V-E Day (5-8-45)

39

Othman: Dis is DE Day

By Fred Othman

WASHINGTON – This is the day to whoop-and-holler, not yesterday.

If you’ve already torn up your phone book and thrown the pieces out the window it serves you right and don’t go blaming President Truman. He did his best. All day yesterday his assistants emerged at intervals from the executive offices and said, “Uhh-uh–not yet.”

The morning started out beautifully. German surrender was in the air and the odor of freshly cut grass. The White House gardeners were cutting the lawn. The sun was shining. The movers were hauling in the new President’s belongings and depositing them in living quarters painted varying shades of raspberry pink, green and blue. Everything looked wonderful.

It still looked that way at 10 a.m. when Press Secretary Jonathan Daniels called in the correspondents.

“All I have this morning,” he said, “is proclamation–.”

The scribes unsheathed their pencils and the press association men got set for the fastest foot race yet to the telephones.

“–a proclamation,” continued Daniels, “about National Rehabilitation Week.”

“Try and get that one on the wires,” cried a disappointed writing wretch.

“Then put it in your pocket,” said Daniels.

Daniels’ girl almost mobbed

An hour passed. Daniels’ girl stuck her head out his door and nearly got mobbed. Daniels had some more news, she gasped.

He did, too. It was a letter to the governors of the 48 states inviting them to drop in at the White House whenever they came to town. The reporters went back to their red leather seats in the reception room, where they smoked too many off-brand cigarettes and bit their fingernails. Lunchtime came. A messenger shagged in some tuna fish sandwiches.

At 1:55 p.m. that girl (the brave one in the tan dress) came out again. More news, she said. Then she leaped out of the way. Daniels read a four-line statement by President Truman saying he’d talked to London and Moscow and didn’t intend to do any talking about peace until they did, too.

Jimmy Byrnes drops in

Until then (and he didn’t say when) there wasn’t anything he could say. Word filtered out that he’d dropped over to the mansion for a bite.

A couple more hours passed and in came Jimmy Byrnes, who used to be the assistant president. He spent an hour with the President and then walked into an impromptu press conference. He said:

  1. The weather in South Carolina has been so cold and rainy lately that he hasn’t caught any fish.
  2. He will be in Washington all day today. (Why, Mr. Byrnes?) To visit his dentist and have his choppers polished, he said.

Soon thereafter came the news that President Truman had signed the franking bill for Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Now she doesn’t have to worry about running out of postage stamps, ever again.

The photographers ran outside to get pictures of President Truman’s piano being hoisted in the door. Another hour went by and at 6:10 p.m., Daniels himself came out (the girl must have lost her nerve) and said he had some news:

  1. Today is President Truman’s birthday.
  2. He will spend it for the first time in the refurnished White House.
  3. Today’s the day to whoop-and-holler. Nine a.m. is the hour.
40

With the Japs still to be licked –
Victory in Europe costs United States 800,000 casualties, $185 billion

Rehabilitation to raise expense

WASHINGTON (UP – The victory in Europe cost the United States about 800,000 casualties and more than $185 billion.

These are the best conservative estimate available now. It will be a long time before the final figures are worked out.

A survey showed today that this country’s share of the cost of crushing the Nazi bid for world domination will exceed by three or four times the cost of World War I and its aftermath – whether the measuring standard is casualties or dollars.

The cost in money will be increased in future years by many billions of dollars through interest on government borrowings and benefits to veterans. The cost in broken lives, too, will be paid over a long period.

Experts consulted

Most of the government experts consulted believed that at least two-thirds of the dollar outlay since defense preparations began in 1940 went directly or indirectly into the war against Germany and Italy.

This is based on the allocation of men to the two major spheres of combat. The best available information is that two U.S. fighting men were sent to Europe for each one sent to the Pacific.

The cost estimate includes not only guns, bullets, planes and tanks, plus the plants to make them, but also such items as Lend-Lease expenditures, training costs, merchant ships, transportation, subsistence and literally thousands of articles and services that never appeared on the field of battle but were vital to victory.

Results of survey

Here are the results of the survey:

COST IN MONEY: Defense and war expenditures total more than $277,600,000,000 since July 1, 1940. Assigning two-thirds of this to the European War gives a figure of $185,066,000.0U0. This compares with the $55,345,000,000 cost of the last war.

The figure for the last war includes continuing expenses for many years after the war and unpaid war debts. The figure for this war is just the cost up to now.

COST IN CASUALTIES: Approximately 800,000 men killed, wounded, missing and prisoners. This is a projected figure because the official casualty compilations are far behind.

Army casualties compiled here by theaters as of March 31 showed a total of 685,247 for the European, Mediterranean, Middle East and Caribbean theaters – all part of the European war. The figures included 133,284 killed, 431,965 wounded, 67,008 missing and 52,990 prisoners.

Reports lag

But these figures actually included only casualties suffered until early March. Much severe fighting was not covered by these reports, and it will be months before final casualty data of the war against Germany is available. Best estimates are that the European Theater alone will report a final casualty total exceeding 800,000.

The Navy has never broken down its casualties by war theaters so it is impossible to determine accurately now what part of Navy casualties were incurred against Germany.

But an informed source said that through last July, a period which included the toughest phase of the Battle of the Atlantic as well as the landing operations in North Africa, Italy and Normandy, slightly less than 25 percent of Navy casualties were suffered in the war against Germany.

At the end of last July, the Navy had suffered 52,000 war casualties throughout the world. It may be estimated that naval casualties in the war on Germany totaled between 13,000 and 14,000. No breakdown of this figure into killed, wounded and missing is available now.

World War I figures

In World War I, the final casualty total for all the armed services was 259,735. This included 53,878 killed, 201,377 wounded and 4,480 prisoners.

