Norman Hopkins talks to Derek Knee about the surrender signing in Germany, May 1945

My father Norman Hopkins volunteered for the charity the South Wales Talking Magazine Association for the blind and partially sighted. In May 2002 he recorded an audio interview with Mr Derek Knee from Barry, South Wales who, due to his foreign language skills, had assisted in the signing of the surrender document in Luneburg, Germany in May 1945. Audio file and transcription document attached.

April 30th 1945. Hitler was dead. May 4 1945 Montgomery meets with German delegation to discuss certain matters of importance to us. Derek Knee was involved due to his language skills and was used as translator. Montgomery interested in complete surrender of the German forces which was done on May 8 1945. The letter was later given to the Imperial War Museum.

Of the seven who met on the first and following day, two senior Germans both committed suicide afterwards. Another two were killed in a car accident. Montgomery and Vice Admiral Wagner died in the 1970s and 1980s - so only one left and that is Derek himself!