documents when signing the act of surrender. German troops in Bavaria and southern Germany

Exactly 70 years ago, on May 8, 1945, on the outskirts of Berlin, Karlshorst, at 22:43 CET (May 9 at 00:43 Moscow time), the final act of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany was signed.

A selection of photographs dedicated to this significant event.

1. The building of the German military engineering school in the suburbs of Berlin - Karlshorst, where the signing ceremony of the Act of unconditional surrender of Germany was held.

2. Representatives of Germany at the table during the signing of the Act of unconditional surrender. Seated in the photo from left to right: Colonel General Stumpf from the Air Force, Field Marshal Keitel from the Army and General Admiral von Friedeburg from the Navy. 05/08/1945

3. American General Dwight Eisenhower and British Air Marshal Arthur Tedder at a press conference after the signing of the surrender of Germany in Reims (France) on May 7, 1945.

4. Representatives of the Allied Command after the signing of the surrender of Germany in Reims (Wrance) on May 7, 1945.
In the photo from left to right: Chief of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974), Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces in Europe, British Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Morgan Morgan, 1894-1967), American Lieutenant General Bedell Smith, American radio commentator Harry Butcher, American General Dwight Eisenhower, British Air Marshal Arthur Tedder and Chief of Staff of the British Navy Admiral Sir Harold Burro.

5. Colonel-General Alfred Jodl (center) signs the German surrender at the Allied Headquarters in Reims at 02.41 local time on 7 May 1945. Sitting next to Jodl are Grand Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg (right) and Jodl's adjutant Major Wilhelm Oxenius.

The leadership of the USSR was dissatisfied with the signing of the surrender of Germany in Reims, which was not agreed with the USSR and relegated the country that made the greatest contribution to the Victory to the background. At the suggestion of the Soviet government and personally I.V. Stalin and the Allies agreed to consider the procedure in Reims a preliminary surrender. The Allies also agreed that the matter should not be postponed, and appointed the signing of the German Surrender Act in full form in Berlin for May 8, 1945.

6. The signing of the surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945. In the photo, from right to left: adjutant A. Jodl, Major Wilhelm Oxenius, Colonel General Alfred Jodl and Grand Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg; from left to right: Chief of Staff of the Allied Forces in Europe, British Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Morgan, French General Francois Seve, Chief of Staff of the British Navy, Admiral Sir Harold Burro, radio commentator Harry Butcher, American Lieutenant General Bedell Smith, Adjutant I.A. Susloparov Senior Lieutenant Ivan Chernyaev, Chief of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974), American General Carl Spaatz, cameraman Henry Bull, Colonel Ivan Zenkovich.

7. Colonel-General Alfred Jodl (center) signs the surrender of Germany at the headquarters of the allied forces in Reims at 02.41 local time on May 7, 1945.

8. Representatives of the German command come to the table to sign the surrender in Reims on May 7, 1945. In the photo from left to right: Adjutant A. Jodl, Major Wilhelm Oxenius, Colonel General Alfred Jodl and Grand Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg.

9. The head of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974), shakes hands with the commander of the allied forces in Europe, American General Dwight Eisenhower at the signing of the act of surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945. To the left of I.A. Susloparov - his adjutant senior lieutenant Ivan Chernyaev.

10. The Chief of Staff of the Allies in Europe, the American Lieutenant General Bedell Smith, signs the act of surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945. In the photo on the left is Admiral Sir Harold Burro, Chief of Staff of the British Navy, on the right is Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974), head of the USSR military mission in France.

11. The head of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974), signs the act of surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945. In the photo on the far right is American General Carl Spaatz. To the left of I.A. Susloparov - his adjutant senior lieutenant Ivan Chernyaev.

12. Wehrmacht Artillery General Helmut Weidling leaves the bunker during the surrender of the Berlin garrison. May 2, 1945

13. Representative of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army, Commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, who signed the Instrument of Surrender from the USSR. In the background is a Soviet cameraman filming the signing ceremony. Berlin. 09/08/1945

17. Representatives after the signing of the Act of unconditional surrender in Berlin-Karlshorst on May 8, 1945. The German act was signed by Field Marshal Keitel (in front to the right, with a marshal's baton) from the ground forces, Admiral General von Friedeburg (to the right behind Keitel) from the navy and Colonel General Stumpf (to the left of Keitel) from the military -but-air force.

18. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, signing the Act of unconditional surrender of Germany from the German side, is served the text of the Act. To the left, second from the viewer, G.K. is sitting at the table. Zhukov, who signed the Act on behalf of the USSR. Berlin. 05/08/1945

19. Chief of the General Staff of the German Ground Forces, General of the Infantry Krebs (left), who arrived on May 1 at the location of the Soviet troops in order to draw the High Command into the negotiation process. On the same day, the general shot himself. Berlin. May 1, 1945

20. The Soviet delegation before the signing of the Act of unconditional surrender of all German armed forces. Berlin. 05/08/1945 Standing on the right - the representative of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army, the commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov, standing in the center with his hand raised - Deputy Commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, General of the Army V.D. Sokolovsky.

21. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, who is signing the Act of Germany's unconditional surrender from the German side, is presented with the text of the Act. G.K. is sitting at the table on the left. Zhukov, who signed the Act on behalf of the USSR. Berlin. 05/08/1945

22. Representatives of the German command, headed by Field Marshal Keitel, are sent to sign the Act of Germany's unconditional surrender. May 8, Berlin, Karlhorst.

23. Chief of the General Staff of the German Ground Forces Lieutenant General of the Infantry Hans Krebs at the headquarters of the Soviet troops in Berlin. On May 1, Krebs arrived at the location of the Soviet troops in order to draw the High Command into the negotiation process. On the same day, the general shot himself.

24. Surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German and Soviet officers are discussing the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrendering German troops. 05/09/1945

25. Surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German and Soviet officers are discussing the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrendering German troops. 05/09/1945

26. Surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German officers accept from the Soviet officer the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrender. 05/09/1945

27. Surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German officers accept from the Soviet officer the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrender. 05/09/1945

28. Surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German and Soviet officers are discussing the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrendering German troops. 05/09/1945

29. The surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia.

30. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signs the act of unconditional surrender of Germany. Berlin, May 8, 1945, 22:43 CET (May 9 at 0:43 Moscow time).

31. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel goes to the signing of the Act of unconditional surrender of Germany. Berlin. 05/08/1945

32. Arrival in Berlin for the ceremony of signing the Act of Surrender of Germany of the Air Chief MarshalGreat Britain Tedder A.V. Among those meeting: General of the Army Sokolovsky V.D. and commandant of BerlinColonel General Berzarin N.E. 05/08/1945

33. Arrival in Berlin, Field Marshal W. Keitel, Admiral of the Fleet H. Friedeburg and Colonel General of Aviation G. Stumpf to sign the Act of unconditional surrender of Germany. Among the escorts is General of the Army Sokolovsky V.D. and Colonel General Berzarin N.E. 05/08/1945

34. First Deputy People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR Vyshinsky A.Ya. andMarshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. heading to the signing ceremonyThe act of unconditional surrender of Germany. Karlshorst. 05/08/1945

35. Air Chief Marshal of Great Britain Sir Tedder A. and Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. looking through the documents on the terms of the surrender of Germany.

36. Signing Field Marshal Keitel W. Act of unconditional surrender of all armed forces in Germany. Berlin. Karlshorst. 05/08/1945

37. Commander of the 1st Belorussian Front Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K.signs the Act of unconditional surrender of all German armed forces.

38. Dinner in honor of the Victory after the signing of the terms of the unconditional surrender of Germany. From left to right: Chief Air Marshal of Great Britain Sir Tedder A., Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. Commander of the US Strategic Air Force General Spaats K. Berlin. 08-09.05.1945

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The photo selection is made on the basis of materials:

Russian State Archive of Film and Photo Documents.

All photos are clickable.

Photo albums "Great Patriotic War"

On May 8, 1945, on the outskirts of Berlin, Karshorst, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany and its Armed Forces was signed.

The act of Germany's unconditional surrender was signed twice. On behalf of Dönitz, Hitler's successor after his presumed death, Jodl suggested that the Allies accept Germany's surrender and arrange for the signing of the corresponding act on 10 May. Eisenhower refused to even discuss the postponement and gave Yodl half an hour to decide on the immediate signing of the act, threatening that otherwise the Allies would continue to deliver massive strikes against the German troops. The German representatives had no choice, and after agreement with Dönitz, Jodl agreed to sign the act.

On the part of the command of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, the act was to be witnessed by General Beddel Smith. Eisenhower proposed from the Soviet side to witness the act to Major General I.A. Susloparov, a former representative of the Headquarters of the Allied Command. Susloparov, as soon as he learned about the preparation of the act for signing, reported this to Moscow and handed over the text of the prepared document, requesting instructions on the procedure.

By the time the signing of the act of surrender began (it was tentatively scheduled for 2 hours and 30 minutes), no response was received from Moscow. The situation developed in such a way that the act could not have been signed by the Soviet representative at all, so Susloparov achieved the inclusion of a note in it about the possibility, at the request of one of the allied states, of a new signing of the act, if there were objective reasons for this. Only after that did he agree to put his signature under the act, although he understood that he was extremely risky.

Germany's surrender was signed on May 7 at 2:40 CET. The act provided that unconditional surrender comes into force from 23:00 on May 8. After that, a belated ban on Susloparov from participating in the signing of the act came from Moscow. The Soviet side insisted on signing the act in Berlin with a significant increase in the level of persons who would sign the act and testify to it with their signatures. Stalin instructed Marshal Zhukov to organize a new signing of the act.

Fortunately, the note, which was included at the request of Susloparov in the signed document, allowed this to be done. Sometimes the second signing of the act is called the ratification of what was signed the day before. There are legal grounds for this, since on May 7 G.K. Zhukov received an official order from Moscow: "The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command authorizes you to ratify the protocol on the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces."

Stalin joined in resolving the issue of signing the act again, but at a higher level, turning to Churchill and Truman: “The treaty signed in Reims cannot be canceled, but it cannot be recognized. Surrender must be carried out as the most important historical act and accepted not on the territory of the victors, but where the fascist aggression came from, in Berlin, and not unilaterally, but necessarily by the supreme command of all countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

As a result, the United States and England agreed to carry out a new signing of the act, and the document signed in Reims to be considered the "Preliminary Protocol on the Surrender of Germany." At the same time, Churchill and Truman refused to postpone the announcement of the signing of the act for a day, as Stalin asked, arguing that heavy fighting was still going on on the Soviet-German front, and we had to wait until the surrender came into force, that is, until 23:00 on May 8 . In England and the United States, the signing of the act and the surrender of Germany to the Western Allies was officially announced on May 8, Churchill and Truman did it personally, addressing the people by radio. In the USSR, the text of their appeals was published in newspapers, but for obvious reasons only on May 10th.

It is curious that Churchill, knowing that the end of the war would be announced in the USSR after the signing of a new act, said in his radio address: “Today we will probably think mainly about ourselves. Tomorrow we will give special praise to our Russian comrades, whose valor on the battlefield was one of the great contributions to the common victory.

Opening the ceremony, Marshal Zhukov addressed the audience, declaring: “We, representatives of the Supreme Command of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Supreme Command of the Allied Forces ... are authorized by the governments of the anti-Hitler coalition to accept the unconditional surrender of Germany from the German military command.” After that, representatives of the German command entered the hall, presenting a document of authority signed by Dönitz.

The signing of the act ended at 22:43 CET. It was already May 9 in Moscow (0 hours 43 minutes). On the German side, the act was signed by the Chief of Staff of the Supreme High Command of the Armed Forces of Germany, Field Marshal Wilhelm Bodevin Johann Gustav Keitel, the Chief of the General Staff of the Luftwaffe, Colonel General of Aviation Hans Jurgen Stumpf, and General Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, who became the Reich President of Germany after the appointment of Dönitz. Unconditional surrender was accepted by Marshal Zhukov (from the Soviet side) and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force Marshal Tedder (Eng. Arthur William Tedder) (Great Britain).

General Carl Spaatz (USA) and General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (France) put their signatures as witnesses. By agreement between the governments of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain, an agreement was reached to consider the procedure in Reims preliminary. However, in Western historiography, the signing of the surrender of the German armed forces, as a rule, is associated with the procedure in Reims, and the signing of the act of surrender in Berlin is referred to as its "ratification"

Soon, the solemn voice of Yuri Levitan sounded from radios throughout the country: “On May 8, 1945, representatives of the German High Command signed an act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces in Berlin. The Great Patriotic War waged by the Soviet people against the Nazi invaders has ended victoriously.

Germany is completely destroyed. Comrades of the Red Army, Red Navy, sergeants, foremen, officers of the army and navy, generals, admirals and marshals, I congratulate you on the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland!”