Relatively speaking, the Merchant Marine suffered the highest death ratio of any of the services engaged in the war against Germany. Although its casualties by theaters are not available, an estimated 5,000 out of more than 6,000 casualties to date occurred in the Atlantic and adjacent waters. A large portion of these are dead or missing, mostly as a result of the German U-boat campaign in the first 18 months of the war.

MEN INVOLVED: Probably between 3,500,000 and 4,000,000 out of the Army’s 5,200,000 men overseas have been involved in the war on Germany and its satellites.

The Army has not announced allocation of its men by theaters, but some 70 divisions have been identified in the war against Germany. These divisions would total roughly 1,250,000 men, but to them must be added the tremendous U.S. Air Force and the great numbers of supply and maintenance men behind the lines.

Naval forces

It is estimated that not more than 235,000 men in the naval services were engaged in the war on Germany. All told, the Navy has a total of 2,352,275 sailors, marines and coast guardsmen now serving outside the continental limits. The Navy estimated that approximately 80 percent of this total are under Adm. Chester W. Nimitz’s command in the Pacific. The rest of them are scattered throughout the world with possibly less than 10 percent in the Atlantic. It was recalled that about 124,000 naval officers and men took part directly or indirectly in the invasion of Normandy.

These were in addition to the many thousands engaged in escorting convoys across the Atlantic and in protecting the supply lines.

COST IN WARSHIPS: A total of 96 naval vessels and naval craft were sunk in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and European theaters.

The figure includes landing craft destroyers, some PT-boats, and transports. The largest vessel lost was the escort carrier USS Block Island. Many merchant ships were also lost.

41

V-E Day puts okay on All-Star Game

Tuesday, May 8, 1945

Now that V-E Day has been officially proclaimed baseball’s World Series will be played.

It is also probable that the All-Star Game which was eliminated in the spring, will be reinstated. Commissioner A. B. “Happy” Chandler has indicated he will try to arrange a date for this affair.

The World Series was not cancelled but was left depending upon the status of the war at a winter meeting in Washington of Presidents Ford Frick and Will Harridge of the major leagues and ODT chiefs.

Horseracing enthusiasts also expect modification of the ban on that sport.

42

Miners take ‘holiday’ – war plants hum

Almost 100 pits unable to operate
Tuesday, May 8, 1945

War plant ‘patriots’ hear Truman, go home

President Truman had just finished his address proclaiming victory and urging all Americans to remain on their jobs.

At the Allenport plant of the Pittsburgh Steel Company, more than a thousand had listened in silence.

As he finished, one worker remarked: “Let’s go home.”

They all did.

Victory in Europe set back coal production in Western Pennsylvania.

Thirty-three thousand miners “celebrated” by taking the day off. But workers in virtually all district war plants remained at their posts.

The Solid Fuels Administration announced that almost 100 mines are closed, causing a production loss of 180,000 tons.

Mines open, close

Most pits failed to open when miners failed to show up. At two mines of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, the Midland and Somers, workers stayed in the pits only a few hours. Miners began emerging as President Truman proclaimed victory. When he finished reading his proclamation, they went home.

Today’s estimates raised the production loss in Western Pennsylvania coal fields to 2,140,000 tons since January 1, due to numerous strikes and “holidays” taken by the miners, and high absenteeism.

Absenteeism low

But in war plants workers were busy turning out weapons for continuance of the war against Japan.

At most plants, workers heard the President on plant PA systems.

Jones & Laughlin Steel Company, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and Curtiss-Wright at Beaver all reported absenteeism lower than average. A 20-minute program was held for Curtiss-Wright workers.

Carnegie-Illinois, the National Tube Company and the American Bridge Company all reported conditions normal.

43

25 million men deployed in European war

WASHINGTON (UP) – On V-E Day the greatest array of fighting manpower the world has ever seen – fully 25 million men – will have laid down their arms.

But some will pick them up again within a short time. It has been estimated that about three million American soldiers now in Europe and an undetermined number of French, British and Dutch servicemen will journey to the Pacific to wage war against the last remaining Axis power – Japan.

The army of the Soviet Union is the largest in Europe with an estimated nine and a half million men under arms. The German Army ranked second in size. As of last autumn, the Germans had about nine million men in their army, including about a million non-Germans who were forced into service.

The United States used four million men to wage the battle against the Nazis on the continent. The Britons used a million while the French had an army by V-E Day of a half million. In addition to the regularly organized armies, partisan forces in all parts of Europe totaled about a million men.

44

German ships ordered to port

LONDON, England (UP) – The Admiralty announced today that all German and German-controlled ships of every type were being ordered to report their positions to the nearest Allied wireless station, received orders to proceed to port and await further orders.

45

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 Supreme High Command of the Red Army all forces on land, 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.

  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

VON FRIEDEBURG
KEITEL
STUMPFF
On behalf of the German High Command

––––––––––––––––––––

IN THE PRESENCE OF:

A. W. TEDDER
On behalf of the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force

GEORGI ZHUKOV
On behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army

At the signing also were present as witnesses:

F. DE LATTRE-TASSIGNY
General Commanding in Chief First French Army

CARL SPAATZ
General, Commanding United States Strategic Air Forces

АКТ О ВОЕННОЙ КАПИТУЛЯЦИИ

  1. Мы, нижеподписавшиеся, действуя от имени Германского Верховного Командования, соглашаемся на безоговорочную капитуляцию всех наших вооружённых сил на суше, на море и в воздухе, а также всех сил, находящихся в настоящее время под немецким командованием, – Верховному Главнокомандованию Красной Армии и одновременно Верховному Командованию Союзных экспедиционных сил.

