Original: Alfred Josef Ferdinand Jodl ( 10 May 1890 -- 16 October 1946 ) was a German military commander , attaining the position of Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command ( Oberkommando der Wehrmacht , or OKW ) during World War II , acting as deputy to Wilhelm Keitel .
Simplified: Alfred Jodl ( May 10 , 1890 in Würzburg -- October 16 , 1946 in Nuremberg ) was a German military commander , was the Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command ( Oberkommando der Wehrmacht , or OKW ) during World War II .