Historically important original teleprinter document transmitted by the 1st Canadian Army to all of its subordinate units, one page, 8.25 x 9.75, containing Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower's total ceasefire order, as transmitted by SHAEF Forward at 0410 on May 7, 1945. Authorized by R. Austin and transmitted at 0430, the document reads, in part: "A representative of the German High Command signed the unconditional...surrender of all German land, sea, and air forces in Europe to the Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Soviet High Command at zero one four one hours Central European Time, 7 May under which all forces will cease active operations at zero zero zero one baker hours nine May...Effective immediately all offensive operations by Allied Expeditionary Force will cease and troops will remain in present positions. Moves involved in occupational duties will continue. Due to difficulties of communication there may be some delay in similar orders reaching enemy troops so full defensive precautions will be taken...No repeat no release will be made to the press pending an announcement by the heads of the three governments." In fine condition, with some light staining.
The present message was a re-transmission of the fourth and final cable sent by Eisenhower after the German surrender, which had been signed in Reims at 0241 hours. It was, however, arguably the most significant—the first three were addressed to American and British chiefs of staff, briefly confirming the fulfillment of their mission and encouraging the coordination of a tri-government announcement. This dispatch, Eisenhower's fourth message, represents his first announcement of the end of the war made to the three million soldiers still serving as part of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Recipient formations then re-transmitted the message to their own subordinate units, as seen with this example.
