| Original caption: Victory Smiles of Allied Officers – Smiles mark the faces of the Allied officers at headquarters here after the Germans signed surrender terms. Present are, from left, General of Artillery of Red Army Ivan Susloparoff [shoulder at left], Lieutenant General Sir F. E. Morgan, Deputy Chief of Staff, SHAEF; Lieutenant General W. B. Smith; Captain Harry C. Butcher, General Eisenhower, holding pens with which surrender was signed; and [partially obscured at right] Sir Arthur Tedder. After signing the unconditional surrender document, the German delegation was taken to General Eisenhower’s office, where he asked them if they fully understood the terms of the surrender and whether they were prepared to execute them. The Germans answered “yes,” bowed stiffly, and left the room. When they left, Eisenhower asked SHAEF Staff Photographer Technician 4th Class Albert B. Meserlin, Jr. (May 26, 1920 – March 29, 2009), 165th Signal Photo Company, 3908th Signal Service Battalion, to take this photo as he flashed a “V” for Victory, using the surrender document pens. The 2 pens used for the signature of the act of capitulation were brown in color, with a golden cap. They were reportedly offered to Eisenhower by his friend Kenneth Parker. The 1st pen was to be sent back to Parker. The 2nd pen was for United States President Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972). But at the last moment, Captain Butcher, Eisenhower’s aide-de-camp, reportedly presented Nazi German Heer Chief of Staff of Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) Generaloberst Alfred Jodl (May 10, 1890 – October 16, 1946) with his personal pen. Pictured in the photo, left to right: Soviet Red Army Ivan A. Susloparov (October 19, 1897 – December 16, 1974), whose shoulder can be seen at extreme left. He 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. United Kingdom Lieutenant General Sir Frederick E. Morgan (February 5, 1894 – March 19, 1967), Deputy Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). Morgan had been involved in planning for the invasion of Europe since March 1943, as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander Designate (COSSAC), and chose to stay with SHAEF. United States Army General Walter B. “Beetle” Smith (October 5, 1895 – August 9, 1961), Chief of Staff, SHAEF, negotiated the signing of the Instrument of Surrender and signed on behalf of Eisenhower. While he was known for his gruff exterior – he was Eisenhower’s “hatchet man” – he was a skilled diplomat and negotiator. Captain Kay Summersby (November 23, 1908 – January 20, 1975), Eisenhower’s official driver, appears partially obscured behind General Smith. United States Navy Captain Harry C. Butcher (November 1, 1901 – April 20, 1985), aide to Eisenhower. Captain Butcher is seen handing General Eisenhower the surrender pens. Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), United States Army General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) made the “V of Victory” with the 2 pens that were used to sign the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. United Kingdom Royal Air Force Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder (July 11, 1890 – June 3, 1967), Deputy Supreme Commander at SHAEF, was present at Rheims and then flew to Berlin the next day to sign the Nazi German Instrument of Surrender at the Soviet ceremony in Berlin. Just off camera is United Kingdom Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir Harold M. Burrough (July 4, 1889 – October 22, 1977), Naval Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Force (ANXF), who directed landing operations across the Rhine in April 1945. Another photo, actually taken 1st, was the picture that was released internationally for publication. That photo included Soviet General Susloparov’s face, but did not show Summersby. See wwii0872.jpg. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0897.jpg |
| Image Size | 648.91 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3000 x 2365 |
| Photographer | Al Meserlin |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 7, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | France |
| Archive | Brookdale Community College |
| Record Number | IKE6-768×614-2 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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