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The Allied Decision to Arrest the Dönitz Government*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Marlis G. Steinert
Marlis G. Steinert
Affiliation:
Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales, Geneva
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Type
Communication
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , September 1988 , pp. 651 - 663
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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References

1 At first, Harry S. Truman seemed interested in Himmler's peace feelers. A statement by senator Tom Connally refusing to negotiate with members of the Hitler government ‘ruined the President's initiatives’. Truman, Harry S., Off the record: the private papas of Harry S. Truman, ed. Ferrel, Robert H. (New York, 1980), p. 21Google Scholar.

2 Steinert, , Capitulation, p. 56Google Scholar.

3 For details on the capitulation in Italy see P.R.O. FO 371/46786-C 2652, C 2659.

4 Lengthy discussions had been held on the advisabílity of a short or long instrument of surrender. P.R.O. WO 220–192, vols 1, II.

5 For an interesting survey of the situation in Germany shortly before the capitulation see ‘Notes on a trip through Germany’, by David Lerner, editor of German Civilian Intelligence, Psychological Warfare Division, S.H.A.E.F. in P.R.O. FO 371/46730–77151 and FO 371/46730-C 1836. See also FO 371/4678-C 3042 for the situation in Germany at the conclusion of hostilities and FO 371/46731 77151-C 2119 for ‘Some random impressions on Germany’ by Mr. Pink of the Control Commission for Germany.

6 The preparations for the occupation of Germany started in spring 1943. They passed through different stages and were handled by several services: the European Advisory Commission (E.A.C.), the German country unit in Great Britain, the Military Government Section of S.H.A.E.F., the United States Control Council Group for Germany (U.S.G.C.C.) and the O.S.S. See Latour, Conrad F. and Vogelsang, Thilo, Okkupation und Wiederaufbau. Die Tätigkeit der Militärregierung in der amerikanischen Besatzungszone Deutschlands 1944–1977 (Stuttgart, 1973), pp. 22 ffGoogle Scholar. and Balfour, Michael, Four-power control in Germany and Austria (London, 1956)Google Scholar.

7 The text was sent by the joint staff mission to London (J.S.M. 767). There had been ‘no time to coordinate with the British’ before sending the text to Eisenhower: P.R.O. FO 371/46798 81452-C 1958.

8 P.R.O. FO 371/46748-C 1958.

9 FO 371/46798 81452-C 2038/G.

10 Ibid.

11 Telegram from S.H.A.E.F. (forward) to F.O. from Mr Steel, no. 5, 6 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46785-C 2263/G.

12 Idem. Telegram no. 29, 7 May 1945 ibid.

13 Himmler was finally arrested by the British on 23 May and committed suicide. Goering, who felt himself the victim of a tragic error made by Hider, and considered the nomination of Dönitz as haphazard continued, even at Nuremberg, to impose himself on his co-prisoners as Hitler's successor. Sentenced to death on 1 Oct. 1946, he committed suicide.

14 Archer to Deane, 7 May 1945. FO 371/46786-C 3117/G.

15 A host of literature has been devoted to the subject. In his memoirs, Smith, Bedell Pretends to have forgotten the existence of the long instrument: Moscow Mission (London, 1950)Google Scholar. For the latest summary of the question see Vaïsse, Maurice, ‘Remarques sur la capitulation à Reims, le 7 mai 1945’. 8 mai 1945: La victoire en Europe. Actes du colloque international de Reims (Lyon, 1985), pp. 141–63Google Scholar.

16 PM/OS/45/79 quoted in PM/OS/45/102, 12 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452.

17 Mr Roberts, no. 1.738, 6 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46798 81452-C 2025.

18 This uncertainly lasted for a long time. The Political Intelligence Report by the J.I.C. 30 July 1945 (16845) stated ‘It is impossible to give any authoritative account of Hitler's last days since evidence is still accumulating.’ P.R.O. FO 371/46749-C 4278. Reuters and Pravda still maintained in September that Hitler and Eva Braun were alive: ibid. C 5637 and C 5650. The Soviet attitude was ambiguous. His body was found on 9 May and identified by his denture and by several witnesses. Until the beginning of June there should have been no more doubts about his death. One can only speculate on the reasons for this behaviour. See the introduction of Trevor-Roper, Hugh to the third edition of Hitlers letzte Tage (Frankfurt/Berlin, 1965), pp. 222–39Google Scholar.