By order of I. Stalin, a grandiose salute from a thousand guns was given that day in Moscow. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, in commemoration of the victorious end of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people against the Nazi invaders and the historic victories of the Red Army, May 9 was declared Victory Day.

The act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces was signed on May 7 at 02:41 in Reims by the Chief of the Operational Headquarters of the German High Command, Colonel General Alfred Jodl. The document obliged the German military to stop resistance, surrender personnel and transfer the materiel of the armed forces to the enemy, which in fact meant Germany's exit from the war. The Soviet leadership was not satisfied with such a signing, therefore, at the request of the government of the USSR and Comrade Stalin personally, on May 8 ( May 9, USSR time) the German Surrender Act was signed for the second time, but already in Berlin, and the day of the official announcement of its signing ( May 8 in Europe and America, May 9 in the USSR) began to be celebrated as Victory Day.

The act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces, signed on May 7, 1945

The idea of Germany's unconditional surrender was first announced by President Roosevelt on January 13, 1943 at a conference in Casablanca and has since become the official position of the United Nations.

Representatives of the German command approach the table to sign the surrender in Reims on May 7, 1945

The general surrender of Germany was preceded by a series of partial surrenders of the largest formations remaining in the Third Reich:

On April 29, 1945, the act of surrender of Army Group C (in Italy) was signed in Caserta by its commander, Colonel General G. Fitingof-Scheel.

On May 2, 1945, the Berlin garrison under the command of Helmut Weidling capitulated to the Red Army.

On May 4, Admiral of the Fleet Hans-Georg Friedeburg, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy, signed the act of surrender of all German armed forces in Holland, Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein and North-West Germany to Field Marshal B. Montgomery's 21st Army Group.

On May 5, Infantry General F. Schultz, who commanded Army Group G, operating in Bavaria and Western Austria, surrendered to the American General D. Devers.

Colonel-General Alfred Jodl (center) signs the German surrender at the Allied Headquarters in Reims at 02.41 local time on 7 May 1945. Sitting next to Jodl are Grand Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg (right) and Jodl's adjutant Major Wilhelm Oxenius.

The leadership of the USSR was dissatisfied with the signing of the surrender of Germany in Reims, which was not agreed with the USSR and relegated the country that made the greatest contribution to the Victory to the background. At Stalin's suggestion, the Allies agreed to regard the Reims procedure as a preliminary capitulation. Although a group of 17 journalists attended the surrender signing ceremony, the US and Britain agreed to delay the public announcement of the surrender so that the Soviet Union could prepare a second surrender ceremony in Berlin, which took place on 8 May.

The signing of the surrender in Reims

The Soviet representative, General Susloparov, signed the act in Reims at his own peril and risk, since by the time scheduled for signing, instructions from the Kremlin had not yet arrived. He decided to put his signature with the proviso (Article 4) that this act should not exclude the possibility of signing another act at the request of one of the allied countries. Shortly after signing the act, Susloparov received a telegram from Stalin with a categorical prohibition to sign the surrender.

After signing the surrender in the front row: Susloparov, Smith, Eisenhower, Air Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur Tedder

For his part, Stalin declared: The Treaty signed at Reims cannot be revoked, but it cannot be recognized either. Surrender must be carried out as the most important historical act and accepted not on the territory of the winners, but where the fascist aggression came from - in Berlin, and not unilaterally, but necessarily by the supreme command of all countries of the anti-Hitler coalition».

The Soviet delegation before the signing of the Act of unconditional surrender of all German armed forces. Berlin. 05/08/1945 Standing on the right - Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov, standing in the center with a raised hand - General of the Army V.D. Sokolovsky.

The building of the German military engineering school in the suburbs of Berlin - Karlshorst, in which the signing ceremony of the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany was held.

Air Chief Marshal of Great Britain Sir Tedder A. and Marshal of the Soviet Union GK Zhukov are looking through documents on the terms of Germany's surrender.

Zhukov read out the act of surrender in Karlshorst. Next to Zhukov is Arthur Tedder.

On May 8, at 22:43 CET (at 00:43, May 9, Moscow time), in the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst, in the building of the former canteen of the military engineering school, the final Act of Germany's unconditional surrender was signed.

Keitel signing the surrender at Karlshorst

The changes in the text of the act were as follows:

In the English text, the expression Soviet High Command (Soviet High Command) has been replaced by a more accurate translation of the Soviet term: Supreme High Command of the Red Army (Supreme High Command of the Red Army)

The part of Article 2, which deals with the obligation of the Germans to hand over military equipment intact and safe, has been expanded and detailed.

The indication of the May 7 act was removed: “Only this text in English is authoritative” and article 6 was inserted, which read: “This act was drawn up in Russian, English and German. Only the Russian and English texts are authentic."

Representatives after the signing of the Act of Unconditional Surrender in Berlin-Karlshorst on May 8, 1945

Dinner in honor of the Victory after the signing of the terms of the unconditional surrender of Germany. From left to right: Chief Air Marshal of Great Britain Sir Tedder A., Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov G.K. Commander of the US Strategic Air Force General Spaats K. Berlin.

The surrender of the Germans on the spit Frisch-Nerung, East Prussia. German officers accept from the Soviet officer the terms of surrender and the procedure for surrender. 05/09/1945

Having accepted the surrender, the Soviet Union did not sign peace with Germany, that is, formally remained in a state of war. The decree on ending the state of war was adopted by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR only on January 25, 1955.

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the USSR the USSR,
USA USA,
France France

Act of unconditional surrender of the German armed forces(English) German Instrument of Surrender, fr. Actes de capitulation de l'Allemagne Nazie, German Bedingungslose Kapitulation der Wehrmacht) - a legal document that established a truce on the fronts of World War II directed against Germany, obliging the German armed forces to cease hostilities and disarmament, preventing the destruction or damage of military equipment, which actually meant Germany's withdrawal from the war.

The act was signed by representatives of the High Command of the Wehrmacht, the High Command of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union on May 7 at 02:41 am in Reims (France). The surrender of Nazi Germany took effect on May 8 at 23:01 CET (May 9 at 01:01 Moscow time).

The dates of the official announcement by the heads of state of the signing of surrender - May 8 in European countries and May 9 in the USSR - began to be celebrated in the respective countries as Victory Day.

