FLASHBACK to 04/05/1945. This is the “Instrument of Surrender of all German armed forces in Holland, in north west Germany including all islands, and in Denmark”. The pact was signed by Britain’s Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, and agreed by Germany’s Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg and other members of the German high command, at Luneburg Heath, May 4, 1945. The ceasefire took effect from 8am on May 5.
TEXT:
Senior German officers, from left, Maj. Friedel, Rear Adm. Wagner, Adm. Hans-Georg Von Friedeburg, Gen. Eberhard Kinzel and Col. Pollek, arrive at Montgomery’s 21st Army Group headquarters, at Luneburg Heath, May 4, 1945. The peace envoy later agreed a surrender pact in the form of a ceasefire on the British fronts in north west Germany, Denmark and Holland as from 8am on May 5.
1. The German Command agrees to the surrender of all armed forces in HOLLAND, in northwest GERMANY including the FRISLIAN ISLANDS and HELIGOLAND and all islands, in SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, and in DENMARK, to the C.-in-C. 21 Army Group.
=This to include all naval ships in these areas=
These forces to lay down their arms and to surrender unconditionally.
2. All hostilities on land, on sea, or in the air by German forces in the above areas to cease at 0800 hrs. British Double Summer Time on Saturday 5 May 1945.
3. The German command to carry out at once, and without argument or comment, all further orders that will be issued by the Allied Powers on any subject.
4. Disobedience of orders, or failure to comply with them, will be regarded as a breach of these surrender terms and will be dealt with by the Allied Powers in accordance with the laws and usages of war.
5. This instrument of surrender is independent of, without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of the Allied Powers and applicable to Germany and the German armed forces as a whole.
6. This instrument of surrender is written in English and in German.
The English version is the authentic text.
7. The decision of the Allied Powers will be final if any doubt or dispute arise as to the meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms.
Britain’s Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery reads over the surrender pact, while senior German officers, from left, Major Friedel, Rear Admiral Wagner and Admiral Hans-Georg Von Friedeburg, look on, in a tent at Montgomery’s 21st Army Group headquarters, at Luneburg Heath, May 4, 1945. The pact agreed a ceasefire on the British fronts in north west Germany, Denmark and Holland as from 8am on May 5. (AP Photo/Eddie Worth)
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