Instrument of Surrender of Germany
Background
The Instrument of Surrender of Germany was a legal document that marked the end of World War II in Europe. The document was signed on 7 May 1945 by representatives of the German High Command, in the presence of representatives from the Allied Powers. The signing took place in Reims, France, at the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).
The Document
The Instrument of Surrender of Germany was a short document, consisting of only two pages. The document was written in English and German, with the English version being the authoritative text. The document contained three main sections: the preamble, the terms of surrender, and the signatures.
The preamble of the document stated that the German High Command, acting under the authority of the German government, was surrendering unconditionally to the Allied Powers. The preamble also stated that the surrender was effective from 23:01 Central European Time on 8 May 1945.
The terms of surrender were outlined in nine articles. These articles stipulated the conditions under which the German armed forces were to cease all hostilities, the locations where German troops were to surrender, and the procedures for the surrender of German weapons and equipment. The articles also outlined the responsibilities of the German High Command and the German government in ensuring the implementation of the surrender terms.
The final section of the document contained the signatures of the representatives of the German High Command and the Allied Powers. The German representatives were General Alfred Jodl, Chief of the Operations Staff of the German Armed Forces High Command, and Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy. The Allied representatives were General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and General Ivan Susloparov, representative of the Soviet High Command.
Significance
The signing of the Instrument of Surrender of Germany marked the end of World War II in Europe. The surrender of Germany was a significant event in world history, as it brought to an end a conflict that had lasted for six years and had resulted in the deaths of millions of people.
The surrender of Germany also marked the beginning of a new era in international relations. The end of World War II led to the establishment of the United Nations, an international organization designed to prevent future conflicts. The surrender of Germany also marked the beginning of the Cold War, a period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Aftermath
Following the signing of the Instrument of Surrender of Germany, the German High Command issued orders to all German forces to cease hostilities. However, some German units did not receive the order to surrender, or chose to ignore it, and continued to fight until they were defeated by the Allied forces.
The surrender of Germany also led to the occupation of Germany by the Allied Powers. The country was divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the Allied Powers: the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France. The city of Berlin, located in the Soviet occupation zone, was also divided into four sectors.
The occupation of Germany lasted until 1949, when the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) were established. The division of Germany was a major factor in the onset of the Cold War.