Document text preparation

The idea of the unconditional surrender of Germany was first announced by President Roosevelt on January 13, 1943 at a conference in Casablanca and has since become the official position of the United Nations. The draft instrument of surrender since January 1944 was developed by the European Consultative Commission (ECC). This extensive document, entitled "Terms for the Surrender of Germany", was agreed at the end of July 1944 and approved by the heads of the allied governments.

The document was sent, in particular, to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), where, however, it was perceived not as a mandatory instruction, but as a recommendation. Therefore, when on May 4-5, 1945, the question of Germany's surrender practically arose, SHAEF did not use the existing document (perhaps fearing that disputes over the political articles contained in it would complicate negotiations with the Germans), but developed their own short, purely military document, which eventually became the act of military surrender. The text was drafted by a group of American officers close to Allied Commander-in-Chief Dwight Eisenhower; the main author was Colonel Phillimore ( English Reginald Henry Phillimore) of the 3rd (operational) division of SHAEF. In order to ensure that the text of the act of military surrender did not contradict the document of the ECC, at the suggestion of the British diplomat Ambassador Wynand, Article 4 was added to it, suggesting the possibility of replacing this act with “another general instrument of surrender concluded by the United Nations or on their behalf” (some Russian sources, however, attribute the idea of this article to the Soviet representative under the command of the allies, Ivan Susloparov).

In turn, the document developed by the JCC became the basis for the declaration of the defeat of Germany, which was signed a month after the signing of the acts of military surrender.

Partial surrenders

In Italy and Western Austria

On April 29, 1945, the act of surrender of Army Group C (C) was signed in Caserta by its commander, Colonel General G. Fitingof-Scheel, the terms of surrender came into force on May 2 at 12:00. The signing was preceded by secret negotiations between representatives of the United States and Great Britain with representatives of Germany (see Operation Sunrise).

In Berlin

On the northwestern fronts

In Bavaria and Western Austria

On May 5, Infantry General F. Schultz, who commanded Army Group G, operating in Bavaria and Western Austria, surrendered to the American General D. Devers. However, in the south, the Reich still had a large grouping of army groups "Center" and "Austria" (formerly "South") under the command of Field Marshal Albert Kesselring.

First act

The German government is for surrender only in the West

Having signed the act of surrender of German troops in the north on May 4 in Lüneburg, Admiral Friedeburg, on behalf of Dönitz, went to Reims, to Eisenhower's headquarters, in order to raise the question of the surrender of German troops on the Western Front. Due to bad weather in Reims, the plane landed in Brussels, then they had to travel by car, and the German delegation arrived in Reims only by 17:00 on May 5. Meanwhile, Eisenhower told his chief of staff, Walter Bedell Smith, who was receiving the delegation, that there would be no bargaining with the Germans and he did not intend to see the Germans until they signed the terms of surrender. The negotiations were entrusted to Generals W. B. Smith and Carl Strong (the latter was involved in the negotiations for the surrender of Italy in 1943).

Training

May 6 at SHAEF Representatives of the allied commands were summoned: members of the Soviet mission, General Susloparov and Colonel Zenkovich, as well as the Deputy Chief of the Supreme National Defense Staff of France, General Sevez (Chief of Staff, General Juyn, was in San Francisco at the founding conference of the UN). Eisenhower did his best to calm the suspicions of the Soviet representatives, who believed that the Anglo-American allies were ready to conspire with the Germans behind their backs. As for the role of Sevez, who signed the act as a witness, it turned out to be insignificant - the general, being a pure military man, did not try to defend the prestigious interests of France and, in particular, did not protest against the absence of the French flag in the room where the capitulation was signed. Eisenhower himself refused to participate in the signing ceremony for protocol reasons, since the German side was represented by the chief of staff, and not by the commander in chief - the ceremony, therefore, was to be held at the level of chiefs of staff.

Negotiation

The school building in Reims where the surrender was signed

The negotiations took place in the premises of the operational department of the allied headquarters (this headquarters was located in the building that was called the "red school building", in fact - in the building of the technical college). In order to demonstrate to Friedeburg the futility of the German position, Smith ordered the walls to be hung with maps indicating the situation on the fronts, as well as maps indicating the strikes allegedly being prepared by the Allies. These maps made a great impression on Friedeburg. Friedeburg offered Smith the surrender of the remaining German forces on the Western Front; Smith replied that Eisenhower refused to continue negotiations unless the offer of surrender also applied to the Eastern Front: only a general surrender was possible, and the troops in the West and East should remain in their places. Friedeburg replied to this that he did not have the authority to sign a general surrender. Having studied the text of the act of surrender presented to him, Friedeburg telegraphed Dönitz, asking permission to sign a general surrender or send Keitel and the commanders of the air and naval forces for this.

Dönitz found the surrender terms unacceptable and sent Alfred Jodl to Reims, who was known to be a strong opponent of surrender in the East. Jodl had to explain to Eisenhower why a general surrender was impossible. He arrived in Reims on the evening of 6 May. After an hour of discussion with him, Smith and Strong came to the conclusion that the Germans were simply playing for time in order to have time to transport as many troops and refugees to the West as possible, which they reported to Eisenhower. The latter told Smith to tell the Germans that “if they do not stop looking for excuses and stalling for time, I will immediately close the entire Allied front and stop the flow of refugees by force through the position of our troops. I will not tolerate any further delay." Having received this answer, Jodl realized that his situation was hopeless, and requested from Dönitz the authority for a general surrender. Dönitz called Eisenhower's behavior "a real blackmail", however, also realizing the hopelessness of the situation, shortly after midnight on May 7 instructed Keitel to answer: "Grand Admiral Dönitz grants the full right to sign in accordance with the proposed conditions." Permission to sign was received by Jodl by radio at 00:40.

The signing ceremony was scheduled for 02:30 on 7 May. According to the text of the act, the German troops were to cease hostilities at 23:01 CET on May 8, that is, almost two days after the signing of the act. Dönitz hoped to take advantage of this time to move as many troops and refugees as possible to the West.

Signing

The act was signed on May 7 at 02:41 (CET) by the Chief of Operations Staff of the German Army High Command, Colonel General Alfred Jodl. The surrender was accepted from the USSR - Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov, representative of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command under the command of the Allies, from the Anglo-American side - Lieutenant General of the US Army, Chief of the General Staff of the Allied Expeditionary Force Walter Bedell Smith. The act was also signed by Brigadier General Francois Sevez, Deputy Chief of the French National Defense Staff, as a witness. The English text of this act is authentic.