  2. Германское Верховное Командование немедленно издаст приказы всем немецким командующим сухопутными, морскими и воздушными силами и всем силам, находящимся под германским командованием, прекратить военные действия в 23-01 часа по центрально-европейскому времени 8-го мая 1945 года, остаться на своих местах, где они находятся в это время и полностью разоружиться, пгредав все их оружие и военное имущество местным союзным командующим или офицерам, выделенным представителями Союзного Верховного Командования, не разрушать и не причинять никаких повреждений пароходам, судом и самолётом, их двигателям, корпусам и оборудованию, а токже машинам, вооружению, аппаратам и всем вообще военнотехническим средствам ведения войны.

  3. Германское Верховное Командование немедленно выделит соответствующих командиров и обеспечит выполнение всех дальнейших приказов, изданных Верховным Главнокомандованием Красной Армии и Верховным Командованием Союзных экспедиционных сил.

  4. Этот акт не будет являться препятствием к замене его другим генеральным документом о капитуляции, заключённым объединёнными нациями или от их имени, применимым к Германии и германским вооружённым силам в целом.

  5. В случае, если немецкое Верховное Командование или какие-либо вооружённые силы, находящиеся под его командованием, не будут действовать в соответствии с этим актом о капитуляции, Верховное Командование Красной Армии, а также Верховное Командование Союзных экспедиционных сил, предпримут такие карательные меры, или другие действия, которые они сочтут необходимыми.

  6. Этот акт составлен на русском, английском и немецком языках. Только русский и английский тексты являются аутентичными.

Подписано 8 мая 1945 года в гор. Берлине.

От имени Германского Верховного Командования:
КЕЙТЕЛЬ
ФРИДЕБУРГ
ШТУМПФ

В присутствии:

По уполномочию Верховного Главнокомандования Красной Армии
Г. ЖУКОВА

По уполномочию Верховного Командующего экспедиционными силами союзников
ТЕДДЕРА

При подписании также присутствовали в качестве свидетелей:

Командующий Стратегическими военно-воздушными силами США генерал
СПААТС

Главнокомандующий Французской армией генерал
ДЕЛАТР де ТАССИНЬИ

KAPITULATIONSERKLAERUNG

  1. Wir, die hier Unterzeichneten, handelnd in Vollmacht für und im Namen des Oberkommandos der Deutschen Wehrmacht, erklären hiermit die bedingungslose Kapitulation aller am gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt unter deutschem Befehl stehenden oder von Deutschland beherrschten Streitkräfte auf dem Lande, auf der See und in der Luft gleichzeitig gegenüber dem Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte und dem Oberkommando der Roten Armee.

  2. Das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht wird unverzüglich allen Behörden der deutschen Land-, See- und Luftstreitkräfte und allen von Deutschland beherrschten Streitkräften den Befehl geben, die Kampfhandlungen um 2301 Uhr Mitteleuropäischer Zeit am 8 Mai einzustellen und in den Stellungen zu verbleiben, die sie an diesem, Zeitpunkt innehaben und sich vollständig zu entwaffnen, indem sie Waffen und Geräte an die örtlichen Alliierten Befehlshaber beziehungsweise an die von den Alliierten Vertretern zu bestimmenden Offiziere abliefern. Kein Schiff, Boot oder Flugzeug irgendeiner Art darf versenkt werden, noch dürfen Schiffsrümpfe, maschinelle Einrichtungen, Ausrüstungsgegenstände, Maschinen irgendwelcher Art, Waffen, Apparaturen, technische Gegenstände, die Kriegszwecken im Allgemeinen dienlich sein können, beschädigt werden.

  3. Das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht wird unverzüglich den zuständigen Befehlshabern alle von dem Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte und dem Oberkommando der Roten Armee erlassenen zusätzlichen Befehle weitergeben und deren Durchführung sicherstellen.

  4. Diese Kapitulationserklärung ist ohne Präjudiz für irgendwelche an ihre Stelle tretenden allgemeinen Kapitulationsbestimmungen, die durch die Vereinten Nationen und in deren Namen Deutschland und der Deutschen Wehrmacht auferlegt werden mögen.

  5. Falls das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht oder irgendwelche ihm unterstehende oder von ihm beherrschte Streitkräfte es versäumen sollten, sich gemäß den Bestimmungen dieser Kapitulations-Erklärung zu verhalten, werden das Oberkommando der Roten Armee und der Oberste Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte alle diejenigen Straf- und anderen Maßnahmen ergreifen, die sie als zweckmäßig erachten.

  6. Diese Erklärung ist in englischer, russischer und deutscher Sprache abgefasst. Allein maßgebend sind die englische und die russische Fassung.

Unterzeichnet zu Berlin am 8.5. Mai 1945.

VON FRIEDEBURG
KEITEL
STUMPFF
Für das Oberkommando der Deutschen Wehrmacht

––––––––––––––––––––

In Gegenwart von:

GEORGI ZHUKOV
Für das Oberkommando der Roten Armee

A. W. TEDDER
Für den Obersten Befehlshaber der Alliierten Expeditions Streitkräfte

Bei der Unterzeichnung waren als Zeugen auch zugegen:

F. DE LATTRE-TASSIGNY
General, Oberstkommandierender der Ersten Französischen Armee

CARL SPAATZ
Kommandierender General der Strategischen Luftstreitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten

46

УКАЗ
Президиума Верховного Совета СССР
Об объявлении 9 мая ПРАЗДНИКОМ ПОБЕДЫ

В ознаменование победоносного завершения Великой Отечественной войны советского народа против немецко-фашистских захватчиков и одержанных исторических побед Красной Армии, увенчавшихся полным разгромом гитлеровской Германии, заявившей о безоговорочной капитуляции, установить, что 9 мая является днём всенародного торжества – ПРАЗДНИКОМ ПОБЕДЫ.

9 мая считать нерабочим днём.

