| Original caption: “Colonel General Alfred Jodl, Chief of Staff under the Dönitz Regime, signs the document of unconditional surrender. On Jodl’s left is General Admiral Von Friedeburg of the German Navy, and on the right is Major Wilhelm Oxenius of the German General Staff. Behind Von Friedeburg is Major General K.W.D. Strong, G-2, SHAEF.” The Nazi German Instrument of Surrender was signed in Rheims, France, on the night of May 7, 1945. From left to right, around the table: Soviet Red Army Ivan A. Susloparov (October 19, 1897 — December 16, 1974) signed with the understanding that any Allied power could request another surrender ceremony; he later received orders not to sign, but it was too late. He signed using the French transliteration of his name. Nazi German Heer Staff Officer at the Operations Directorate of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), Major Wilhelm Oxenius (September 9, 1912 — August 13, 1979) served as translator for Generaloberst Jodl; he was a Prisoner of War from May 10, 1945, to January 3, 1948. Nazi German Heer Generaloberst Alfred Jodl (May 10, 1890 — October 16, 1946) was arrested on May 23, 1945, and tried at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg. Found guilty on the charges of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace; planning, initiating, and waging wars of aggression; war crimes; and crimes against humanity, Jodl was hanged at Nuremberg Prison. Generaladmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (July 15, 1895 — May 23, 1945), Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine, was the only person present at all three Nazi German surrender ceremonies – Luneburg Heath on May 4, 1945, in Rheims on May 7, and in Berlin on May 8. When Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk’s Flensburg Government was dissolved, von Friedeburg committed suicide. United Kingdom Royal Army Major General Sir Kenneth W. D. Strong (September 9, 1900 — January 11, 1982) stands behind Jodl and von Friedeburg. Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) Director of Intelligence (G-2), he served as the Allied translator during the negotiations for the Nazi German surrender. French Army General François Sevez (October 22, 1891 – February 29, 1948) is not pictured. As representative of the French Army of Occupation of Germany commanded by French Army General Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert (September 30, 1887 — June 13, 1981), he signed the Instrument of Surrender. The text of the Nazxi German Instrument of Surrender is as follows: 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 Soviet High Command, all forces on land, sea, and in the air, which 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 May 8 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. 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 Hours on the seventh day of May, 1945. Jodl On behalf of the German High Command. In the Presence of On behalf of the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force. W. B. Smith On behalf of the Soviet High Command. Sousloparov Major General, French Army (Witness). F. Sevez | |
| Image Filename | wwii0871.jpg |
| Image Size | 432.03 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2328 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Franklin D. Roosevelt Library |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 7, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | France |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NLR-PHOCO-A-837(104) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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