Germany's unconditional surrender was signed in a humble trade school of once-conquered, now liberated France.
In that plain red building in Reims, Supreme Commander Eisenhower had established advanced headquarters. To it came the German negotiators, headed by Colonel General Alfred Jodl, last chief of staff of the dissolving German Army, and General Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeberg, last commander in chief of the dissolved German Navy.
Eisenhower himself did not receive them. They did their talking to his chief of staff, brilliant Lieut. General Walter Bedell Smith, and officers of the Russian, British and French armed services. The final discussions went on...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