Председатель Президиума Верховного Совета СССР М. КАЛИНИН.
Секретарь Президиума Верховного’ Совета СССР А. ГОРКИН.
Москва, Кремль. 8 мая 1945 года.

В Совнаркоме СССР

В соответствии с Указом Президиума Верховного: Совета-СССР об, объявлении 9 Мая ПРАЗДНИКОМ ПОБЕДЫ Совнарком СССР постановил считать, 9 Мая 1945 года нерабочим днём.

Совет Народных Комиссаров СССР предложил всем. советским государственным учреждениям 9 мая с.г. в день всенародного торжества – ПРАЗДНИК ПОБЕДЫ поднять на своих зданиях Государственный Флаг Союза Советских Социалистических Республик.

47

ПРИКАЗ
Верховного Главнокомандующего ПО ВОЙСКАМ КРАСНОЙ АРМИИ И ВОЕННО-МОРСКОМУ ФЛОТУ

8 мая 1945 года в Берлине представители Верховного Командования подписали акт о безоговорочной капитуляции германских вооруженных сил.

Великая Отечественная война, которую вел советский народ против немецко-фашистских захватчиков, победоносно завершена, Германия полностью разгромлена.

Товарищи красноармейцы, краснофлотцы, сержанты, старшины, офицеры армии и флота, генералы, адмиралы и маршалы, поздравляю вас с победоносным завершением Великой Отечественной войны.

В ознаменование полной победы над Германией сегодня, 9 мая, в День Победы, в 22 часа столица нашей Родины Москва от имени Родины салютует доблестным войскам Красной Армии, кораблям и частям Военно-Морского Флота, одержавшим эту блестящую победу, тридцатью артиллерийскими залпами из тысячи орудий.

Вечная слава героям, павшим в боях за свободу и независимость нашей Родины!

Да здравствуют победоносные Красная Армия и Военно-Морской Флот!

Верховный Главнокомандующий
Маршал Советскою Союза И. СТАЛИН
9 мая 1945 года. № 369

48

Address by Soviet Marshal Stalin to the Soviet People
May 9, 1945

Broadcast audio:

Товарищи! Соотечественники и соотечественницы!

Наступил великий день победы над Германией. Фашистская Германия, поставленная на колени Красной Армией и войсками наших союзников, признала себя побеждённой и объявила безоговорочную капитуляцию.

7 мая был подписан в городе Реймсе предварительный протокол капитуляции. 8 мая представители немецкого главнокомандования в присутствии представителей Верховного Командования союзных войск и Верховного Главнокомандования советских войск подписали в Берлине окончательный акт капитуляции, исполнение которого началось с 24 часов 8 мая.

Зная волчью повадку немецких заправил, считающих договора и соглашения пустой бумажкой, мы не имеем основания верить им на слово. Однако сегодня с утра немецкие войска во исполнение акта капитуляции стали в массовом порядке складывать оружие и сдаваться в плен нашим войскам. Это уже не пустая бумажка. Это – действительная капитуляция вооружённых сил Германии. Правда, одна группа немецких войск в районе Чехословакии все ещё уклоняется от капитуляции. Но я надеюсь, что Красной Армии удастся привести ее в чувство.

Теперь мы можем с полным основанием заявить, что наступил исторический день окончательного разгрома Германии, день великой победы нашего народа над германским империализмом.

Великие жертвы, принесённые нами во имя свободы и независимости нашей Родины, неисчислимые лишения и страдания, пережитые нашим народом в ходе войны, напряженный труд в тылу и на фронте, отданный на алтарь Отечества, не прошли даром и увенчались полной победой над врагом. Вековая борьба славянских народов за своё существование и свою независимость окончилась победой над немецкими захватчиками и немецкой тиранией.

Отныне над Европой будет развеваться великое знамя свободы народов и мира между народами.

Три года назад Гитлер всенародно заявил, что в его задачи входит расчленение Советского Союза и отрыв от него Кавказа, Украины, Белоруссии, Прибалтики и других областей Он прямо заявил: “Мы уничтожим Россию, чтобы она больше никогда не смогла подняться”. Это было три года назад. Но сумасбродным идеям Гитлера не суждено было сбыться, – ход войны развеял их в прах. На деле получилось нечто прямо противоположное тому, о чем бредили гитлеровцы. Германия разбита наголову. Германские войска капитулируют. Советский Союз торжествует победу, хотя он и не собирается ни расчленять, ни уничтожать Германию.

Товарищи! Великая Отечественная война завершилась нашей полной победой. Период войны в Европе кончился, начался период мирного развития.

С победой вас, мои дорогие соотечественники и соотечественницы!

СЛАВА НАШЕЙ ГЕРОИЧЕСКОЙ КРАСНОЙ АРМИИ, ОТСТОЯВШЕЙ НЕЗАВИСИМОСТЬ НАШЕЙ РОДИНЫ И ЗАВОЕВАВШЕЙ ПОБЕДУ НАД ВРАГОМ!

СЛАВА НАШЕМУ ВЕЛИКОМУ НАРОДУ, НАРОДУ-ПОБЕДИТЕЛЮ!

ВЕЧНАЯ СЛАВА ГЕРОЯМ, ПАВШИМ В БОЯХ С ВРАГОМ И ОТДАВШИМ СВОЮ ЖИЗНЬ ЗА СВОБОДУ И СЧАСТЬЕ НАШЕГО НАРОДА!

50

Neues Österreich (May 9, 1945)

Churchill und Truman über die Kapitulation

London, 8. Mai – Premierminister Churchill sagte heute in einer Rede über den Rundfunk, da§ die Kapitulationsurkunde heute in ‘Berlin ratifiziert werden wird. Die Feindseligkeiten werden eine Minute nach Mitternacht eingestellt.

