Analysis: Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers
The "Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers" marks a pivotal moment in the post-World War II landscape, reflecting the efforts of the Allied nations to manage and rehabilitate Germany following its unconditional surrender. After years of conflict, the Allies—comprising the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France—sought to establish a framework for disarming the German military and overseeing the occupation of the country. This declaration was part of a broader strategy implemented by the newly formed United Nations to prevent the resurgence of militarism in Germany and to promote global stability.
The declaration set forth specific mandates for the disarmament of German armed forces, including the cessation of hostilities and the surrender of military equipment. It also outlined the obligations of German civil authorities and citizens during the Allied occupation, emphasizing cooperation in humanitarian efforts and the maintenance of order. The context of the declaration highlights the Allies’ commitment to rebuilding Germany’s administrative infrastructure while addressing the basic needs of its population in the aftermath of the war.
The collaborative efforts of key leaders from the Allied nations played a crucial role in shaping the terms of this declaration, which ultimately aimed to foster lasting peace and prevent the recurrence of such widespread conflict in Europe. As a historical document, it symbolizes a significant transition from war to peace and the international community's efforts to redefine relations in the aftermath of devastation.
Analysis: Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers
Date: June 5, 1945
Authors: Government representatives for the United States, Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France
Genre: military document
Summary Overview
Fewer than twenty years after World War I, Germany again attempted to take over Europe. Critics both wondered how the League of Nations' provisions for worldwide disarmament failed to prevent Germany from amassing an enormously powerful military and believed France and Britain's refusal to intervene effectively enabled World War II.
After six years of fighting, from 1939 to 1945, the Allies finally defeated Germany again. The newly established United Nations turned over control of German disarmament and occupation to the four main Allied countries: the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. Since Germany had been fully defeated, the Allies needed to rebuild its administrative infrastructure and tend to the most basic needs of its citizens, including food and shelter. The Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers both established a procedure for disarming the Germany military and set rules for the occupation by Allied forces.
Defining Moment
World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Key provisions of the treaty sought to disarm Germany, such as limiting the number of trained soldiers and establishing a demilitarized zone in the Rhineland bordering France. It also established the League of Nations, an organization with the goal of preventing future wars and promoting disarmament around the world. Throughout the 1920s, the league held conferences to negotiate disarmament treaties; however, all of these attempts failed.
Despite paying lip service to the idea of disarmament, in little more than a decade, Germany was able to build the military power needed to again attempt a takeover of Europe. In 1936, under Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, Germany moved soldiers and armed police into the Rhineland, in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. When the French and British militaries failed to react, the Nazis felt empowered to continue their expansion. Within a short time, Nazi forces had invaded much of mainland Europe and instituted air raids on the islands of Great Britain.
When World War II ended, the League of Nations gave way to the United Nations, which officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, after fifty nations ratified its charter. The United Nations was determined to avoid a repeat of the past and delivered full control of German military, industry, and administration to the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France.
Together, these four nations established the Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers. This declaration established the ground rules for disarming Germany, as well as the rights and obligations of German military, civilian authorities, and individual citizens with respect to the Allied takeover.
Author Biography
The terms of the Declaration Regarding the Defeat of Germany and the Assumption of Supreme Authority by Allied Powers were largely negotiated by the leaders of the Big Three governments of the Allies: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee, and US presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. During 1945, these men held several conferences to broker the terms of Germany's surrender to the Allies, including the Yalta Conference (held in the Soviet Union) and the Potsdam Conference (held in Germany).
The Declaration was signed by US Army general Dwight D. Eisenhower, Soviet Union marshal Georgy Zhukov, British field marshal Bernard Montgomery, and the French Provisional Government army general Jean de Lattre de Tassigny. Each of these individuals played a significant role in World War II for their respective countries and was authorized to sign the declaration on behalf of the Allied forces of the United Nations.
Document Analysis
The opening paragraphs of the declaration establish that German armed forces “have been completely defeated and have surrendered unconditionally”; therefore, the victorious countries must establish rules for administration and rebuilding. This task is to be undertaken by the governments of the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and the French Republic.
Article 1 states that Germany and its military must “immediately cease hostilities” against any forces of the United Nations. Article 2 requires all of Germany's armed forces to disarm completely by surrendering their weapons to local Allied commanders. Any German military personnel can be declared prisoners of war at the discretion of the commander in chief of the armed forces for the Allies. German civil police, designated by the Allied representatives, shall carry only “small arms” for guard-duty purposes.
Articles 3 and 4 address German aircraft and naval vessels, respectively. Any such vessels that are in Germany or German-occupied territory are to remain stationary; any that are in other locations are to immediately return to Germany or to another location, as specified by Allied representatives.
Article 5 requires that arms, ammunitions, explosives, military equipment, naval vessels, aircraft, communication equipment, and other implements of war under German control must be held in good condition and turned over to Allied representatives. Additionally, Germans must comply with any requests for labor or services made by the Allied representatives and maintain all means of transportation in good working order to move troops and supplies as directed.
Article 6 provides for the immediate release of all Allied prisoners of war, as well as detailed lists of where such prisoners are being held. German authorities must also release any nationals of UN member states who have been imprisoned either for political reasons or because of any Nazi law that discriminates on the basis of race, color, creed, or political belief.
Article 7 requires German authorities to turn over full information regarding the numbers and locations of any military forces, as well as detailed information about mines and any other “obstacles to movement” by land, sea, or air.
Article 8 forbids the destruction, removal, or concealment of any military location, shipping port, or other similar facilities, unless so directed by the Allied representatives. Article 9 orders all forms of wire and wireless communications under German control to cease transmission except as directed by the Allied representatives. Article 10 establishes that the declaration further applies to any forces or military equipment supplied by other countries that were under German control during the war.
Article 11 states that principal Nazi leaders will be apprehended and surrendered to the Allied representatives and requires the cooperation of the German authorities and citizens. Articles 12–15 establish the conditions under which this declaration governs, the rights of the Allied representatives, and the obligations of the German authorities and citizens.
Bibliography and Additional Reading
Bark, Dennis L., and David R. Gress. A History of West Germany: From Shadow to Substance, 1945–1963. Vol. 1. Oxford: Blackwell, 1989. Print.
“The Formation of the United Nations, 1945.” Office of the Historian. US Dept. of State, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Milward, Alan S. The Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1945–51. Berkeley: U of California P, 1984. Print.
“The Potsdam Conference, 1945.” Office of the Historian. US Dept. of State, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Shuster, Richard J. German Disarmament after World War I: The Diplomacy of International Arms Inspection, 1920–1931. New York: Routledge, 2006. Print.