19 P.R.O., FO 371/46914 81452-C 2316.

20 Mentioned in a note from Harrison for the secretary of state, 17 May 1945, ibid.

21 Churchill, Winston, The second World War, vol. IV, Triumph and tragedy (London, 1954), pp. 498 fGoogle Scholar.

22 N.A. RG 331, entry 30, box 141, folder 387–7–12. The nomination of Rooks was based on the so-called ‘gold cup’ plan, issued by section G3 of S.H.A.E.F. on 18 April 1945. Its aim was (a) to establish contact between supreme headquarters and the Soviet central command, and (b) the assumption of initial control over the German ministries. N.A. RG 331, entry 27, box no. 82, folder 091–3.

23 P.R.O. FO 371/4673 77151-C 2302 – also for the following.

24 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2436. It may be noted that in a comparison with other alleged German war criminals, Dönitz fared much better than others. P.R.O. FO 371/50984 81452.

25 P.R.O. FO 371/46731-C 2461. Excerpts of an account of the meeting between Churchill and Eisenhower were sent by Robert Murphy to M. Matthews, head of the European department of the state department in his telegram 5–2245 on 22 May 1945. F.R.U.S. (1945), III, 302.

26 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2481.

27 Steinert, , Capitulation, p. 199Google Scholar.

28 Telegram no. 3, 13 May 1945. N.A. RG 331, entry 30, box 141, folder 387–7 and P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452 – also for the following. Originally Keitel and Jodl were to be arrested and Eisenhower had even informed the Soviets, via the American military mission in Moscow, that he had ordered the arrest of Keitel, Kesselring, Jodl and Warlimont, and that this had been done on 11 May. The reason given for the arrest was the resistance of the army groups south and centre after the capitulation: P.R.O. FO 371/46786-C 3118/G. Because of Montgomery's intervention and for reasons of expediency, only Keitel was arrested in Flensburg. See the report from Murphy, 19 May 1945. N.A. RG 59, file 740.0019 control 862.00/5–1945. For the arrest of Keitel and first contact with Dönitz, see also telegram from Caffery, Paris, to secretary of state, transmitting text from Murphy no. 5–1945, 15 May 1945. F.R.U.S. (1945) III, 781 f.

29 P.R.O. FO 371/46914–81452-C 2481 and ref. no. 18, 14 May 1945 (M23) N.A. RG 331, entry 30, box 141, folder 387–7.

30 N.A. RG 331, box no. 91, folder 388, 3-1.

31 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452.

32 Ibid.

33 Ibid. C 2464/G. The interview had been sent to Oliver Harvey by John Wheeler-Bennett.

34 Mentioned by Harrison in a minute for the secretary of state, 17 May 1945. P.R.O. F O 371/46914 81452 – C 2316.

35 Telegram ref. no. FWD-21631 to Rooks, 16 May 1945. N.A. RG 331, entry 1, box no. 42, folder 322. 01/29, vol. 1.

36 Ref. no. 37, 17 May 1945. N.A. RG 331, entry 30, box 142, folder 387–9. See also telegram from Caffery, Paris, to secretary of state no. 2758, 18 May 1945. N.A. RG 59. File 53.740.00119 Control (Germany) 5–1845.

37 Ref. no. FWD-21757. N.A. RG 331, entry 27, box no. 86, folder 387–1.

38 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2559.

39 N.A. RG 53, file no. 862. 00/5–1945. The telegram was sent by Caffery, Paris to secretary of state, N.I.A.C.T. 2815.

40 N.A. RG 331, entry 27, box no. 83, folder 250–3–1, and entry 2, box 113, folder 250, 3, vol. I. See also telegram S.C.A.E.F. 398, 18 May 1945 from S.H.A.E.F. to A.G.W.A.R. P.R.O. FO 371/46914, 81452.