Churchill erklärte weiter: Gestern früh um 2,41 Uhr unterzeichnete Generaloberst Jodl als Vertreter des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht und als Vertreter des deutschen Staatschefs Großadmiral Dönitz im Hauptquartier General Eisenhowers die bedingungslose Kapitulation der deutschen Land-, See- und Luftstreitkräfte in Europa vor den Alliierten und der Sowjetarmee. General Wendell Smith, Stabschef General Eisenhowers, und Francois Savais unterzeichneten im Namen des alliierten Oberbefehlshabers, General Suslaparow für Russland. Die Kapitulation wird heute in Berlin durch Ratifizierung bestätigt werden durch den Befehlshaber der Obersten alliierten Streitkräfte und General Tassigny sowie Marschall Schukow für Russland. Die deutschen Vertreter werden sein Generalfeldmarschall Keitel sowie die Befehlshaber des deutschen Heeres, der Luftwaffe und Kriegsmarine.

Offiziell werden die Feindseligkeiten eine Minute nach Mitternacht eingestellt, aber um Menschenleben nicht unnötig zu opfern, erklang das Signal „Feuer einstellen” bereits gestern entlang der Front.

An verschiedenen Punkten leisten die Deutschen noch den russischen Streitkräften Widerstand. Sollten sie diesen Widerstand eine Minute nach Mitternacht nicht einstellen, dann stellen sie sich außerhalb des Schutzes des Kriegsrechtes und werden von alliierten Streitkräften von allen Seiten angegriffen werden. Es ist verständlich, dass an so langen Frontlinien den Befehlen des deutschen Oberkommandos nicht überall sofort Folge geleistet werden kann. Aber nach unserer Meinung stellt dies keinen Grund dar, der Nation die Tatsache noch länger vorzuenthalten: Die bedingungslose Kapitulation Deutschlands, unterschrieben in Reims.

Der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten Truman verkündete gleichzeitig mit Premierminister Churchill in einer Rundfunkansprache das Ende des Krieges in Europa. Er führte unter anderem aus:

Diese Stunde ist eine Stunde der Freude und des Ruhmes. Mein einziger Wunsch ist, dass Präsident Roosevelt dies noch hätte ernten können. In dieser Stunde des Sieges beugen wir uns vor der Vorsehung, die uns geleitet und unseren Mut hochgehalten hat. Das Gefühl unserer Freude ist gedämpft in dem Bewusstsein des furchtbaren Preises, den wir gezahlt haben, um die Welt von Hitler und seinen verbrecherischen Helfershelfern zu befreien.

51

Es gibt keine Reichsregierung mehr

London, 8. Mai – Das schwedische Außenministerium gibt bekannt, dass infolge der Kapitulation Deutschlands die diplomatischen Beziehungen zwischen Schweden und Deutschland ein Ende gefunden haben. Die deutsche Gesandtschaft, das deutsche Konsulat sowie die anderen Büros werden von Schweden übernommen. Ein Teil des Personals der deutschen Ämter wird interniert.

Die spanische Regierung hat mit Rücksicht darauf, dass keine deutsche Reichsregierung mehr besteht, die diplomatischen Beziehungen zu Deutschland abgebrochen.

Portugal hat Sonntagabend eine ähnliche Erklärung abgegeben.

52

Japan protestiert

London, 8. Mai – Der japanische Außenminister Tojo legte gestern gegen die bedingungslose Kapitulation Deutschlands Protest ein, Deutschland habe den Dreierpakt gebrochen und Japan behalte sich vor, daraus die Konsequenzen zu ziehen.

Der Oberbefehlshaber der Landstreitkräfte im pazifischen Raum, General Richardson erklärte, die Vereinigten Staaten beabsichtigen sechs Millionen ausgewählte amerikanische Truppen gegen Japan ins Feld zu stellen. Starke amerikanische Kräfte werden aus Europa abgezogen werden.

53

Auch Prag und Böhmen befreit

London, 8. Mai – Der tschechoslowakische Sender Prag gab heute früh 6 Uhr bekannt, dass die Deutschen in Prag und ganz Böhmen die bedingungslose Kapitulation angenommen haben.

Der deutsche Wehrmachtsbefehlshaber in Pilsen, General Majelski, beging gestern nach seiner Kapitulation vor General Pattons Streitkräften Selbstmord.

In Mahren kämpfen deutsche Truppen immer noch im Raum von Olmütz.

Breslau ist nun völlig von russischen Truppen besetzt. Der deutsche Befehlshaber von Breslau ergab sich gestern mit 40.000 Mann der Besatzung.

In Jugoslawien wurde Laibach von Kräften des Marschalls Tito genommen.

Zusammentreffen Montgomery-Rokosowski

London, 8. Mai – Gestern trafen General Montgomery und Marschall Rokosowski in Wismar zusammen.

54

Mussert gefangen

London, 8. Mai – Der Führer der holländischen Nationalsozialisten Mussert ist in Holland gefangengenommen worden. Über das Schicksal Leon Degrelles ist noch nichts bekannt.

55

Jubel in der ganzen Welt

London, 8. Mai – Das britische Informationsministerium veröffentlichte anlässlich der bedingungslosen Kapitulation Deutschlands ein Kommuniqué, in welchem der Dienstag, der 8., und Mittwoch, der 9. Mai zum Andenken des Sieges über Europa als Feiertage erklärt werden, Noch vor Bekanntwerden der amtlichen Erklärung spielten sich überall in England Jubelszenen ab. London und alle englischen Städte prangen in Fahnenschmuck. In den Straßen wurde gesungen und getanzt. Große Menschenmengen versammelten sich vor dem Buckingham Palast, dem Sitz der englischen Regierung und dem Außenministerium.

