Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein reviews the contents of the Document of Surrender to the German High Command at the left end of table on 3 May 1945. To the right of the tent pole and next to Montgomery are two members of his staff. All suggestions for changes to the document made by  the German command at this review meeting were rebuffed by Montgomery who said that the surrender would be unconditional.

The Personal Assistant to Montgomery LCol Trumbull Warren of the 48th Highlanders had fetched the Germans to Montgomery’s caravan on May 3rd to hear Monty’s terms, and on May 4th to sign the surrender, ending more than five years of hostilities. It provided an indelible memory for the Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel.

Warren later described the events in Monty, the three-volume biography of Montgomery by British author Nigel Hamilton. The senior officer was General Admiral von Friedeburg, Commander-in- Chief of the German fleet. General Kinsel, Chief of Staff of the German army was “a magnificent looking officer about 6’5″ … complete with monocle – a real professional Prussian,” Warren noted. Next was Rear Admiral Wagner, flag officer to the admiral of the fleet. And Major Friedl, who had “the cruelest face of any man I have ever seen.” A fifth officer – a Colonel Pollok joined the group for the signing.  Warren continued his description: “The German delegation went across to the tent, watched by groups of soldiers, war correspondents, photographers, and others – all very excited. They knew it was the end of the war.” “I had the surrender document all ready. The arrangements in the tent were very simple – a trestle table covered with an army blanket, an inkpot, an ordinary army pen that you could buy in a shop for two pence. There were two BBC microphones on the table.” More surrenders followed on May 7th, prior to Victory-in-Europe (VE Day) on May 8th.