GERMANY SURRENDERS TO ALLIES

Southland Times, Issue 25666, 8 May 1945, Page 5

GERMANY SURRENDERS TO ALLIES

FORCES ORDERED TO LAY DOWN ARMS DECISION TO AVOID “SENSELESS BLOODSHED AND FUTILE DISINTEGRATION”

(United Press Association —Telegraph Copyright)

(Rec. 3 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. The Allies officially announced today that Germany had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. The unconditional surrender of all the German Armed Forces was announced at two o’clock this afternoon by Flensburg, radio. The announcement was made by Count Schwerin von Krosigk, the new German Foreign Minister, ’ who said that he was speaking on benali of Grand Admiral Doenitz. “Germany has surrendered to overwhelming power,” he said. “To continue the war would mean only senseless bloodshed and futile disintegration.” Instructions had, therefore, been given by the High Command that all German troops now fighting lay down their arms and surrender unconditionally. Mr Churchill is expected to broadcast at any hour the great news that the war in Europe is over. The Rheims correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that the surrender was signed at 2.41 p.m., New Zealand time, in a Rheims school-house, General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters. Mr Churchill presided at a full Cabinet meeting in Downing street. There was an air of excitement in Whitehall as Ministers came and went. The Press Association’s political correspondent says it is understood telephone calls between Whitehall, Washington and Moscow have been going on today at frequent intervals. Mr Churchill will broadcast the announcement from the Cabinet room at 10 Downing street and may afterwards speak to the crowd from the balcony of the Health Ministry looking out on to Whitehall. It has been equipped with amplifiers. The Flensburg radio added that the German Foreign Minister announced that the German High Command had accepted unconditional surrender, to be effective as from 12.5 p.m. (G.M.T.) today. Von Krosigk, addressing the German people said: “After almost six years’ struggle we have succumbed. No one must deceive himself about the severity of the conditions. We had to accept them.” Excited lunch hour crowds gathered before the police barriers in Downing street hoping for a glimpse of Mr Churchill and members of the War Cabinet. Flags began fluttering out from office windows in Parliament street.