In Paris strömte die Bevölkerung in Massen über die Boulevards, Flugzeuge kreisten über der Stadt und warfen Leuchtraketen ab.

In Neuyork kam es zu lebhaften Freudenszenen. Die Straßen waren bedeckt mit Koriandoli und Papierschnitzeln, die von den Häusern Herabflatterten. Auch Washington bot ein ähnliches Bild.

In den Straßen von Oslo verkündeten Lautsprecher den Frieden. Aus den Gefängnissen entlassene Freiheitskampfer wurden von der jubelnden Bevölkerung auf den Schultern getragen.

In Holland lauteten Glocken im ganzen Land den Sieg ein. Die alliierten Truppen wurden mit Flieder und Tulpen überschüttet.

In Dänemark wurde den einrückenden britischen Truppen ein triumphaler Empfang bereitet.

Auch in den neutralen Ländern werden Feiern abgehalten. Der schwedische Ministerpräsident sagte in einer Ansprache: Wir können wieder frei atmen. Noch sind Leid und Sorge von Europa nicht gewichen, aber nach sechs Jahren ist die Vernichtung von Menschenleben und Kulturwerken endgültig vorüber. In Genf und anderen Schweizer Städten drangen sich die Menschen auf den Strafen und brechen in Hochrufe auf die Alliierten aus.

Dankgottesdienste in Österreich

Über Anregung der Staatsregierung hat Seine Eminenz Kardinal Fürsterzbischof Dr. Theodor Innitzer die Anordnung getroffen, dass anlässlich der Beendigung des Krieges durch die verbündeten Mächte heute Mittwoch, den 9. Mai, in allen Kirchen Dankgottesdienste abgehalten werden. Seine Eminenz selbst wird diesen Dankgottesdienst heute um 11,30 Uhr in der Peterskirche in Wien zelebrieren. As diesem Anlasse werden ebenfalls heute in der Zeit von 12 bis 12,15 Uhr sämtliche Kirchenglocken der Erzdiözese den Frieden einläuten.

56

Soviet Information Bureau (May 9, 1945)

Оперативная сводка за 9 мая

Между ТУКУМСОМ и ЛИБАВОЙ Курляндская группа немецких войск в составе 16 и 18 немецких армий под командованием генерала от инфантерии Гильперта с 23 часов 8 мая сего года прекратила сопротивление и начала передавать личный состав и боевую технику войскам ЛЕНИНГРАДСКОГО фронта. Войска фронта заняли города ЛИБАВА (ЛЕПАЯ), ПАВИЛОСТА, АЙЗПУТЕ, СКРУНДА, САЛДУС, САБИЛЕ, КАНДАВА, ТУКУМС. К вечеру 9 мая войскам фронта сдалось в плен более 45.000 немецких солдат и офицеров. Приём пленных продолжается.

В районе устья реки ВИСЛЫ восточнее ДАНЦИГА и на носе ПУТЦИГЕР-НЕРУНГ северо-восточнее ГДЫНИ группы немецких войск, прижатые к побережью моря, прекратили сопротивление и с утра 9 мая начали сдачу личного состава и боевой техники войскам 3-го и 2-го БЕЛОРУССКИХ фронтов: К вечеру 9 мая войскам 3-го БЕЛОРУССКОГО фронта сдалось в плен 11.000, а войскам 2-го БЕЛОРУССКОГО фронта 10.000 немецких солдат и офицеров. Приём пленных продолжается.

Группа немецких войск в Чехословакии, уклоняясь от капитуляции советским войскам, поспешно отходит на запад и юго-запад.

Войска 1-го УКРАИНСКОГО фронта, в результате стремительного ночного манёвра танковых соединений и пехоты, сломили сопротивление противника и 9 мая в 4 часа утра освободили от немецких захватчиков столицу союзной нам ЧЕХОСЛОВАКИИ город ПРАГУ, а также заняли на территории ЧЕХОСЛОВАКИИ города ХОМУТОВ, КАДАНЬ, БИЛИНА, ЛОУНЫ. Юго-восточнее ДРЕЗДЕНА войска фронта, продвигаясь вперёд, заняли города ПИРНА, ЗЕБНИТЦ, НОЙГЕРСДОРФ, ЦИТТАУ, ФРИДЛАНТ, ЛАУБАН, ГРАЙФФЕНБЕРГ, ГИРШБЕРГ, ВАРМБРУНН. Одновременно юго-западнее и южнее БРЕСЛАВЛЯ войска фронта заняли города ЛАНДЕСХУТ, ГОТТЕСБЕРГ, ВАЛЬДЕНБУРГ, ШВЕЙДНИЦ, РЕЙХЕНБАХ, ЛАНГЕНБИЛАУ, ФРАНКЕНШТАЙН, ПАТШКАУ, ВАРТА, ГЛАТЦ, ЛАНДЕК.

Войска 4-го УКРАИНСКОГО фронта заняли на территории Чехословакии города ШИЛПЕРК, МЮГЛИЦ, МОРАВСКА ТРЮБАУ, ЛИТОВЕЛЬ, ПРОСТЕЕВ.

Войска 2-го УКРАИНСКОГО фронта, стремительно продвигаясь вперёд, заняли на территории Чехословакии города ВЕЛИКИЕ МЕЖИРИЧИ, ЙИГЛАВА, БРОД, БЕНЕШОВ, ТРЖЕБИЧ.

Войска 3-го УКРАИНСКОГО фронта заняли на территории Австрии города ЛООСДОРФ, ВИЗЕЛЬБУРГ, АМШТЕТТЕН, МЮРЦЦУСШЛАГ, БРУК, ГРАЦ и соединились с американскими войсками в районе АМШТЕТТЕН.

