The first large scale surrender made by the Germans was of land, sea, and air forces in northern Italy, the Austrian provinces of Vorarlberg, Tirol and Salzburg, and parts of Carinthia and Styria to Field Marshal Alexander on April 29th 1945.
Here are the terms imposed, and Mr Churchill’s announcement of them three days later.
The Terms of surrender imposed on April 29th, 1945, at Caserta on the German land, sea, and air forces in Italy.
First, unconditional surrender by the German commander in chief, south–west of all forces under his command or control on land, sea, or air, to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean theatre of operations.
Secondly, the cessation of all hostilities on land, on sea, or in the air by enemy forces at 12.00 hours G.M.T. May 2nd 1945.
Thirdly, the immediate immobilization and disarmament of enemy ground, sea, and air forces.
Fourthly, an obligation on the part of the German commander in chief, south- west, to carry out any further orders issued by the supreme allied command, Mediterranean theatre.
Fifthly disobedience of orders or failure to comply with them will be dealt with in accordance with the accepted laws and usages of war.
The instrument of surrender stipulates that it is independent of, without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to Germany and the German armed forces as a whole.
The instrument of surrender and appendices is written in English and German. The English version is the authentic text.
The decision of the Supreme Allied Command, Mediterranean theatre, will be final if any doubt or dispute arises as to the meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms. The signing took place in the office of General Morgan in the presence of British, United States, and U.S.S.R. officers, including Lieutenant General Robertson, Chief Administrative Officer, Allied Force Headquarters, Major General Lemnitzer, Deputy Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral H.A.Packer, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Mediterranean, Rear Admiral S.S. Lewis, Chief of Staffto the Commander United States Naval Forces in North African Waters, Major General Chauncey, Chief of Staff to Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, AirVice Marshal G.B.A. Baker, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Air Commander in Chief, and many other senior allied staff officers.
Mr Churchill informs the House of Commons on Wednesday May 2nd 1945, of the German surrender in Italy.
I promised that I would come to the House if anything of major importance occurred, and I would ask your leave, Mr Speaker, and the indulgence of the House to make a short statement. There has been a certain amount of matter issued continuously from tape machines, and I thought perhaps the House would like to hear a short account which I have received from Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander.
Field Marshal Alexander, the Supreme Allied Commander in the Mediterranean theatre of operations, has just announced that the land, sea, and air forces commanded by Colonel General Heinrich von Vietinghoff Scheel, German Commander in Chief, South- West Command, and Commander in Chief of the army group “C”have surrendered unconditionally. The instrument of surrender was signed on Sunday afternoon April 29th, at the Allied Forces Headquarters at Caserta, by two German plenipotentiaries and by Lieutenant General W.D. Morgan, Chief of Staff at Allied Forces Headquarters. The terms of surrender provided for the cessation of hostilities at 12 o’ clock noon, G.M.T., on Wednesday, May 2nd that is to say 2 o’ clock today by our time.
But as all these matters are accompanied by many elements of uncertainty, it was not until effective confirmation was obtained by the actual orders issued to the troops from the German High Command that Field Marshal Alexander issued the statement which has now come over the wireless. River in the north east, and the Austrian provinces of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg, and portions of Carinrhia and Styria. It is therefore, geographically, a surrender which puts us into very close touch with the position of the United States armies of the north.
The fighting troops of the enemy include the remnants of 22 German divisions and six Italian Fascist divisions but with the combat and echelon troops upon the lines of communication and throughout this territory, which they have held for so long, the total numbers who have surrendered to the allies are estimated to amount to nearly 1,000,000 men.
Not only has a vast area of territory, vital in its character, fallen into the hands of the Supreme Commander, Sir Harold Alexander, but the actual surrender which has taken place so far, comprising the numbers it does, constitutes I believe, a record for the whole of this war and cannot fail but to be helpful to the further events for which we are looking.
This army in Italy, American and British composed, commanded by our trusted General and having under him General Mark Clark, a most efficient and daring American soldier has had a marvellous record since they first landed in the peninsula….
What has made it particularly difficult and depressing for this army is the tremendous inroads which have been made upon it in order to help forward other great operations. In June and July of last year what very nearly amounted to an army was taken from this Command in Italy, while only a very small corresponding reduction took place on the enemy’s side. Now quite recently, a few months ago, feeling that it would probably be beyond the strength of this army, so weakened to make a decisive attack, we moved another large addition of divisions to the western front, and some others went to Greece.
Thus this army was an army stripped of its strength and facing an enemy force which for all the purposes of war must have been considered far stronger because it had the duty of defending mountain ranges and, afterwards plains flooded by autumn and winter rains, and which certainly in the number of divisions, exceeded those which were left to attack. Moreover those forces left to attack as I pointed out in my message of congratulation to Field Marshal Alexander, were of so many different nations that only some personality of commanding qualities could have held them all and woven them all together.
If you look over the whole list of those men who have fought, you will find, taking as we may our own contribution first, it was the largest the British and British Indian divisions of the highest quality. In addition to the British divisions we had the Poles who have always fought with the greatest loyalty, the New Zealanders who have marched all the way from the beginning right up to the very spearpoint of the advance, the South African Armoured Division who were very forward in the fray, the great forces of the United States, second in numbers only to our own. Then there have been the Brazilian forces, which have made their steady advances, a negro division of United States troops, which we formed a year or so ago, and which has fought in the front line with courage, and finally the Japanese of American birth, who entered Turin, Finally, there were the free Italians who have played their part in clearing their country from the German Fascist yoke. All these forces weakened as they had been, were not discouraged. Divided as they were by racial differences, they were united and resolved upon their purpose.
Now their reward has come. I am very glad it has come at a time when it can be singled out. It stands out. It brings to a conclusion the work of as gallant an army as ever marched, and brings to a pitch of fame the military reputation of a commander who has always, I may say, enjoyed the fullest confidence of the House of Commons.
