Historic Surrender Documents of World War II to Be Sold In "No Surrender" COVID-19 Auction

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May 29, 2020, 08:38 ET

CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md., May 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Maryland auctioneers Alexander Historical Auctions, known internationally for their military sales, will be offering some of the most important surrender documents of World War II in their June 9 "No Surrender to Coronavirus" live auction. The sale has sixty highly important pieces, almost all never before seen. Included in the monumental sale is the British order to surrender the last troops in Hong Kong, along with the Japanese surrender of Hong Kong back to the British four years later; Adolf Hitler's last letter from his bunker declaring that he "will remain in Berlin"; the German peace negotiator's last-ditch telegram insisting there must be a "signature or chaos"; a German general's order that saved 1,500,000 soldiers' lives; an Eisenhower-signed telegram announcing the German surrender; inspiring Winston Churchill signed quotations; the signed British and American surrender of Java, and much more.

THE DOCUMENT THAT FORCED THE SURRENDER OF NAZI GERMANY - Letter given to Field Marshal Alfred Jodl. His official credentials allowing him to negotiate Germany's surrender in World War II with the Allies. It is signed by Adm, Karl Donitz, president of Germany following Hitler's suicide. Jodl would sign the surrender the next day, warning Donitz: "chaos or signature!" Valued at $1M, proceeds to be donated to Coronavirus charities worldwide. To be sold by Alexander Historical Auctions, June 9.

Adolf Hitler's last signed military message, sent to a top general who begged him to flee Berlin. The doomed dictator writes: "I shall remain in Berlin so as to take part in honorable fashion in the decisive battle for Germany and to set a good example to all those remaining. I believe that in this way I shall be rendering Germany the best service..." Six days later, Hitler committed suicide with a pistol shot to his head. Letter being auctioned June 9 by Alexander Historical Auctions.

The top item is considered by many to be "the document that forced the surrender of Nazi Germany" – the official authorization for Germany's top general, Field Marshal Alfred Jodl, to negotiate an unconditional surrender with the Allied powers, estimated to sell for $1,000,000. The entire proceeds of its sale will be donated to the World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief, and N.H.S. Charities Together in recognition of Captain Tom Moore's contribution to the British N.H.S. Jodl presented this letter when he came to negotiate Germany's final surrender at Allied headquarters. His authorization to sign the surrender, the "sister" to this document, was called "one of the foremost documents of the 20^th century" by the Archivist of the United States, and it rests today in that repository.

Additional items to be offered include agreements between Germany and the Allies to airdrop food to the starving Dutch in the closing days of the war; the first military telegram of the war, sent by a German commando who attacked Poland in error a week before the war actually commenced; a pass through the lines for German peace emissaries, signed by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery; President Harry Truman's proclamation declaring the "a day of prayer" upon the end of the war in Europe, a signed quotation from Winston Churchill "This was their finest hour…"; a signed photograph from the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, and much more.

When asked about the theme of the sale, auctioneer Bill Panagopulos replied: "Seventy-five years ago this month, the world finally conquered Hitler, an evil against whom we pledged 'no surrender'. Today, history repeats itself with the worldwide fight against the insidious Covid-19 virus, and again we must be determined never to slacken or surrender."

Bidding will be available live, by telephone, and at the auctioneer's web site.

Bidding is also available at websites invaluable.com and liveauctioneers.com. Alexander Historical Auctions may be reached at 203-276-1570, email: [email protected], website: historyauctioneer.com.

SOURCE ALEXANDER HISTORICAL AUCTIONS LLC