57

Address of His Holiness Pius XII
May 9, 1945, 12:00 p.m. CET

piusxii.rome

Ecco alfine terminata questa guerra che, durante quasi sei anni, ha tenuto l’Europa nella stretta delle più atroci sofferenze e delle più amare tristezze. Un grido di riconoscenza umile e ardente sgorga dal più profondo del Nostro cuore verso «il Padre delle misericordie e il Dio di ogni consolazione» (2Cor 1,3). Ma il Nostro cantico di azioni di grazia si accompagna con una preghiera supplichevole per implorare dalla onnipotenza e dalla bontà divina il termine, secondo giustizia, delle lotte sanguinose anche nell’Estremo Oriente.

Inginocchiati in spirito dinanzi alle tombe, ai burroni sconvolti e rossi di sangue, ove riposano le innumerevoli spoglie di coloro che son caduti vittime dei combattimenti o dei massacri disumani, della fame o della miseria, Noi li raccomandiamo tutti nelle Nostre preghiere e specialmente nella celebrazione del Santo Sacrificio, al misericordioso amore di Gesù Cristo, loro Salvatore e loro Giudice. E Ci sembra che essi, i caduti, ammoniscano i superstiti dell’immane flagello e dicano loro: Sorgano dalle nostre ossa e dai nostri sepolcri e dalla terra, ove siamo stati gettati come grani di frumento, i plasmatori e gli artefici di una nuova e migliore Europa, di un nuovo e migliore universo, fondato sul timore filiale di Dio, sulla fedeltà ai suoi santi comandamenti, sul rispetto della dignità umana, sul principio sacro della uguaglianza dei diritti per tutti i popoli e tutti gli Stati, grandi e piccoli, deboli e forti.

La guerra ha accumulato tutto un caos di rovine, rovine materiali e rovine morali, come mai il genere umano non ne ha conosciute nel corso di tutta la sua storia. Si tratta ora di riedificare il mondo. Come primo elemento di questa restaurazione, Noi bramiamo di vedere, dopo una così lunga attesa, il ritorno pronto e rapido, per quanto le circostanze lo permettono, dei prigionieri, degl’internati, combattenti e civili, ai loro domestici focolari, verso le loro spose, verso i loro figli, verso i loro nobili lavori di pace.

A tutti poi Noi diciamo: Non lasciate piegare la vostra energia né abbattersi il vostro coraggio; dedicatevi ardentemente all’opera di ricostruzione, sostenuti da una robusta fede nella Provvidenza divina. Mettetevi al lavoro, ognuno al suo posto, risoluto e tenace, col cuore animato da un generoso, indistruttibile amore del prossimo. È ardua, certamente, ma è pur santa la impresa che vi attende per riparare gl’immediati e disastrosi effetti della guerra: vogliamo dire il disfacimento dei pubblici ordinamenti, la miseria e la fame, il rilasciamento e l’imbarbarimento dei costumi, l’indisciplinatezza della gioventù. In tal guisa, a poco a poco, voi preparerete alle vostre città e ai vostri villaggi, alle vostre province e alle patrie vostre, una sorte più accettevole e il vigore di un sangue rinnovato.

Fugata dalla terra, dal mare, dal cielo la morte insidiatrice, assicurata ormai dall’offesa delle armi la vita degli uomini, creature di Dio, e quanto ad essi rimane dei privati e dei comuni averi, gli uomini possono ormai aprire la mente e l’animo alla edificazione della pace.

Se noi ci restringiamo a considerare l’Europa, ci troviamo già dinanzi a problemi e a difficoltà gigantesche, di cui bisogna trionfare, se si vuole spianare il cammino a una pace vera, la sola che possa essere duratura. Essa non può infatti fiorire e prosperare se non in una atmosfera di sicura giustizia e di lealtà perfetta, congiunte con reciproca fiducia, comprensione e benevolenza. La guerra ha suscitato dappertutto discordia, diffidenza ed odio. Se dunque il mondo vuol ricuperare la pace, occorre che spariscano la menzogna e il rancore e in luogo loro dominino sovrane la verità e la carità.

Innanzi tutto pertanto supplichiamo instantemente nelle nostre preghiere quotidiane il Dio d’amore di adempire la sua promessa fatta per bocca del profeta Ezechiele: «Io darò loro un cuore unanime, un nuovo spirito infonderò nel loro interno, e strapperò dalle loro viscere il cuore di sasso e vi sostituirò un cuore di carne, affinché camminino sulla via dei miei precetti e osservino i miei giudizi e li mettano in pratica, ed essi siano il mio popolo e io sia il loro Dio» (Ez 11,19-20). Che il Signore si degni di destare questo spirito nuovo, il suo spirito, nei popoli e particolarmente nel cuore di coloro, cui è affidata la cura di ristabilire la futura pace! Allora, e allora soltanto, il mondo risuscitato eviterà il ritorno del tremendo flagello e regnerà la vera, stabile e universale fratellanza e quella pace garantita da Cristo anche in terra a chi nella sua legge d’amore vorrà credere e sperare.

58

The Pittsburgh Press (May 9, 1945)

parry3

I DARE SAY —
V-E Day in New York

By Florence Fisher Parry

NEW YORK (Monday) – I was writing by my window. It was about 9:40 this morning. I looked out toward Grand Central and at first, I thought it was snowing. It could have been – we’ve had every sample of weather here. Then I heard the noise… must have been going on for minutes. A shrill, far roar, unidentifiable, peculiar, but charged with a funny high excitement.

“This is it!” I cried to Mama, and we dove into our coats. We were hailing a taxi in a few minutes after.

I told the driver:

Just cruise around. Up Park to 42nd, over to Fifth, on up to one of the Fifties and then over to Broadway. Go down Broadway till you’re stopped.

