The German Surrender Documents - WWII
SPECIAL ORDERS BY THE SUPREME COMMANDER, ALLIED
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND
RELATING TO NAVAL FORCES
For the purpose of these orders the term "Allied Representatives" shall be
deemed to include the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, and any subordinate
commander, staff officer or agent acting pursuant to his orders.
SPECIAL ORDERS BY THE SUPREME COMMANDER, ALLIED
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO THE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND
RELATING TO NAVAL FORCES
PART I GENERAL
Definition of Naval Forces
1. For the purpose of these orders all formations, units, and personnel of the German
Navy together with the Marine Kusten Polizie shall be refered to as the German Naval
Forces.
2. Members of the Marine Kusten Polizie will immediately be placed under the command of
the appropriate German Naval Commanders who will be responsible for their maintenance and
supply where applicable, to the same extent and degree as for units of the German Navy.
German Naval Representatives and information required immediatel.
3. The German High Command will dispatch within 48 hours after the surrender becomes
effective, a responsible Flag Officer to the Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary Force
at his headquarters. This Flag Officer will furnish the Allied Naval Commander,
Expeditionary Force, with:-
a. Corrected copies of charts showing all minefields in Western Europe waters,
including the BALTIC as far as LUBECK (inclusive) which have been laid by German and
German-controlled vessels or aircraft, positions of all wrecks, booms and other underwater
obstructions in this area, details of the German convoy routes and searched channels and
of all bouys, lights and other navigational aids in this area. The appropriate
navigational publications are also required.
b. Details of the exact location of all departments and branches of the German
Admiralty (OKM).
c. All available information concerning the numbers and types of German minesweepers
and sperr- brechers in German controlled Dutch ports and German NORTH SEA ports that can
be obtained without delaying his departure. This German Flag Officer is to be accompanied
by a Communications Officer who is familiar with the German Naval W/T organization and who
is to bring with him the current naval communications Orders, including allocation of
frequencies, list of W/T and R/T call signs in force, and a list of all codes and cyphers
in use, and intended to be brought into use.
d. Location of all surface warships down to and including "Elbing" class
Torpedo Boats, and of all submarines and "E" Boats.
4. The German High Command will also dispatch within 48 hours after the surrender
becomes effective a responsibile officer, not below the rank of Captain, by coastal craft
to report to the Admiral Commanding at DOVER for onward routing to Commander-in-Chief, THE
NORE, with:-
a. Corrected copies of charts showing all minefields in the NORTH SEA SOUTH of 54 30'
NORTH and EAST of 1 30' EAST laid by German and German-controlled vessels or aircraft,
positions of all wrecks, booms and all other underwater obstructions; details of all
German Convoy routes and searched channels in this area, and of all bouys, lights and
other navigational aids which are under German control. Appropriate naviga- tional
publications are also required.
b. All available information concerning the numbers and types of German minesweepers
and sperrbrechers in German contolled Dutch ports and German NORTH SEA ports that can be
obtained without delaying his departure.
5. Another responsible German Naval Officer, with similar information is to be
dispatched by un- escorted aircraft painted white to MANSTON Areodrome position 51 20'
NORTH, 1 20' EAST for onward routing to Commander-in-Chief, THE NORE.
6. The German High Command will issue instruc- tions to certain German naval commands
as indicated below:-
a. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORTH SEA will dispatch by coastal craft within 48
hours after the surrender becomes effective a responsible officer, not below the rank of
Captain, to the Admiral Commanding at DOVER for onward routing to Commander-in-Chief, THE
NORE, with:-
(1) details of minesweeping operations carried out in the German convoy route between
the HOOK OF HOLLAND and HAMBURG and in approaches to harbours between these two ports
during the previous 60 days;
(2) numbers and postions of all British mines swept during these operations;
(3) details of all controlled mine- fields in this area and information whether they
have been rendered ineffective;
(4) details of all other mining and types of mines employed in the harbours and harbour
approaches of CUXHAVEN, EMDEN, TERSCHELLING, TEXEL, IJMUIDEN, AMSTERDAM, SCHEVENINGEN,
HOOK OF HOLLAND and ROTTERDAM;
(5) berthing facilities in the harbours enumerated in paragraph (6a). (4) above and the
numbers of auxiliary minesweepers which can be accomodated;
(6) a list of all W/T and R/T call signs in use by the German Navy.
