An address of Comrade J.V. Stalin to the nation

(The following appeared in the May 10, 1945 edition of Pravda and is translated from the Russian.)

Comrades! Compatriots!

The great day of victory over Germany has come. Fascist Germany, brought to its knees by Red Army and Allied forces, has recognized its defeat and announced unconditional capitulation.

On May 7, the preliminary protocol of capitulation was signed in the city of Rheims. On May 8th, the representatives of Germany, in the presence of the Supreme Command of Allied Forces and the High Command of Soviet Forces, signed in Berlin the final act of capitulation, which came in force on midnight May 8th.

Knowing the lupine habits of German authorities, which regard agreements as a piece of paper, we have no basis to trust their words. But from this morning on, the German troops, in fulfilling the capitulation act, started in massive scale to give up their weapons and to surrender to our troops. This is not just a piece of paper. This is the real capitulation of the armed forces of Germany. However, one group of German troops in the region of Czechoslovakia is still refusing to capitulate. But I hope that Red Army will soon successfully bring them into reality.

Now, we can rightfully announce, that the historic day of the final defeat of Germany has come. The day of the great victory of our Nation over German Imperialism.

The great sacrifice, which we had to bear in the name of freedom and the independence of our Motherland, the unaccountable hardships and loses which our Nation has suffered during the war, the tense work both at the front and in the rear which we give to the altar of victory - did not come in vain, and were crowned with complete victory over the enemy. The ancient struggle of the Slavic nations for their existence and their independence has ended with victory over the German invaders and German tyranny.

From now on, over Europe will fly the great flag of freedom for the nations, and peace between the nations.

Three years ago, Hitler announced to all the world that among his goals was the disintegration of the Soviet Union and tearing from it the Caucasus, Ukraine, Byelorussia, the Baltic States and other regions. He said openly: "We will destroy Russia, and she will never be able to rise again".

That was three years ago. But the crazy ideas of Hitler had no chance to become reality. The progress of the War had destroyed them completely. In fact the reality is quite opposite than the hitlerist's mad dreams. Germany is smashed. German troops declared capitulation. The Soviet Union is celebrating victory, despite the fact that it is unwilling neither to divide nor destroy Germany.

Comrades! The Great Patriotic War has ended with our complete victory. The time of war in Europe has come to the end. The time of peaceful development has begun.

My dear compatriots, I wish you all the best with victory!

GLORY TO OUR HEROIC RED ARMY, WHO DEFENDED THE INDEPENDECE OF OUR MOTHERLAND AND DEFEATED THE ENEMY!

GLORY TO OUR GREAT NATION, THE NATION-TRIUMPHANT!

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE HEROES WHO DIED DURING THE WAR AND GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM AND THE HAPPINESS OF OUR NATION!