In a minute we were in the midst of an ocean of people. The newspapers had not yet made the street, but ribboned streamers were floating from the windows, and any kind of scrap of paper was being thrown from the buildings.

We were stopped on our way down Broadway at about 48th Street. Times Square was already a sea of celebrators. We detoured and raced down to Macy’s. Then we began to walk up toward Times Square.

Broadway

By this time the newspapers were on the street – great full-page streamers – and nothing official. The President hadn’t made the announcement. It wasn’t official.

But now it was too late. V-E Day was here, damn it, and let him who dared deny it! That was the mood of the crowds. If THIS was a false alarm then Heaven help someone! The bars along Broadway filled to bursting.

We jammed into a restaurant and tried to eat something. Everyone was talking to everyone else. They simply IGNORED the delay of the President’s statement. The wholesale places had already declared a holiday and the workers were on the street. The other stores were still open, but the little shopkeepers stood in their doorways, uncertain what to do.

Now the people were grabbing the papers in a kind of desperation. What? No President’s statement YET? Okay, it was V-E Day ANYWAY! You can’t be fooled twice!

We got into a taxi that had a loud radio. “Cruise and turn up the radio,” we asked the driver. George Hicks was talking from inside Germany somewhere. Surrender had come there, all right.

Overhead some planes tore madly. The headlines on the papers grew blacker, bigger. The cops looked very sober and important, standing like rocks, human eddies whirling around them.

Presently, the white confetti began to thin… the crowds grew a little less boisterous. The shopkeepers who had locked their doors returned. Broadway showed a widening channel.

The painter

We came back to our hotel. I sat down here to write. A sudden white apparition filled the window, made me jump out of my skin. Just a white-overalled painter dropping down outside to paint the frame of my window, smoking nonchalantly, heedless of the noisy hum beneath him, the excited planes, the slow-drifting “snow” from other windows…

“The thing is to take it easy!” he remarks with a grin, lowering himself and swinging gently 12 stories above the street. “We’re suckers for excitement, wear ourselves out. Nobody can tell us nothin’ if we’re set to hear what we want to hear. We’re told not to throw confetti or wastepaper, and look what we done arready and the President not even told us it’s time to let out yet! Solves us right if we’re fooled again. Me, I fastens my belt and makes sure I’m all set, before I starts paintin’ the town!”

“But suppose it IS true. Won’t you celebrate?”

“Yep. In doo time. In doo time. But this is a swell afternoon for to paint, lady after all this rain we’ve been having.”

…Now he’s swung over to the other window. I feel quieter watching him. The noise below has quieted down, too. And the snow isn’t falling at all, anymore, from the high windows around Grand Central, yonder…

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59

Reds capture Prague from Nazi outlaws

All but few Germans obey surrender

LONDON, England (UP) – The Red Army, fighting on against outlawed German diehards after the official end of the European war, today captured the Czechoslovak capital of Prague in a pre-dawn attack.

The Prague radio reported that the Germans in defiance of the unconditional surrender agreement, bombed the capital and two other Czechoslovak cities.

Nazis garrisoning the Czechoslovak bastion were the only force of any consequence carrying on after the officially proclaimed cessation of hostilities at 12:01 a.m. today.

Reports from the continent said the garrisons of historic Dunkerque and the last enemy-held pockets at St. Nazaire, La Rochelle and Lorient had given up.

Stalin reveals capture

Marshal Stalin announced the capture of Prague.

Despite the end of the war 19 hours earlier, the order of the day concluded with the usual formula – “death to the German invaders.”

Telephone reports from Bornholm by way of Copenhagen said the German resistance on the Danish island off the tip of Sweden cracked during the night, and Russian warships put in after daylight.

The crumbling of the last nests of Nazi resistance followed word of the final formalizing of Germany’s surrender in Berlin.

Hold out in Latvia

German planes began bombing Prague at 12:10 p.m. (6:10 a.m. ET), the Czech broadcast said, and had also bombed Neuenburg, 25 miles east of Prague. and Melnik, 18 miles north. The broadcast urged inhabitants to take shelter.

One hundred thousand Nazi troops in Northwest Latvia announced that they would ignore Germany’s unconditional surrender.

All Germans who refused to lay down the arms after 12:01 a.m. today (6:01 p.m. Tuesday ET), the hour fixed by the German High Command for capitulation, faced possible trial as murderers, arsonists and saboteurs outside the laws of war.

A Soviet officer speaking over the patriot radio said the Red Army had entered Prague only to liberate it and had no intention of forcing any type of administration on the Czechoslovak people.

Link up below Linz

A dispatch from the U.S. Third Army front revealed that other Soviet units some 140 miles south of Prague had linked up with the U.S. 65th Infantry Division southeast of the Austrian city of Linz yesterday.

The junction split the remaining German forces in Southern Europe into two pockets – Bohemia and Southeast Austria.

Throughout Europe, hundreds of thousands of German troops were filing into Allied prison camps in compliance with their High Command’s order to lay down their arms.

All hostilities on the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea ended at 3 p.m. (9 a.m. ET) yesterday. The commander of the German garrison signed a surrender pact in the presence of a British officer.

Fighting was also believed virtually to have ceased in Yugoslavia following the capture of Zagreb, capital of Croatia, by Marshal Tito’s Partisans yesterday.

Form ‘government’

Stockholm heard Radio Libau in German-controlled Northwest Latvia announce the formation of a “National Latvian Government.”

The broadcast said the estimated 100,000 German troops in Latvia would ignore the German High Command’s unconditional surrender offer and continue to fight in the service of the new government and under the Latvian supreme command.

The new government asked the Russians to cease hostilities and appealed to the Western Allies for mediation. Latvian circles in Stockholm estimated the government would last one or two weeks, after which the Russians would liquidate the pocket.