Unconditional surrender of the German armed forces, Rheims, France, World War II, 7 May 1945. *** Local Caption *** Unconditional surrender of the German armed forces, Rheims, France, World War II, 7 May 1945. French Major-General François Sevez (1891-1948), US Army General Walter Bedell Smith (1895-1961) and US Air Force General Carl Spaatz (1891-1974). The Soviet representative at the signing, Major-General Ivan Susloparov, did not have official authorisation from Moscow to sign the document and the Soviets insisted on a second signing, which took place in Berlin shortly before midnight the following day.