Without waiting for a message about the ceremony, at 01:35 Dönitz gave the following order to Field Marshal Kesselring and General Winter, which was also transmitted for information to the commander of the Army Group Center F. Schörner, the commander of the troops in Austria L. Rendulich and the commander of the troops of the South-East A. Leroux:

The task is to withdraw to the west as many of the troops operating on the Eastern Front as possible, while, if necessary, fighting their way through the positions of Soviet troops. Immediately stop any military operations against the Anglo-American troops and order the troops to surrender to them. The general surrender will be signed today at Eisenhower's headquarters. Eisenhower promised Colonel General Jodl that hostilities would cease on May 9, 1945 at 0000 hours German summer time...

There is a slightly different version of the translation from German, perhaps of the same order:

All troops opposing the eastern enemy should retreat to the West as soon as possible, if necessary, break through the battle formations of the Russians. Immediately stop all resistance to the Anglo-American troops and organize the surrender of troops. The general surrender will be signed today at Eisenhower's. Eisenhower promised Yodl a cease-fire by 0100 May 9, 1945 (German time).

On the evening of 8 May, Dönitz also sent a telegram to the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Field Marshal Robert von Greim, to cease all active hostilities effective 9 May 1945 from 01:00 German Summer Time.

Radio message to the German people

On May 7 at 14:27 (according to other sources, 12:45) German radio (from Flensburg) officially announced the signing of the surrender. The foreign minister of the Dönitz government, Count Schwerin von Krosig, delivered the following speech:

Germans and Germans!
The Supreme High Command of the Wehrmacht, on the orders of Grand Admiral Dönitz, announced the unconditional surrender of the German troops. As the leading minister of the imperial government, formed by the grand admiral to complete all military tasks, I appeal to the German people at this tragic moment in our history ...
No one should be mistaken about the severity of the conditions that our opponents will impose on us. It is necessary, without any loud phrases, to clearly and soberly look them in the face. No one can doubt that the coming times will be harsh for each of us and will require sacrifices from us in all areas of life. We are obliged to bring them and be loyal to all the obligations that we undertake. But we do not dare to despair and indulge in dull resignation to fate. We must find a way to get out of this darkness on the road of our future. Let the three guiding stars, which have always been the guarantee of a truly German essence, be unity, law and freedom ...
We must base our people's life on law. Justice must become the supreme law and the main guiding thread for our people. We must recognize law both out of inner conviction and as the basis of our relations with other peoples. Respect for the treaties that have been concluded must be as sacred to us as the feeling of belonging to the European family of peoples, as a member of which we want to bring all our human, moral and material powers to the peak in order to heal the terrible wounds inflicted by the war.
Then we can hope that the atmosphere of hatred that now surrounds Germany throughout the world will give way to that reconciliation of peoples, without which the improvement of the world is unthinkable, and that freedom will again give us its signal, without which no people can live decently and with dignity.
We want to see the future of our people in the realization of the deepest and best forces of every living person to whom the world has given enduring creations and values. With pride in the heroic struggle of our people, we will combine the desire, as a link in Western Christian culture, to contribute to honest peaceful labor in the spirit of the best traditions of our people. May God not leave us in our trouble, may he sanctify our difficult work!

Public announcement ban

Although a group of 17 journalists attended the signing ceremony, the US and UK agreed to delay the public announcement of the surrender so that the Soviet Union could prepare a second surrender ceremony in Berlin. An oath was taken from the reporters that they would report the surrender only 36 hours later - at exactly 3 pm on May 8, 1945. In violation of the agreement, on May 7 at 15:41 (15:35 ) the German surrender was reported by the Associated Press, whose reporter, Edward Kennedy, after the German report, considered himself free from the promise to keep the event secret. For this, Kennedy was fired from the agency, and the silence about surrender continued in the West for another day - only on the afternoon of May 8 was it officially announced. In the Soviet Union, information about the surrender on May 7 was also initially banned, but then, after the signing of the final act in Karlshorst, the Reims act, called the "preliminary protocol of surrender", was mentioned in I. V. Stalin's appeal to the Soviet people, broadcast on the radio on May 9 at 21:00.

Second act

Susloparov's signature on the Reims Act

In publications, with reference to the memoirs of the then Chief of the Operations Department of the General Staff, Army General Sergei Shtemenko, the following situation is presented with the signing of the act in Reims (it is typical that in Shtemenko's memoirs, the Reims act is called either a document or a protocol).

On the evening of May 6, General Susloparov was received by the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, D. Eisenhower, who announced the forthcoming (at 02:30 on May 7, 1945) signing of the act of surrender, asked to transfer the text of the act to Moscow and obtain permission to sign the document. Susloparov “sent a telegram to Moscow about the forthcoming act of signing the surrender and the text of the protocol; asked for directions." At the time of the signing of the surrender, no instructions had been received from Moscow.

The head of the Soviet military mission decided to sign the document of surrender. At the same time, while providing an opportunity for the Soviet government to influence the subsequent course of events, if necessary, he made a note to the document. The note stated that this protocol of military surrender did not exclude the further signing of another, more perfect act of the surrender of Germany, if any allied government declared so.

This version, in slightly different interpretations, is found in many domestic publications, including those without references to Sergei Shtemenko's memoirs. However, in foreign publications there is no information that General Susloparov signed the act of surrender, making some note to it.

Shortly after signing the act, Susloparov received a telegram from Stalin with a categorical prohibition to sign the surrender.

The need for a second signing of surrender

Stalin was outraged by the signing of the surrender at Reims, in which the Western Allies played a leading role. He refused to recognize this act, demanding a new signing of it in Berlin, taken by the Red Army, and asking the Allies not to make official announcements of victory until the surrender took effect (that is, until May 9).

The last demand was denied by both Churchill (who noted that parliament would demand information from him about the signing of the surrender) and Truman (who stated that Stalin's request came to him too late and it was no longer possible to cancel the announcement of victory). For his part, Stalin said:

The Treaty signed at Reims cannot be revoked, but it cannot be recognized either. Surrender must be committed as the most important historical act and accepted not on the territory of the victors, but where the fascist aggression came from - in Berlin, and not unilaterally, but necessarily by the supreme command of all countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

In response, the Allies agreed to hold a second signing ceremony in Berlin. Eisenhower informed Jodl that the German commanders-in-chief of the branches of the armed forces were to appear for the final official procedure at a time and place to be indicated by the Soviet and Allied commands.

