The historic event of Nazi Germany’s surrender in Reims (France) – Press photo – May 7, 1945

On the reverse, an ink stamp of the French photo agency ״Ministère de l'Information״.

Seated around the table are: Chief of the Wehrmacht Operations Staff, Alfred Jodl (center, foreground); Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith (third from the left on the far side of the table); Soviet liaison officer, Major General Ivan Susloparov (fifth from the left); and representative of the French army, Major General François Sevez (second from the left).

On May 7, 1945, at 2:41 a.m., Nazi Germany signed its unconditional surrender to the Allied forces at the headquarters of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the city of Reims, France. Representing Germany was General Alfred Jodl, who signed the agreement on behalf of Admiral Dönitz, Hitler’s successor, together with two other German officers. The signing took place in the map room of Eisenhower’s headquarters (formerly a school building). The German officers (their backs to the camera) are seated, while around the large table stood American, British, French, and Soviet officers, observing Jodl sign the German instrument of surrender, which officially ended World War II in Europe. The surrender stipulated that all German forces would cease operations on May 8 at 23:01 Central European Time, establishing May 8 as Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day). The Soviets, dissatisfied with their symbolic role at the Reims signing, demanded a second ceremony. The following day (the night of May 8, which was already May 9 by Moscow time), an additional signing ceremony was held in Berlin, in the presence of Marshal Georgy Zhukov.

23×18 cm. Good condition.