Author: World War II Pretty Girl (Without permission, please do not copy the full text of the move!) ）
On May 7, 1945, a world-renowned surrender ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Western Front of the Anglo-American Allied Forces at a school in Reims, France.
German surrender representative
The new president of Nazi Germany: Dönitz, who authorized the German side to sign the "Unconditional Surrender Agreement" on behalf of General Jodl. And this Yodel has always been "obedient" to Hitler, but since Hitler committed suicide, his so-called "beliefs" have disappeared with Hitler.
However, even when Nazi Germany was completely hopeless, Jodl was still reluctant to surrender to the Soviets, much less to be the one who personally signed the instrument of surrender. Until the last moment, he insisted strongly that no one wanted to be cursed by the German people forever, so he could never sign the document "handing over hundreds of thousands of German soldiers to the Russians."
It can be seen that Yodel was very hostile to the Soviet Union in his bones. But this time the surrender in Reims, France, was the surrender of the British and American Allies on the Western Front. So Jodl, under Dönitz's orders, eventually chose to bow his head and sign the allied surrender papers on the Western Front.
Yodel (center) is signing
Jodl, along with Admiral Hans Georg Fried, came to Lance's signing ceremony with a look of loneliness. The Allied representatives first handed them the instrument of surrender to read, and after a moment asked Jödel solemnly: Do you understand the terms of surrender to which Germany should follow in the future? Yodel replied, "Understand! ”
Yodel then signed his name on the Unconditional Surrender. After signing the letter, Jodl told the Allied representative that he wanted to say a few words, and with the permission of the other side he said in low German: "After I sign, the future fate of the German people and the army will be in your hands!" ”
According to normal custom, the war was officially over after the signing ceremony!
Interestingly, however, this signature was not finally recognized by Stalin of the Soviet Union: Stalin was furious when he learned that the Germans had signed their surrender to the Anglo-American Allies in Reims!
Although reims's signing ceremony was also present by Soviet representatives, in Stalin's view, it was a surrender ceremony with the British and American allies as the protagonists, and the Soviet army, as the main force in the war against Germany, had just successfully taken Berlin at a heavy price, but instead became a supporting role.
In addition, the Anglo-American allies on the Western Front not only "reaped the benefits of the fishermen", but also the "Lance Surrender Ceremony" they carried out would also make the world mistakenly believe that the Western Front Allies were the main force in defeating Germany.
The Germans surrendered to the Soviets
Therefore, Stalin urgently ordered Zhukov that a surrender ceremony with soviet troops as the main body must be rearranged. Stalin's attitude on this matter was very tough at that time, and he did not have the slightest room for negotiation in his subsequent discussions with the british and American allied forces.
In fact, the top brass of the Anglo-American Allied forces actually knew it themselves: the Soviet people and the army had indeed suffered huge casualties in the anti-fascist war to achieve such a great anti-fascist victory as it is today. Therefore, after consultation, the three countries of Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union unanimously decided: the surrender ceremony of Reims should be regarded as a rehearsal, and the formal surrender ceremony would be held in the Berlin area and presided over by the representatives of the Soviet side.
Representative of the Soviet side at the surrender ceremony
And after the Germans officially received this notice, although they were extremely depressed (just surrendered once and again)! But as a defeated country, they have no choice. Therefore, the German side had to agree to cooperate with another surrender ceremony of "swallowing anger".
Second surrender signing ceremony: General Zhukov was "full of spirit", but Keitel was "like a dead ash".
On 8 May 1945 at 22:43 GMT, the official ceremony of Germany's unconditional surrender took place in Karlsholt, on the outskirts of Berlin. This time was very different from Lance's surrender ceremony, and the host was replaced by a Soviet marshal: Zhukov.
Marshal Keitel
In addition to Zhukov, the signing ceremony was attended by Senior Allied representatives: Marshal Ted, Commander of the Royal Air Force, Admiral Spatz, Commander of the United States Strategic Aviation Forces, and Admiral Tassini, Commander-in-Chief of the French Army.
The German signatories were also replaced by the chief of staff of the German High Command: Marshal Keitel, as well as Admiral Frederburg, the commander-in-chief of the German Navy, and Stompoff, the commander-in-chief of the Air Force.
The surrender ceremony was still scheduled for a school cafeteria, but when the German representative Marshal Keitel entered, he made a move that surprised everyone: he was seen holding aloft the scepter of the German marshal in his hand and arrogantly saluting the Allied representatives on the spot.
Keitel holding high the scepter
Naturally, the Allied representatives did not give him a "return gift", so the scene was awkward for a while. For this move of Marshal Keitel, the most popular interpretation of later generations is that in just two days, Germany actually surrendered twice! As a "Prussian soldier", Keitel used this move to show the world his "very unconvinced" attitude.
But the subsequent signing of the Unconditional Surrender made German Field Marshal Keitel look embarrassed! As Keitel prepared to sign the surrender, he habitually asked his lieutenant behind him to bring the document to him.
At this time, the Soviet Union, on behalf of General Zhukov, deliberately "returned" Keitel's arrogant move just now. So Zhukov said directly to the interpreter next to him: "Let the German general come up to me and sign it." ”
Keitel in the signature
After Keitel listened to the translation's words, her face turned blue in an instant. But Nazi Germany had been defeated, and Keitel, no matter how tough he was, could only bow his head and obey. So Keitel walked silently to General Zhukov, took off a glove, and signed his name on the surrender letter.
Then, Zhukov walked out of the venue with a smile on his face. Keitel and the German delegates, on the other hand, continued to sit there with their heads down, expressionless.
The humble German Marshal Keitel, who thought that holding aloft the scepter that symbolized "glory" would save the face of the "Third Reich". But he did not expect that the so-called "glory" was a joke in Zhukov's eyes! In the process of signing, there was more shame and difficulty.
Two German marshals who "signed" the instrument of surrender, one was hanged and the other shot.
The German general who signed the surrender ceremony at Lance: Jodl, he was put on trial after the war! However, there was still a lot of controversy within the Allies about his punishment. Britain and the United States believed that he should not be sentenced to death, but the Soviets strongly demanded that Yödel be executed.
Jodel in court
In the end, Yodel was sentenced to death by the International Court of Justice in Nuremberg. But Yodel himself refused to be hanged by the court, which he considered an insulting form of execution. On October 16, 1946, Yodel was executed by firing squad. Before he died, he uttered his last words: "I greet you, my Germany." ”
In the nazi's view, he considered himself to have always been "loyal to Germany." What's even more interesting: on February 28, 1953, the Munich Presiding Court reconquired Yodel "not guilty", and the President of the French court, Henri de Wabel, declared that the 1945 verdict against Jodl was wrong! He also returned the personal property of Yodel who had been detained to his widow.
Marshal Keitel, who signed at the second surrender ceremony, was also hanged by the International Tribunal on the same day that Yodel was executed. Keitel had even been shouting at the International Court of Justice in Nuremberg: "I am a staunch follower of Hitler, even though I oppose some of the provisions of the (Nazi) Party's program!" ”
Keitel in court
By his words, do not execute him! They are all sorry for the innocent heroes who died under the Nazi butcher's knife. The moment Keitel was finally hanged, there was still no trace of remorse on his face. In fact, his relationship with Hitler was not too good, but before he died, he repeatedly showed his so-called "loyalty"! This has to be said to be a helpless sadness.
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