DONITZ KARL: (1891-1980) German Grand Admiral of World War II who briefly succeeded Adolf Hitler as head of state, serving as President of Germany from April – May 1945. Souvenir typescript D.S., Donitz, one page, 4to, n.p., 22nd April 1978. The document is titled Undertaking given by certain German Emissaries to the Allied High Commands, originally issued at Rheims, France, on 7th May 1945, and states ´It is agreed by the German emissaries undersigned that the following German officers will arrive at a place and time designated by the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, and the Soviet High Command, with plenary powers, to execute a formal ratification on behalf of the German High Command of this act of Unconditional Surrender of the German armed forces´ and lists the Chief of the High Command, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Forces. Signed and dated by Donitz in blue fountain pen ink to the lower right corner. Some light, minor staining, and a few corner creases, G

The present souvenir typescript reprsents the text of the preliminary German Instrument of Surrender which was signed by Generaloberst Alfred Jodl, Chief of the Operations Staff of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), at Rheims on 7th May 1945, following the authorisation of Donitz. However, the Soviet High Command declared the Act of Surrender was unacceptable and the definitive Act of Military Surrender was signed in Berlin on 8th May 1945.