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Kapitulation Deutschlands
Only this text in
English is authoritative.
ACT OF MILITARY SURRENDER
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by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, Allied Expeditionary Force, W. B. SMITH
On behalf of the
Soviet High Command, SOUSLOPAROV
F SEVEZ, Major
General, French Army (Witness)
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