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Auction: 20025 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 669

Great Britain
Unconditional Surrender of Germany
1945 (7 May) telex notification headed "Most Immediate Broadcast" from "Main Second Army" to "HQ Second Army", with the message:
"Following signal has been received from SHAEF / First (.) A rep of the German High Comd signed the Unconditional Surrender of all German Land Sea and Air Forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High Comd at 0141 hrs Central European time 7 May under which all forces will cease active op at 0001 B hrs 9 May / Second (.) Effective immediately all offensive ops by allied expeditionary force will cease and tps will ramain in present psns (.) Moves involved in occupational duties will continue (.) due to difficulties of comn there may be some delay in similar orders reaching enemy tps so full defensive precautions will be taken (.) / Third (.) Down to and incl divs tactical air comds and gps base secs and equivalent (.) no repeat no release will be made to the press pending an announcement by the heads of the three governments (.) Signed Eisenhower unquote"
Together with related printed material from the ensuing celebrations in superb condition including "Rear Headquarters Second British Army VE Day Celebrations, booklet for the "Second Army Thanksgiving Service" with hand-drawn sketch for the front cover by the artist, a menu for a celebratory dinner and "Victory Party" at Luneburg, all with interesting cartoons by John Dyke and a wonderful commemorative Christmas card signed "Harold" by Harold Shaw who was stationed in the 2nd Army and from whom the group has been passed down and finally two copies each of printed letters of thanks from Eisenhower and Montgomery of Alamein. A superb group rich in history.

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