German surrender at Reims

German surrender at Reims. The act of military surrender that ended World War II in Europe was signed at the headquarters of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in Reims, France, in the early hours of 7 May 1945. The signing by representatives of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and the Allies of World War II implemented the demand for unconditional surrender, though a second, more formal ratification occurred in Berlin the following day. This event marked the definitive collapse of Nazi Germany and the conclusion of the Western Front.

Background

By late April 1945, the military situation for Nazi Germany was catastrophic. The Red Army had launched the Battle of Berlin, surrounding the city, while Allied forces from the west had crossed the Rhine and advanced deep into Germany. Following the death of Adolf Hitler on 30 April, his successor, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, sought to surrender to the Western Allies in hopes of avoiding capture by the Soviet Union. Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, Chief of Operations for the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, to proceed to the headquarters of Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower in Reims. Eisenhower, operating from the Collège Moderne et Technique de Garçons, insisted on a simultaneous surrender to all Allies, including the Soviet Union, a condition that forced Jodl to seek final authorization from the Flensburg Government.

The surrender ceremony

The surrender ceremony took place in the War Room of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, a map-lined chamber in the Reims school. After receiving confirmation from Flensburg, Jodl signed the German Instrument of Surrender at 02:41 Central European Time on 7 May. The document stipulated that all German forces would cease active operations by 23:01 CET on 8 May. Present in the room were senior officers representing the major Allied powers, including General Walter Bedell Smith for the United States, General Ivan Susloparov for the Soviet Union, and General François Sevez for France. The signing was witnessed by numerous military personnel and journalists, though a news embargo was initially imposed to allow for the simultaneous Berlin signing.

Signatories and witnesses

The principal signatory for Germany was General Alfred Jodl, who signed as the representative of German President Karl Dönitz and the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht. For the Allied forces, the instrument was signed by General Walter Bedell Smith on behalf of Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. General Ivan Susloparov signed as the representative of the Soviet High Command, and General François Sevez served as the official witness for France. Other key witnesses included Major General Harold R. Bull and Admiral Sir Harold Burrough of the Royal Navy. The presence of Susloparov was politically crucial, though his authority was later questioned by the Kremlin, leading to the demand for a second ceremony in Berlin.

Aftermath and significance

The immediate aftermath saw the enforcement of the surrender terms across all theaters. Victory in Europe Day was celebrated on 8 May across Western Europe and the United States, though the Soviet Union celebrated on 9 May following the Berlin confirmation. Politically, the Reims signing created tension with the Soviet Union, as Joseph Stalin insisted on a more formal surrender in the enemy's capital, considering the Reims event merely a preliminary signing. The surrender finalized the Allied occupation of Germany and led directly to the Potsdam Conference. It also marked the end of the Third Reich and the beginning of the Nuremberg trials for major war criminals.

Confirmation in Berlin

Under pressure from Joseph Stalin, a second, definitive surrender ceremony was held in Karlshorst, Berlin, on the night of 8 May. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed for the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht in the presence of Marshal Georgy Zhukov for the Soviet Union, and representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, and France, including General Carl Spaatz and Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder. This act, known as the Berlin Declaration, formally ratified the Reims terms and was considered by the Soviet Union as the official end of the Great Patriotic War.

Category:World War II surrenders Category:1945 in Germany Category:Military history of France during World War II Category:May 1945 events