Surrender 45: IWM licences archive for German exhibition
The Museum Lüneburg in Germany licensed archive material from IWM's collections to mark the the 80th anniversary of the Nazi surrender, encompassing film, photos, documents and sound
The exhibition explores the surrender negotiations between the German delegation led by Grand Admiral von Friedeburg and British Field Marshal Montgomery, a significant event of the Second World War that took place on the Lüneburg Heath, east of Hamburg on May 4, 1945.
Historical images taken by the Army Film and Photographic Unit licensed for the display include Field Marshal Montgomery signing the document with German officials observing.
Watch original footage from the signing ceremony
An oral history recording of Derek Knee recollecting his role as an intelligence officer interpreting for Field Marshal Montgomery during the negotiations was included in the exhibition as well as newsreel footage and a reproduction of the official surrender document.
As soon as the last of the signatures was committed to paper, messages were sent by morse code to allied units on the front lines, confirming that all German hostilities by land, sea and air were to cease at eight o'clock the following morning. The Second World War in Europe was over.
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Exhibition at the Museum Lüneburg (3 May 2025 – 2 November 2025, extended until 31 December 2025)
Curator: Dr Ulfert Tschirner
Exhibition design: Uwe Franzen (atelier hand-werk2.0)
Image: IWM (BU 5207). Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery signing the Instrument of Surrender of German forces at Luneberg Heath
Contact us for high quality reproductions from IWM's multimedia collections
For further information regarding licensing and archive research please contact the Image & Film Licensing team.
Erica Martin (image/sound) and Evanegline Rouse (film) are IWM's specialists for exhibition use requests.
Our exhibition rate card is available on request. Where no entry charge is payable, supply fees only apply.
Affiliated services include Digitisation on Demand and Curatorial Consultancy.