Sandusky in Erie County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Surrender - World War II
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 27, 2022
1. Surrender - World War II Marker
The Nazis, who launched World War II in 1939, were forced to surrender in the Spring of 1945. It was nearly 3 a.m., 0241 hours, on May 7 at Rheims when the unconditional surrender of "all forces on land, sea, and air under German control was signed. It provided that military operations were to cease on May 8. The original document is in the National Archives at Washington.
1. We the undersigned, acting by authority of the German high command, hereby surrender unconditionally to the supreme commander, allied expeditionary force and simultaneously to the Soviet high command all forces on land, sea, and in the air who are at this date under German control.
2. The German high command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 2301 hours central European time on 8 May and to remain in the positions occupied at that time, no ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be scuttled, or any damage done to their hull machinery or equipment.
3. The German high command will at once issue to the appropriatecommanders, and ensure the carrying out of any further orders issued by the supreme commander, allied expeditionary force and by the Soviet high command.
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4. This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to Germany and the German armed forces as a whole.
5. In the event of the German high command or any of the forces under their control failing to act in accordance with this act of surrender, the supreme commander, allied expeditionary force and the Soviet high command will take such punitive or other action as they deem appropriate.
Signed at Rheims at 6241 on the 7th day of May, 1945, France
Erected by C. Richard And Sandra Burnis John C. And Gayetta Darling.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is May 7, 1945.
Location. 41° 27.323′ N, 82° 42.608′ W. Marker is in Sandusky, Ohio, in Erie County. It is on East Washington Row (U.S. 6) west of Wayne Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 27, 2022
2. Surrender - World War II Marker
Regionally, this marker is on Ohio’s Lake Erie Shore and in the Western Reserve. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Perry's Monument (here, next to this marker); John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (here, next to this marker); The Gettysburg Address (here, next to this marker); Emancipation Proclamation (here, next to this marker); "The Star Spangled Banner" (here, next to this marker); Bill Of Rights (here, next to this marker); The Monroe Doctrine (here, next to this marker); Statue Of Liberty (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sandusky.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 283 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on February 16, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