41 Telegram no. 66 from S.H.A.E.F. to War Cabinet Distribution, 18 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2312.

42 Telegram MX 24345, Military Mission to Moscow, 17 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452.

43 S.C.A.E.F. 400, 19 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452. In his telegram no. 68, 19 May 1945, Steel found that ‘This business is now becoming frankly ludicrous, and even somewhat dangerous… The generals here have a morbid craving for consulting the Soviet Government on the slightest opportunity and do not appreciate the dangers of using more than one channel’, ibid. Note that Murphy in his telegram no. 2814 to the secretary of state on 19 May seemed to find this procedure quite normal. N.A. RG 59, file 740.00119, control, 5–1945.

44 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452. Victor Cavendish Bentinck, president of the joint intelligence committee, commented on the large number of records which had turned up due to the rapid German collapse: ‘All the German naval records, dating from before the last war, are now in this country together with German archivists who take pride in producing any document that may be called for. We have also got hold of almost all the records of the German army and the records of the German Scientific Research Organisation. As far as pouncing on intelligence targets is concerned, our machinery does not work too badly, though it has given a good deal of trouble and produced violent quarrels between the American services whose representatives have used in my room most violent language about each other.’

45 P.R.O. 371/46914 81452 (C 2482 and C 2536).

46 Ibid.Harrison thought it better not to show Churchill Steel's telegram no. 67 which recommended the immediate arrest of Dönitz. Orme Sargent and William Strang agreed: ibid. (C 2333/G).

47 Nos FWD 21924 and 21925, 19 May 1945, ibid. and N.A. RG 331, entry 15, box no. 142, folder 387–9.

48 A second ‘dustbin’ located first in Versailles, then in Frankfurt, was for German scientists and industrial technologists. S.H.A.E.F. A G 254–1, GBI-AGM, N.A. RG 331, entry 27, box no. 83, folder 250. 3-I.

49 See no. I.992, Roberts in Moscow to foreign office, 22 May 1945. Soviet monitor radio bulletins from the U.S.S.R. issued by Tass agency nos 6031 and 6050, 17 and 21 May 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/4691 81452. See also telegrams nos 1657 and 1663 from Moscow via Army, the latter signed Kennan. N.A. RG 59, file 740.00119 Control Germany/5–1945.

50 The permission is mentioned in a telegram from the acting Secretary of State Grew to Murphy, 22 May 1945. N.A. RG 59, file 862.00/5–1945 and F.R.U.S. (1945), III, 782 f.

51 Steinert, , Capitulation, pp. 280 fGoogle Scholar.

52 Nos 98873 and M 582, 4 and 5 June 1945. P.R.O. FO 371/46732 77151-C 3111.

53 Rosanow, German, Das Ende des Dritten Reiches (Berlin, 1965), p. 214Google Scholar.

54 American civil–military decisions Stein, Harold (ed.), (Tuscaloosa, 1963)Google Scholar.

55 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2449.

56 Leonhard, Wolfgang, Die Revolution entlässt ihre Kinder (Berlin, 1966)Google Scholar.

57 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2316.

58 For example, in the research-analysis branch of the O.S.S., where famous authors of the ‘critical theory’ like Franz Neumann, Kirchheimer and Marcuse elaborated plans for a total socio-economic reconstruction of Germany: Söllner, Alfons (ed.), Zur Archäologie der Demokratie in Deutschland (Frankfurt am Main, 1982)Google Scholar.

59 During the years 1943–5, five different services elaborated plans for Germany. See above, footnote 6. For the attitude of the foreign office see Rothwell, Victor, Britain and the Cold War 1941–1947 (London, 1982), pp. 21–68Google Scholar.

60 Telegram 2888, 22 May 1945. Murphy to secretary of state. N.A. RG 59, file 740.00119, Control (Germany)/5–2245.

61 The proclamation was signed on 22 May 1945. In the material I consulted I found no evidence of a direct link between this signature and the permission from the war department to arrest Dönitz and his group. An answer to this might be found in the POLAD files of Murphy in Suitland, Washington, or in the archives of John McCloy.

62 P.R.O. FO 371/46914 81452-C 2482.