From the archives: World War 2, Germany signs surrender

This story was originally published in Newsday on May 9, 1945

All Russia surged into a delicious celebration today when the Moscow radio announced the official capitulation of the German armies.

Marshal Joseph Stalin issued an order of the day proclaiming Wednesday “Victory Day” at the Moscow radio broadcast details of the German capitulation signed in Berlin.

Nazi Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel made the formal surrender to the Russian armies represented by Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov.

Under the terms of the agreement all hostilities between the Russians and Germans ended at 11:00 last night, although there was no official announcement until today.

The earlier broadcast of Prime Minister Winston Churchill in London was heard in Moscow, setting the stage for the celebration in the Soviet capital.

Russia went to bed last night with its radio turned on and tuned in. With the first announcement lights went on throughout the capital which abandoned its blackout a week ago.

Juri Levitan, the “Voice of Russia,” who has announced war developments since the tragic days of 1941, told the details of Germany’s formal capitulation.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, represented Great Britain at the ceremony while U.S. Air Force General Carl A. Spatz represented the United States and Lt. Gen. Jean De Lattre De Tassigny the French.

Gen. Hans Stumpf and Admiral Von Friedeburg signed the German surrender terms with Marshal Keitel.

The first article of the surrender read:

“We the undersigned, acting on behalf of the German High Command agree unconditionally to surrender all of our armed forces on the land, sea and air and also all other forces which at present are under German command to the Supreme Command of the Red Army and simultaneously to the Supreme Command of the Allied Expeditionary Force.”