So you thought the German Army called it quits on May 7 1945?

So you thought the German Army called it quits on May 7 1945? Well, they did. On orders of Großadmiral Karl Dönitz - Führer after Adolf Hitler's suicide on April 30 in his bunker in Berlin - the German High Command signed the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces in Rheims, a performance which was to be repeated a few days later in Berlin in order to appease Soviets. At that point, the majority of Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS and Volkssturm had already surrendered. But in the East, German commanders often refused to comply to the terms of surrender and continued to fight on to get their troops to the West where they could surrender to the American or the British army.

Axis History Forum • View topic - Last German Surrenders

Interesting bit of info on those units in far flung locations that were forgotten.

 

I found this very interesting when I found out that fact. I even used it one of my World War 2 story's.
~It is understandable that the Eastern commanders would want to get to the West, as they would face harsh treatment if captured by the Russians. If I were in their place I would do the same.

 

Hi Centurion-Cato, what sort of stories are you writing? ..If you don't mind me asking...

 

It largely depends on my mood. Sometimes I will write World War 2 stories, other times I will write Roman stories. The most successful of my stories about World War 2 is the one following a German soldier on the Eastern front in 1944 to 1945.

~Does anyone know which units went and surrendered to the allies? I can not find any...

 

Yeah, I read about that in "The Fall of Berlin 1945", where the Ruskies chased them around the woods(not sure what unit) until the Germans finally got into friendly enemy territory (especially enemies who slightly followed the Geneva Convention XD)

 

That's cool... I've tried to write some short stories and a few poems but they really aren't worth mentioning... I've only got school c English (last year of school c) but because I read so much thought I'd be a bit better at it .. still trying though

 

i just read a story on schorner, well he tried for a few days after 7 may to get to the western allies, most of the mobile units got away but the poor foot sloggers never got through the hole.

schorner gets to the americans....but got handed to the eager russians.....and most of those mobile units were handed back to the russians aswell. poor sods

 

Gotta love Tim Tams!

 

Didn't JCF post something to do with the troops that surrendered in September 1945?

 

In one of the Osprey's books about the Waffen SS, it is mentioned that an SS unit hid, evaded and fought it's way from the Balcans into Austria around Winter/Spring 46/47.

Does anyone have that particular SS Osprey book?

Regards
Kruska

 

The guys in the channel islands I am sure were aware of the Allied Invasion of Europe. Did they see any action during the war?

 

I don't think there was much "fighting" after May 7th really. Most were ignored outposts which had no-one to surrender to for quite some time. Those in Norway didn't have anybody to surrender to for a time either as I recall. The "late comers" probably reacted as those I do recall reading about. Those were the troops that were on the island of Milos, in the Cyclades Islands. They were the last garrison of Germans in Greece, and they surrendered almost two weeks after the "official" surrender; on May 20th.

They didn’t have any battle though, they just welcomed the UNRRA ship and its tons of food, clothing and medical supplies. They then became POWs and were taken into custody by a small accompanying contingent of British troops. I wouldn't doubt that there were examples of those who had been "sidestepped" coming into POW status late.

 

end of the war and this must be included though not much info is present except for war diaries of those who fought there. Kurland, Hela Bay/Danzig, the fighting -last ditch stands and the escape by ship to Denmark if at all possible this went on till the 10th of May and even beyond in small holed up areas in East Prussia

 

I read somewhere that some panzer division fought until June or July 1945. Is that true?

 

possibly. I heard of some soldiers fighting on in bulgaria till august 45'

 

Were would they get fuel, ammunition and food from?

 

The guys in the channel islands I am sure were aware of the Allied Invasion of Europe. Did they see any action during the war?

They launched at least one attack on one of the smaller French ports, St. Malo?, which was being used as a supply port by the Americans and did a fair amount of damage. Just a raid, using whatever small craft they had available.

 

Yeah I figured they did something.

 

They fought alongside anti-communist rebels. Not organized troops. No tanks, aircraft,....

 

I know from reading this one book on this SS, I cant remember the name, some SS units fought their way to the allies in the early days of May. Most German units tired to fight their way to the west at the end. Some were even handed over to the Russians after they surrendered to the Americans.