Any of the above information which cannot be obtained without delaying the departure of
this officer will be forwarded subsequently as soon as it is available.
b. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORTH SEA, will also dispatch as soon as possible by
coastal craft to DOVER thirteen German Naval Officers who must be familiar with the German
swept channels between the HOOK OF HOLLAND and CUXHAVEN. These officers will bring with
them all the charts and books required for naviagation in this area and will be
accompanied by pilots (and interpreters if necessary).
c. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will dispatch by sea within 48 hours after the
surrender becomes effective, a responsible officer, not below the rank of Captain to the
Commander-in-Chief, ROSYTH, with corrected copies of charts showing all German minefields
in the NORTH SEA, NORTH of 56 NORTH, all wrecks, booms and other underwater obstructions,
details of German convoy routes and searched channels in this area, of the approach
channels to the principal Norwegian ports and of all bouys, lights and other navigational
aids in this area. This officer will also bring with him the disposition of all
"U" Boats and details of all orders affecting their future movements. He will be
accompanied by six German Naval Officers with pilots (and interpreters if necessary) who
are familiar with the coastal swept channels between OSLO and TROMSO. These officers will
bring with them all the charts and books required for navigation in Norwegian waters, and
a list of all W/T and R/T call signs in use by the German Navy.
d. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will dispatch a duplicate party to the above
with similar informa- tion by an unescorted aircraft painted white to DREM Airfield 56 02'
NORTH 02 48' WEST.
e. The Naval Commander-in-Chief, NORWAY, will report by W/T to the Commander-in-Chief,
ROSYTH, within 48 hours after the surrender becomes effective, the following information:-
(1) Berthing facilities at OSLO, CHRISTIANSAND, STAVANGER, BERGEN, TRONDHEIM, NARVIK,
and TROMSO.
(2) The appropriate quantities of furnace oil fuel, diesel oil fuel, and coal at all
the principal Norwegian ports between OSLO and TROMSO.
7. The German Admiral SKGGERAK will dispatch by sea within 48 hours after the surrender
becomes effective, a responsible officer not below the rank of Captain, to the
Commander-in-Chief, ROSYTH, with corrected copies of charts showing all German minefields,
wrecks, booms, and other underwater obstructions, details of German convoy routes and
searched channels, bouys, lights and other navigational aids in the SKAGGERAK, KATTEGAT,
THE BEITS AND SOUND, KIEL BAY and BALTIC WATERS WEST of 14 EAST. This officer will also
bring with him the disposition of all "U" boats in the above area and details of
all orders affecting their future move- ments. He will be accompanied by three German
Naval officers with pilots (and interpreters if necessary) who are familiar with the
coastal swept channels, and channels in the Swedish territorial waters, in the waters
referred to above. These officers will bring with them all the charts and books required
for navigation in these waters, and a list of all W/T and R/T call signs in use by the
German Navy.
The German Admiral SKAGGERAK will dispatch a duplicate party to that specified above,
with similar information, by air in unescorted aircraft painted white to DREM Airfield 56
02' NORTH 02 48' WEST.
8. The German Naval Officers who will be dis- patched to DOVER and ROSYTH by sea will
proceed to positions in latitude 51 19' NORTH longitude 1 43' EAST and latitude 56 47'
NORTH longitude 1 13' WEST respectively, where they will be met by British warships and
escorted to their destination. The ships or craft in which they travel are to fly a large
white flag at the masthead by day and are to illuminate these white flags by night. These
ships are to broadcast their positions hourly by W/T on 500 ks. (600 meters) whilst on
passage. Information required within fourteen day.
9. The German High Command will furnish the following information to the Allied Naval
Commander, Expeditionary Force, at by within fourteen days of cessation of hostilities.
a. Locations of all warships, auxiliaries and armed coastal craft operating under the
orders of the German Naval Command stating particulars of the operational unit to which
they are attached, giving approximate totals of all naval personal embarked in each
vessel, (including naval flak and merchant ship flak).
b. A statement of the organizations of all naval shore Commands, giving location of all
naval establishments, including establishments for experiment and research, names of all
Commanding Officers and Principal Staff Officers of the rank of Commander in each
establishment.
c. A statement of the strength and location of all naval land forces including naval
infrantry, naval flak, merchant ship flak and naval personnel manning naval coast
artillery and full particulars of all Coastal and port defenses giving nature and
locations.
d. Lists of stocks of furnace oil fuels, diesel oil fuel, petrol, and coal of 500 tons
or more at, or in the vicinity of, all ports between IJMUIDEN and HAMBURG inclusive.
e. A statement of location of the principal naval armament depots with approximate
overall stocks of each major item held.
f. The following communications information:-
(1) location and details concerning all V/S, W/T (including D/F) and radar stations in
use by, and under constuc- tion for the German Navy, these details to include types and
capabilities of all equipment fitted.
(2) details of the current naval W/T organization, lists of W/T and R/T call signs in
force, and allocation of all frequencies for communication and radar purposes.
(3) location and details of all naval communications (including Infra-Red) and naval
radar training and research establishments.
g. Full details of all German minefields in the NORTH SEA, SKAGGERAK, KATTEGAT, BEITS,
and SOUND.
h. Full details of the German naval minesweeping organization including the
communications organization.
j. Full details of the communications (including Infra-Red) and radar equipment fitted
in all German minesweepers and sperrbrechers.
k. Technical details of all types of minesweeping gear used by the German Navy.
l. Details of all mining and types of mines employed and of berthing facilities
available for ships of 150 feet in length and 16 feet draught at:-
BREMERHAVEN
WILHELMSHAVEN
SCHIERMONNIKOOG
DELFZIJL
10. The German High Command will also furnish the Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary
Force, with two copies of all coding and cyphering systems which have been, are being, or
were to be used by the German Navy with the necessary instructions for their use and the
dates between which they have been, or were to have been used.
