German Instrument of Surrender

The German Instrument of Surrender

The German Instrument of Surrender was a special paper that ended a very difficult time when countries did not get along. It showed that Germany could no longer keep fighting. This paper was signed on May 8, 1945, in Berlin, the capital of Germany.

Important leaders from Germany and the Allies signed this paper. The Allies were countries that worked together, including the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. This paper had three versions: English, Russian, and German. Only the English and Russian versions were official.

A special ceremony happened in Berlin to sign this paper. Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel and other German officers signed it, along with representatives from the Allied Expeditionary Force and the Supreme High Command of the Soviet Red Army. This signing meant the end of fighting in Europe.

People remember May 8 and May 9 as the days the war in Europe ended. Different countries celebrate these days because of the time difference between the two signing ceremonies. The paper showed that Germany was under the control of the Allies and had no independent government until later changes were made.