 right|thumb|300px|the instrument of surrender signed at reims 7 may 1945. the german instrument of surrender ended world war ii in europe. it was signed by representatives of the oberkommando der wehrmacht (okw) and the allied expeditionary force together with the soviet high command, french representative signing as witness on 7 may 1945, and signed again by representatives of the three armed services of the okw and the allied expeditionary force together with the supreme high command of the red army, french and us representatives signing as witnesses (see: allies of world war ii) on 8 may 1945. the date is known in the west as victory in europe day, whereas in post-soviet states the victory day is celebrated on 9 may, since it was signed after midnight moscow time. in germany, it is known as the day of capitulation (tag der kapitulation), grosshistoricher weltatlas, 1965 edition see end of world war ii map though this term is rarely used. there were three language versions of the surrender document. the english and russian versions were the only authoritative ones. ==background== preparations of the text of the instrument of surrender began by us, soviet and british representatives at the european advisory commission (eac) throughout 1944. by 3 january 1944, the working security committee in the eac proposed that the capitulation of germany should be recorded in a single document of unconditional surrender.memorandum by the working security committee, 3rd january 1944, foreign relations of the united states 1944, vol i, p. 101 the committee further suggested that the instrument of surrender be signed by representatives of the german high command. the considerations behind this recommendation were to prevent the repetition of the stab-in-the-back legend, created in germany following defeat in the first world war, since the act of surrender in november 1918 was signed by representatives of the german government and the militarist circles later claimed that the high command was not responsible for that defeat. not everyone agreed with the working security committee's predictions regarding the war's end. ambassador william strang, british representative at the eac, claimed as follows: it is impossible at present to foresee in what circumstances hostilities with germany may in the end be suspended. we cannot tell, therefore, what mode of procedure would be most suitable; whether, for example, it will be found best to have a full and detailed armistice; or a shorter armistice conferring general powers; or possibly no armistice at all, but a series of local capitulations by enemy commanders.memorandum by lord strang, 15th january 1944, foreign relations of the united states 1944, vol. i, p. 113 the surr
Aftermath_of_World_War_II_in_Germany Surrenders