Magnificent ALS, one page, 8 x 10, personal Isington Mill letterhead, April 20, 1968. Handwritten letter to “Hawkins,” in full: “Please thank the Duke of Gloucester for telling you to write to me about my gift to the Imperial War Museum of the original copy of the Luneburg Heath surrender document. His Royal Highness should know that I disobeyed orders in not sending the original to Eisenhower’s H.Q.—as I was told to do. If I had sent it, it would now be in the United States. I sent Eisenhower photostat copies. There are times when one disobeys orders! As a C-in-C in the field in war time one is in a strong position. When I was a junior officer it was generally advisable to do as one was told—but in my case, not always!!” In fine condition, with some light creasing to the bottom blank area.
On May 4, 1945, at Lüneburg Heath, south of Hamburg, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery accepted the unconditional surrender of the German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, including all islands, in Denmark, and all naval ships in those areas. The surrender preceded the end of World War II in Europe and was signed in a carpeted tent at Montgomery's headquarters on the Timeloberg hill at Wendisch Evern.
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