COMPLETE NAZI SURRENDER EXPECTED HOURLY

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1945, Page 3

COMPLETE NAZI SURRENDER EXPECTED HOURLY

Enemy To Lay Down Arms Unconditionally To All Three Allies

(Received 12 Noon) LONDON, May 6. THERE IS AN AIR OF GENERAL EXPECTANCY AT SUPREME HEADQUARTERS SAYS REUTER’S CORRESPONDENT. IT IS THE GENERAL BELIEF THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF WORLD-WIDE IMPORTANCE MAY BE EXPECTED WITHIN HOURS, OR ONE DAY AT THE MOST. THE “DAILY MAIL” SAYS THE END MAY WELL COME TOMORROW. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE IS COMING VERY SOON, SAYS THE EXCHANGE TELEGRAPH’S POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT. THE DECLARATION, WHEN IT COMES, WILL GIVE NEWS THAT THE GERMANS HAVE LAID DOWN THEIR ARMS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING NORWAY AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, SURRENDERING UNCONDITIONALLY TO THE BRITISH, AMERICANS AND RUSSIANS. Fear of Russian retribution has delayed German surrender to the Red Army. This has held up the announcement of German capitulation, which might otherwise have been expected weeks ago, but there is not much longer to wait now. The Press Association’s political correspondent, stating that the hour of surrender is approaching at unforeseen speed, says he understands that Mr. Churchill spent the week-end at No. 10 Downing Street, studying until the early hours a series of reports telling of the collapse of the German armies. Lobby correspondents say the machinery of capitulation requires a separate instrument of surrender to Russia, which will be made public simultaneously with V-E Day announcement. The final overall surrender of Germany may bear the signature of Doenitz. General Eisenhower is expected to nominate a general under his Supreme Command to sign the document'on behalf of the Western Allies. The announcement will be made simultaneously in London, Washington and Moscow’. In London it will take the form of a broadcast to the nation by Mr. Churchill. The announcement is expected to be brief, barely more than a statement of the fact of Germany’s surrender, RIG THREE TO MEET SHORTLY Mr. Churchill, Marshal Stalin and Mr. Truman will meet in the not far distant future, says the Press Association’s political correspondent. The date and place have not yet been fixed, but it is thought desirable that they should come together as quickly as they can after the signing of the surrender. Mr. Churchill is reported to be remaining in London until the surrender news is received. It can be revealed that Mr. Churchill, on Thursday, May 10, the fifth anniversary of his assuming the Prime Ministership, is to make a broadcast which is expected to rank with his great speeches of 1940-41, when he rallied the nation in the hour of its greatest need.

Described as “Truce” The “truce” with Field-Marshal Montgomery was arranged under the order of Doenitz, the new German Fuehrer, according to a German communique broadcast over the Flensburg radio. The communique said: — “Ihe High Command announces that, in accordance with an agreement with Field-Marshal Montgomery, there has been a truce since 8 a.m. (presumably European time) today in North-west Germany from the Ems Estuary as far* as Kiel; also in Denmark’, including the islands off the coasts. This also applies to the Navy and merchant navy directed against England from these harbours.

Channel Islands will be delivered without a fight, the Atlantic coast pockets will give in and the German pockets in Saxony and Central Europe will lay down their arms. The “Daily Telegraph,” referring to the imminence of Germany’s unconditional sui-rendei*, says Britain, American and Russia ai'e in communication to settle the last details of the means and method of capitulation. Ministers in London met frequently throughout today. Cabinet met and will re-assemble tomorrow morning.

“-This truce was arranged under Admiral Doenitz’s orders, after an honourable fight lasting nearly six years, because the war against the Western Powers has lost its meaning and is resulting only in the loss of precious German blood, particularly through the bomb warfare; but resistance against the Russians is continuing in order to save as many Germans as possible from the Bolshevik terror. f‘All formations of the armed forces not affected by the truce will continue to fight against any attacker. “Our Atlantic strongholds report reconnaissance and artillery activity on both sides. More elements of the German 9th and 12th Armies have fought their way from the area east of Magdeburg to American-held territory west of the Elbe.”

Opposes Illegal Fighting Admiral Doenitz, in a broadcast message, again described the unconditional surrender as a truce. The Flensburg radio quoted an announcement, said to have been received from Doenitz, stating: "By virtue of the truce which has been put into effect, I ask all German 'men and women to abstain from any illegal fighting in the Werewolf oxother oi-ganisations in enemy-occupied western territories, because such activity can only be detrimental to our people.” The Kalundorg (Denmark) radio, quoting an Order of the Day from Field-Marshal Keitel, Chief of the General Staff, said 'there must be no scuttling or destruction of ships or provocation. Earlier reports from Denmark stated that Doenitz, who was supposed to have made his headquarters there, had refused to recognise the unconditional surrender of the German forces to Field-Marshal Montgomery. The situation, however, was not clear. German Communique Today’s German communique “from Grand * Admiral Doenitz’s headquarters,” says that British airborne troops have landed at Copenhagen according to an agreement with FieldMarshal Montgomery. There has been no fighting in north-western Germany. The Americans continued to advance in Upper Bavaria and the Alps southward and eastward, The “cease fire” is operating in Italy except for some fighting for strongholds in Istria. German disengaging movements continued in Croatia.

End At Hand The end of the European war is at hand, says “The Times” diplomatic correspondent. A simultaneous am ncuncement from London, Washington and Moscow is expected hourly. Capitulation was delayed some days by the Doenitz interlude, but he now is ready to surrender on all fronts, and the order is about to go out. Capitulation will be total, although isolated bodies of Germans may choose to fight on to the last. The “Cease Fire” will mean that JNory/ay will not be a battlefield, the