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2
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 commanders, 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 This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by, any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of, the United Nations and applicable to Germany and the German armed forces- as a whole.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, France, at 0241 on the 7th day of May, 1945.
On behalf of the German High
Command:
JODL.
In the presence of:
On behalf of the Supreme Commander,
Allied Expeditionary Force:
W. B. SMITH.
F. SEVEZ,
Major-General, French Army
(Witness),
On behalf of the Soviet High Command: SOUSLOPAROV.
3.
Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, and the Soviet High Command prepared, with plenary 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.
(6)
Headquarters, 7th May, 1945.
(Translation.)
The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
(In replying kindly quote file number, date and summary of contents.)
empower Field-Marshal Keitel as Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief of the Army,
General-Admiral von Friedeburg as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Colonel-General Stumpf as representative of the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, to verify the unconditional surrender of the German Armed Forces to the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force and to the Soviet Supreme Command.
DONITZ, Grand Admiral.
(Seal)
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 Army and Air Forces 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 R.A.F.
3. In the case of the Channel Islands the Supreme Commander's represen- tatives will be the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, and Air Officer Commanding 10 Group R.A.F.
(Signed) WALTER B. SMITH,
Dated 0241, 7th May, 1945,
Rheims, France.
(5)
For the Supreme Commander, A.E.F.
Undertaking given by certain German Emissaries to the Allied High Commands. It is agreed by the German emissaries undersigned that the following German officers will arrive at a place and time designated by the Supreme
(7)
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 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 orders 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 the 8th May, 1945, to remain in the 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 High 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.
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