Address of the heads of state to the people on May 8, 1945

Immediately after the signing of the surrender in Reims, Eisenhower recommended that a simultaneous statement by the heads of state in Moscow, London and Washington be made on May 8 at 15:00 (CET), proclaiming May 9 as the day the war ended. After the Soviet command announced the need to re-sign the surrender, Eisenhower changed his first proposal, explaining that "it is unwise to make any statements until the Russians are completely satisfied." When it became clear that Moscow would not be able to speed up the time for the announcement of surrender, London and Washington decided to do this on May 8 (as originally proposed), proclaiming May 8 as the day for achieving victory in Europe.

At 15:15 CET on May 8, 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered a radio address to the people of his country. From Churchill's radio message:

... there is no reason to hide from the people the fact that General Eisenhower informed us of the signing of unconditional surrender in Reims, and also there is no reason forbidding us to celebrate today and tomorrow as the days of Victory in Europe. Today, perhaps, we will think more of ourselves. And tomorrow we must pay tribute to our Russian comrades, whose courage on the battlefields has become one of the most important components of our common victory.

Around the same time (according to the agreement - 36 hours after the signing of the surrender in Reims), other heads of state also made an appeal. In the United States (it was still morning there), President Harry Truman made a statement on the radio, who promised that he would “not make an official announcement until 9 am Washington time on May 8, or 4 pm Moscow time, unless Marshal Stalin expresses his consent to earlier hour" Arthur William Tedder) (UK). General K. Spaatz (eng. Carl spaatz) (USA) and General J. de Lattre de Tassigny (fr. Jean de Lattre de Tassigny) (France) put their signatures as witnesses. It should be noted that at first, Eisenhower himself was going to fly to Berlin to accept the surrender on behalf of the Allied command, but he was stopped by the objections of Churchill and a group of officers from his entourage, dissatisfied with the second signing: indeed, Eisenhower's presence in Berlin, in the absence of Reims, seemed to detract from the Reims act and exalted the Berlin one. As a result, Eisenhower sent his second in command, Arthur Tedder, in his place.

Differences in the text of the two acts

The text of the act almost verbatim repeats the text of the Reims act, and the time of the ceasefire is confirmed - May 8 at 23:01 CET (May 9 at 01:01 Moscow time). The main changes in the text were as follows:

in the English text, the expression Soviet High Command (Soviet High Command) is replaced by Supreme High Command of the Red Army (Supreme High Command of the Red Army);
Article 2 has been expanded and detailed in terms of the requirements for the German armed forces to disarm, transfer and preserve weapons and military equipment;
the preamble was removed: “Only this text in English is authoritative” and article 6 was added indicating: “This act is drawn up in Russian, English and German. Only the Russian and English texts are authentic."

Subsequent events

By agreement between the governments of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain, an agreement was reached to consider the procedure in Reims preliminary. This is how it was interpreted in the USSR, where the significance of the act of May 7 was belittled in every possible way (in Stalin's address to the Soviet people, the Reims act is called "preliminary protocol of surrender"), while in the West it is regarded as the actual signing of surrender, and the act in Karlshorst - as its ratification. Thus, Churchill, in his radio address of May 8, stated: “Yesterday morning, at 2:41 in the morning, General Jodl<…>and Grand Admiral Dönitz<…>signed the act of unconditional surrender of all German land, sea and air forces<…>. Today this agreement will be ratified and confirmed in Berlin. It is significant, for example, that in the fundamental work of the American historian W. Shirer "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich", the act in Karlshorst is not even mentioned.

Soviet citizens learned about the signing of the surrender in Karlshorst from a message from the Sovinformburo on May 9, 1945 at 2:10 am Moscow time. Announcer Yuri Levitan read out the Act of military surrender of Nazi Germany and the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on declaring May 9 as a Victory Day, only military operations against Germany until May 9, 1945 are meant.

On May 7, fascist Germany made a last attempt to save itself from complete defeat by concluding a separate peace with the allies of the USSR, but they failed.

Allied army commanders insisted on complete and unconditional surrender with the participation of the USSR

From May 2 to May 4, a meeting of the top military leadership of the Third Reich was held at Doenitz's headquarters.

It was attended by Admiral Doenitz, Field Marshal Keitel, Colonel General Jodl, Field Marshals Scherner, Ritter von Greim and other senior ranks of the German army. There was a question of capitulation to the allied Anglo-American troops and the further resistance of the Red Army.

The issue of concluding an anti-Bolshevik alliance with the Americans and the British was especially sharply discussed. The death of Hitler, as it seemed to the new German leaders, destroyed the last obstacle to this.

German leaders felt that with the death of the Fuhrer, the West would view Germany and its army as a bulwark against Bolshevism in Europe.

That is why Admiral Karl Dönitz, who succeeded Hitler, tried to split East and West and save what was left of Germany by partial surrender only to the Western Allies. However, upon receiving offers from the German government of Doenitz to conclude an alliance, US President Harry Truman replied that the only acceptable one was unconditional surrender to the entire Big Three states - the USA, Great Britain and the USSR.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill supported him. General Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces in Europe, also fully agreed with Truman's policy.

Meanwhile, the German leadership tried to shake the unanimous opinion of the allies with proposals for a separate peace and the continuation of hostilities. German soldiers on the Eastern Front, rightly fearing capture and revenge by the Red Army, fought desperately.

On the Western Front, they surrendered as soon as they saw the allies. The civilian population fled to the West to end up in the Anglo-American zone after the end of the war. On May 1, Admiral Doenitz, in his radio address to the German nation, said that the Wehrmacht would "fight against Bolshevism as long as German troops and hundreds of thousands of families remain in the eastern part of Germany."

But on May 5, he realized that Eisenhower would not accept surrender only to the Western Allies, so he tried to achieve his goal by surrendering German divisions and armies in the West and continuing to fight in the East. On May 4, Dönitz sent his representative, Admiral Hans von Friedeburg, to the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (VShSES) in Reims with the task of negotiating the surrender of the remaining German troops in the West.

Eisenhower continued to insist that total surrender should take place simultaneously on the Eastern and Western fronts. Von Friedeburg was interviewed by Chief of Staff General Smith and General Strong, who had served as military attaché in Berlin before the war and spoke excellent German.

Eisenhower refused to meet with German officers until the signing of the document of complete and unconditional surrender. General Smith told von Friedeburg that negotiations were not forthcoming and suggested that he sign a document of complete surrender.

Friedeburg replied that he did not have the authority to do so.

