8th May 1945........Celebrated today with a holiday in France

INSTRUMENT of SURRENDER of all German Forces to the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and to the Supreme High Command of the Red Army

Berlin. May 8, 1945. [3]

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 [3] Department of State Bulletin, July 22, 1945.
Page 43
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 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 This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and the German armed forces as a whole.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.
Page 44
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 8th day of May, 1945
FRIEDEBURG KEITEL STUMPF
On behalf of the German High Command
IN THE PRESENCE OF:
On behalf of the Supreme Commander On behalf of the Supreme High Command
Allied Expeditionary Force of the Red Army
A W TEDDER G ZHUKOV
At the signing also were present as witnesses:
F. de LATTRE-TASSIGNY CARL SPAATZ
General Commanding in Chief First General, Commanding United States
French Army Strategic Air Forces

"This unconditional surrender has been achieved by team-work, team-work not only among all the Allies participating but among all the services, land, sea and air."

Proclamation by GENERAL EISENHOWER on the unconditional surrender of Germany.

Paris. May 8, 1945. [4]