PART II - CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT
Orders to warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craf.
11. The German High Command will forthwith direct all German and German-controlled
warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft to comply with the following
instructions:-
a. All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft in harbours are to remain
in harbour pending further directions from the Allied Representatives.
b. All warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft at sea are to report their
positions in plain language immediately to the nearest British, US or Soviet Coast
Wireless Telegraphy station on 500 kc/s (600 metres), and are to proceed to the nearest
German or Allied port or such ports as the Allied Representatives may direct, and remain
there pending further directions from the Allied Representatives. At night they are to
show lights and to display searchlights with beams held vertically.
c. All warships and merchant ships whether in port or at sea will immediately train all
weapons fore and aft. All torpedo tubes will be unloaded and breech blocks will be removed
from all guns.
d. All warships and merchant ships in German or German-controlled harbours will
immediately land and store in safety all ammunition, warheads and other explosives. They
will land all portable weapons but, pending further instuctions, warships will retain
onboard the fixed armament. Fire control and all other equipment will be maintained on
board intact and fully efficient.
e. All minesweeping vessels are to carry out the means of disarmament prescribed in c.
and d. above, (except that they will however, retain on board such portable weapons and
explosives as are required for minesweeping purposes) and are to be prepared immediately
for minesweeping service under the direction of the Allied Representatives. They will
complete with fuel where necessary.
f. All German salvage vessels are to carry out the measures of disarmament prescribed
in c. and d. above (except that they will retain on board such explosives as are required
for salvage purposes.) These vessels, together with all salvage equipment and personnel,
are to be prepared for immediate salvage operations under the direction of the Allied
Representatives, completing with fuel where necessary for this purpose.
g. The movement of transport on the inland waterways of GERMANY may continue, subject
to orders from the Allied Representatives. No vessels moving on inland waterways will
proceed to neutral waters.
Submarines
12. The German High Command will tranmit by W/T on appropriate frequencies the two
messages in Annexures 'A' and 'B' which contain instructions to submarines at sea.
Naval Aircraft
13. The German High Command will forthwith direct that:-
a. German naval aircraft are not to leave the ground or water or ship pending
directions from the Allied Representatives;
b. naval aircraft in the air are to return immediately to their bases.
Neutral shipping
14. The German High Command will forthwith direct that all neutral merchant ships in
German and German- controlled ports are to be detained pending further directions from the
Allied Representatives. Orders relating to sabotage, scuttling, safety measures, pilotage
and personne.
15. The German High Command will forthwith issue categorical directions that:-
a. No ship, vessel or aircraft of any description is to be scuttled, or any damage done
to their hull, machinery or equipment.
b. all harbour works and port facilities of whatever nature, including
telecommunications and radar stations, are to be preserved and kept free from destruction
or damage pending further directions from the Allied Representatives, and all necessary
steps taken and all necessary orders issued to prohibit any act of scuttling, sabotage, or
other willful damage.
c. all boom defenses at all ports and harbours are to be opened and kept open at all
times; where possible, they are to be removed.
d. all controlled minefields at all ports and harbours are to be disconnected and
rendered ineffective.
e. all demolition charges in all ports and harbour works are to be removed or rendered
ineffective and their presence indicated.
f. the existing wartime sustem of navigational lighting is to be maintained, except
that all dimmed lights are to be shown at full brilliancy, and lights only shown by
special arrangement are to be exhibited continously. In particular:-
(1) HELIGOLAND Light is to be burnt at full brilliancy.
(2) The bouyage of the coastal convoy route from the HOOK OF HOLLAND to HAMBURG is to
be commenced, mid-channel light bouys being laid six miles apart.
(3) Two ships are to be anchored as mark vessels in the following positions:-
54 20' N, 5 00' E.
54 20' N, 6 30' E.
Thse ships are to fly a large black flag at the mast- head by day and by night are to
flash a searchlight vertically every 30 seconds.
g. All pilotage services are to continue to operate and all pilots are to be held at
their normal stations ready for service and equipped with their charts.
h. German Naval and other personnel concerned in the operation of ports and
administrative services in ports are to remain at their stations and to continue to carry
out their normal duties.
Personnel ~~
16. The German High Command will forthwith direct that except as may be required for
the purpose of giving effect to the above special orders:-
a. all personnel in German warships, auxiliaries, merchant ships and other craft, are
to remain on board their ships pending further directions from the Allied Representatives.
b. all Naval personnel ashore are to remain in their establishments.
17. The German High Command will be responsible for the immediate and total disarmament
of all naval personnel on shore. The orders issued to the German High Command in respect
of the disarmament and war material of land forces will apply also to naval personnel on
shore.
=H. M. BURROUGH=
Signed.......................
For the Supreme Commander, AEF.
=Dated 0241 7th May 1945=
=Rheims, France=
(continue to page 3)
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