General Smith, in turn, showed Friedeburg some of the operational staff maps, which clearly showed the overwhelming superiority of the Allied forces and the hopelessness of the position of the German troops. Admiral von Friedeburg urgently telegraphed Doenitz, asking him for permission to sign an unconditional surrender.

Alfred Jodl

However, the head of the German government did not give such permission. Instead, he made a final attempt to split the alliance of the three powers by sending to Reims Colonel General Alfred Jodl, chief of the operations department of the German army headquarters. Jodl arrived there on May 6, Sunday evening.

He again held talks with Generals Smith and Strong, emphasizing that the Germans were ready and willing to capitulate to the West, but not to the Red Army. Jodl frankly declared his intention to "preserve for the German nation as many Germans as possible and save them from Bolshevism."

Moreover, he said that nothing could force the troops of Generals Lehr and Rendulich, Field Marshal Scherner, to execute the order of complete and unconditional surrender, as long as they had the opportunity to withdraw to areas occupied by American and British troops. In other words, Colonel General Jodl refused to surrender the German troops in the East.

In turn, General Smith once again confirmed the previous demands for surrender to all allies. After that, Jodl asked for two days to "so that the necessary instructions reached all German units." In response, Smith pointed out the impossibility of fulfilling such a request. Negotiations dragged on for another hour and ended in vain. General Smith reported the difficulties in the negotiations to Eisenhower.

It was clear to Eisenhower that Jodl was trying to buy time so that as many German soldiers and civilians as possible could cross the Elbe and get away from the Red Army.

He asked Smith to tell the German general that if he did not sign a document on complete and unconditional surrender, then the allied command would interrupt all negotiations and put up a reliable force barrier in front of the refugees. But Eisenhower nevertheless decided to give Yodl the 48 hours of respite requested ...

American General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) and British Air Marshal Arthur Tedder (Arthur William Tedder, 1890-1967) at a press conference after the signing of the German surrender in Reims on May 7, 1945.

General Smith relayed Eisenhower's reply to Jodl, who telegraphed Doenitz asking for permission to sign the document. The head of the Reich called Eisenhower's demands "arm twisting."

Nevertheless, he was forced to accept them, consoling himself with the fact that for a 48-hour delay the Germans would be able to save a lot of their troops. Just after midnight on May 7, Doenitz sent the following telegram to Jodl: “You are given the full right to sign a surrender on the terms set forth. Admiral Doenitz.

The head of the Soviet military mission at the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, Major General I.A. Susloparov, says that on the evening of May 6, 1945, Eisenhower's adjutant flew to him.

General Susloparov

He conveyed the invitation of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces to urgently arrive at his headquarters in Reims. Eisenhower received Susloparov at his residence. Smiling, he said that the German Colonel General Jodl had arrived with a proposal to capitulate to the Anglo-American troops and begin joint military operations against the Red Army.

—What do you say, Mr. General? Eisenhower asked.

I.A. Susloparov knew that the German Admiral Friedeburg had been sitting at the headquarters of the commander-in-chief for several days, who, however, could not persuade Eisenhower to a separate agreement. Therefore, the Soviet representative replied that there were obligations jointly accepted by the members of the anti-Hitler coalition at the Crimean Conference regarding the unconditional surrender of enemy troops on all fronts, including the Eastern one.

General Eisenhower informed Susloparov that he demanded from Jodl the complete surrender of Germany and would not accept any other. And that the Germans were forced to agree to this.

Then the Commander-in-Chief asked Susloparov to inform Moscow of the text of the surrender, get approval there and sign it on behalf of the Soviet Union. Moreover, the time and place, according to Eisenhower, had already been appointed - 2 hours 30 minutes on May 7, 1945, in the premises of the operational department of the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief.

The draft protocol received by Susloparov spoke of the unconditional surrender of all land, sea and air forces currently under German control.

The German command was obliged to give an order to cease hostilities at 00:01 on May 9, 1945, while all troops subordinate to it had to remain in their positions. It was forbidden to disable weapons and other means of warfare. The German command guaranteed the execution of all orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Soviet Supreme High Command.

The head of the Soviet military mission, General Susloparov, had very little time left to receive instructions from his government.

He sent an urgent telegram to Moscow about the forthcoming act of signing the surrender and the text of the protocol. He also asked for special instructions. By the time Susloparov's telegram reached and was reported to its destination, several hours had passed.

In Reims, it was past midnight, the time had come to sign the surrender, and instructions from Moscow still did not come. The position of the head of the Soviet military mission turned out to be very difficult. Everything now depended on him, his decision. Put your signature on behalf of the Soviet Union or refuse?

General Susloparov understood that the signing of Germany's surrender only to the Western allies could turn out, in the event of any oversight on his part, the greatest misfortune for the Soviet Union and for him personally. At the same time, the horrors of war rose before the eyes of the general, when every minute takes away many human lives. So he decides to sign the document.

At the same time, while providing an opportunity for the Soviet Union to influence the subsequent course of events, if necessary, Susloparov made a note to him.

It stated that this protocol does not exclude the further signing of another, more perfect German Surrender Act, if any allied government declares so. Commander-in-Chief General Eisenhower and representatives of other powers at his headquarters agreed with the note.

At 2 am on May 7, 1945, Generals Smith, Morgan, Bull, Spaats, Tedder, the head of the Soviet military mission, General Susloparov, and the French representative gathered on the second floor in the recreation room of the Reims Polytechnic School for Men. General Strong served as an interpreter. The rest room was shaped like the letter "G" with a single small window.

There were many military maps around. Pins, arrows and other staff symbols on them testified to the complete defeat of Germany.

Due to the relatively small area of the room, the allied officers squeezed one by one to their chairs, which stood around a massive oak table. When everyone took their places, Colonel-General Jodl was brought into the room, accompanied by Admiral Friedeburg and their adjutants.

Tall, straight as a stick, neatly dressed, Jodl with his invariable monocle served as a model of the Prussian general. He bowed dryly to those present. The procedure for signing the protocol on the surrender of Germany began, which took no more than half an hour.

The protocol itself looked like this:

MILITARY SURRENDER OF GERMANY

Only the present text in English is an authentic document

Act of military surrender

We, the undersigned, acting under the authority of the German High Command, hereby declare the unconditional surrender of all land, sea and air forces now under German control to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command.
The German High Command undertakes to issue one-time orders to all German land, sea and air forces and all military forces under German control, to cease all active operations from 2301 hours CET on May 8, and to remain in their current locations. . It is forbidden to destroy any ships, vessels or aircraft, as well as to cause any damage to their hull, mechanism or equipment.
The German High Command undertakes to simultaneously issue appropriate orders and ensure the execution of further orders issued by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Soviet High Command.
This act of surrender does not limit the general act of surrender drawn up on behalf of the United Nations in relation to Germany and the German armed forces in general, and will be superseded by it.
In the event that the German High Command or any forces under its control fail to comply with the provisions of this Instrument of Surrender, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and the Soviet High Command may take punitive and other measures as they deem necessary.

On behalf of the German High Command.

Jodl

IN THE PRESENCE

On behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.

V.B. Smith

F. Seve

Major General of the French Army

On behalf of the Soviet High Command.

Susloparov"

While the procedure was going on, General Eisenhower waited in a nearby office, pacing back and forth, smoking cigarette after cigarette. He claimed that he would not speak to the German officers until they had signed the protocol. Finally, the moment of victory over Nazi Germany has come!

Eisenhower wrote later in his book The European Campaign that, logically, he should have felt uplifted, joyful, but, on the contrary, he felt completely broken. Eisenhower did not sleep for almost three days, now it was deep night, and he wanted everything to end quickly.

Representatives of the German command approach the table to sign the surrender in Reims on May 7, 1945

General Jodl signing the German surrender at Reims on May 7, 1945

The Chief of Staff of the Allies in Europe, American Lieutenant General Bedell Smith (Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith, 1895 - 1961) signs the act of surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945.

In the photo on the left is the Chief of Staff of the British Navy Admiral Sir Harold Burrough (Harold Martin Burrough, 1889-1977), on the right is the head of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov

The Commander-in-Chief sat down at his desk. Yodl bowed and stood at attention. Eisenhower asked if he understood the terms of surrender and was ready to fulfill them. Jodl answered yes.

Eisenhower then warned him of personal responsibility for violating them. Yodl bowed again and left. Eisenhower got up and went to the headquarters room. There he gathered all the staff officers and representatives of the allied forces. Photographers were also called in to capture the solemn event for history.

Eisenhower prepared a short press release and recorded his radio speech. He congratulated everyone on the victory. With the journalists gone, it was time to send the message of Germany's surrender to the Big Three heads of state and headquarters. Each of the officers and generals was looking for words and spectacular phrases to express the greatness of the event. Eisenhower silently listened and watched.

Each subsequent version was more pompous than the previous one. The Supreme Commander, finally, thanking those present, rejected all proposals and dictated his own: "The task facing the allied forces was completed at 02.41 local time on May 7, 1945." That was the message of history...

In the photo from left to right:

Chief of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897–1974), Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander (COSSAC), British Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Morgan (Frederick Edgeworth Morgan, 1894– 1967), American Lieutenant General Bedell Smith (Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith, 1895 - 1961)

American radio commentator Harry C. Butcher, American General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), British Air Marshal Arthur Tedder (Arthur William Tedder, 1890-1967) and Chief of Staff of the British Navy Admiral Sir Harold Burro ( Harold Martin Burrough, 1889-1977).

He still managed to smile in front of the cameras, raise his fingers in the form of the letter "V", symbolizing victory, and left.

“As far as I understand,” he said quietly to the adjutant, “the event requires a bottle of champagne.”

They brought champagne, opened it to soft exclamations. Drank to win. Terrible fatigue pressed on everyone, so those present soon dispersed.

The head of the USSR military mission in France, Major General Ivan Alekseevich Susloparov (1897-1974) shakes hands with the commander of the allied forces in Europe, American General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) at the signing of the act of surrender of Germany in Reims on May 7, 1945 .
To the left of I.A. Susloparov - his adjutant senior lieutenant Ivan Chernyaev.

After Eisenhower congratulated General Susloparov on the signing of the German surrender protocol and victory, the head of the Soviet military mission prepared and sent his report to Moscow.

Meanwhile, a counter message was already coming from the Kremlin, in which the general was ordered not to sign any documents on surrender ....

REACTION OF THE USSR

In the meantime, on the morning of May 7, the notice of Germany's surrender, signed at Reims, was received in Moscow. Colonel General S.M. Shtemenko, who was then the head of the operational department of the General Staff of the Red Army and was often invited to the Kremlin, testifies ...

When the telegram from Reims was received, the Chief of the General Staff A.I. Antonov summoned Shtemenko and ordered that a draft directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command be drawn up regarding the capitulation that had taken place.

He showed him a letter just sent to Antonov by the head of the US military mission, Dean, which contained the following: “... This afternoon I received an urgent message from the president in which he asks Marshal Stalin to give his consent to announce the surrender of Germany today at 19.00 Moscow time.

We received an answer through the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs that this could not be done, because the Soviet government still had not received from its representatives at Eisenhower's headquarters information about the surrender of Germany.

I (i.e. US Head of Mission Dee) informed President Truman of this and received a response that he would not make an official announcement until 9 am Washington time on May 8, or 4 pm Moscow time, unless Marshal Stalin expressed his consent to earlier hour..."

Soon followed by a call to the Kremlin, to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Stalin.

In the office, besides Stalin himself, there were members of the government. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief, as usual, walked slowly along the carpet. His whole appearance expressed extreme displeasure. The surrender of Germany at Reims was discussed.

Stalin summed up the results, thinking aloud.

He noticed that the Allies had arranged a unilateral agreement with the Dönitz government. And such an agreement is more like a conspiracy.

In addition to General I.A. Susloparov, none of the state officials of the USSR was present in Reims. It turns out that there was no capitulation to the Soviet Union, and this was when the USSR suffered the most from the Nazi invasion and made the greatest contribution to the cause of victory. Bad consequences can be expected from such a "surrender".

“The treaty signed by the allies in Reims,” Stalin continued, “cannot be canceled, but it cannot be recognized either. Surrender must be committed as the most important historical fact and accepted not on the territory of the victors, but where the fascist aggression came from: in Berlin, and not unilaterally, but necessarily by the supreme command of all countries of the anti-Hitler coalition.

Let it be signed by one of the leaders of the former fascist state or a whole group of Nazis responsible for all their atrocities against humanity.”

Having finished speaking, Stalin turned to the Chief of the General Staff A.I. Antonov and asked if Zhukov could find a suitable room for the solemn signing of the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Nazi Germany in Berlin.

Well, then there was the great date of the ninth of May!

Portal for the student. Self-training

Who handed over the documents when signing the act of surrender. German troops in Bavaria and southern Germany

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