On May 8th, 1945, at 21:20 local time at Karlshorst, Berlin, the German Instrument of Surrender, also known as Germany's Unconditional Surrender, was signed. This event finished World War II in Europe, putting closure to 5 years and 8 months of conflict.

The representatives of the document signing were as follows:

• Marshal Georgy Zhukov on behalf of the Supreme High Command of the Red Army;

• Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder, as Deputy Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force;

• General Carl Spaatz, Commanding United States Strategic Air Forces, as a witness;

• General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Commanding First French Army, also as a witness;

• Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel as the Chief of the General Staff of the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) and as representative of the German Army;

• General-Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg as Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy and

• Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen Stumpff as the representative of the German Air Force.

The instrument of surrender was written in German, English, and Russian, with the latter two being the authoritative versions:

ACT OF MILITARY SURRENDER

1. We the undersigned, acting by authority of the German High Command, hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and simultaneously to the Supreme High Command of the Red Army all forces on land, at sea, and in the air who are at this date under German control.

2. The German High Command will at once issue orders to all German military, naval and air authorities and to all forces under German control to cease active operations at 23.01 hours Central European time on 8 May 1945, to remain in all positions occupied at that time and to disarm completely, handing over their weapons and equipment to the local allied commanders or officers designated by Representatives of the Allied Supreme Commands. No ship, vessel, or aircraft is to be scuttled, or any damage done to their hull, machinery or equipment, and also to machines of all kinds, armament, apparatus, and all the technical means of prosecution of war in general.

3. The German High Command will at once issue to the appropriate commanders, and ensure the carrying out of any further orders issued by the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and by the Supreme Command of the Red Army.

4. This act of military surrender is without prejudice to, and will be superseded by any general instrument of surrender imposed by, or on behalf of the United Nations and applicable to GERMANY and the German armed forces as a whole.

5. In the event of the German High Command or any of the forces under their control failing to act in accordance with this Act of Surrender, the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and the Supreme High Command of the Red Army will take such punitive or other action as they deem appropriate.

English version of the  German Instrument of Surrender

The end of the conflict in Europe was celebrated worldwide, including in the United States, despite still engaging in combat against Japan in the Pacific theater of war, which would only achieve victory 100 days later, on August 15th of that same year.

The date is remembered in Europe as a public holiday in several countries, known as Victory Day, Liberation Day, Victory in Europe Day, and Victory Over Fascism Day. In some former Soviet Bloc nations, Russia, and Isreal, Germany's surrender is celebrated on May 9th.

The Alpha Company Award Ceremony is a special occasion once a month to allow the unit commander to honor recipients who have been recognized for their accomplishments while assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Realism Gaming Unit.

The Secretary of the Army has reposed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and professional excellence of the following Soldiers. In view of these qualities and their dedicated service to the 3rd Infantry Division they are, therefore, promoted and awarded the following.

Notes for May:

Major John LaFlash marks 15 years of service.
Sergeant Kyle Skitz marks 1 year of service.
Warrant Officer 1 Rob Paxton takes on duties as Aviation Executive Officer.
Staff Sergeant Eric Abel retires.

The following soldiers were promoted to:

E-3 - PRIVATE FIRST CLASS

Private Second Class Greg Garner promoted to Private First Class
Private Second Class David King promoted to Private First Class

E-4A - CORPORAL

Specialist Ryan Leng promoted to Corporal

E-5 - SERGEANT

Corporal Johnny Ayers promoted to Sergeant
Corporal James Kiheri promoted to Sergeant

E-6 - STAFF SERGEANT

Sergeant David Sklenar promoted to Staff Sergeant

W-1 WARRANT OFFICER 1

Warrant Officer Candidate Quinten Stain promoted to Warrant Officer 1
Warrant Officer Candidate Kristians Nils promoted to Warrant Officer 1
Warrant Officer Candidate Ben Inka promoted to Warrant Officer 1

The following soldiers were awarded:

OVERSEAS SERVICE RIBBON

Staff Sergeant Giancarlo Tucci
Sergeant Maarten Gregoire
Sergeant Daniel Shade

MILITARY OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL

Sergeant James Kiheri
Corporal Nico Agricola
 

HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL

Officer Candidate Alex Cruze
Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Sergeant Emil Poltorak
Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Specialist Vinny Garcia
 

ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL

Staff Sergeant Eric Abel
Sergeant Maarten Gregoire
Sergeant Johnny Ayers
 

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL

Sergeant Emil Poltorak
Specialist Yarden Nissan
Specialist Angie Bee
Private Second Class Ray Thomas
 

NATIONAL DEFENCE SERVICE MEDAL

Specialist Roger Mullins
Private First Class Chris Winters
Private Second Class David Pelerine

GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL

Major John LaFlash
Warrant Officer 1 Garry Beaudoin
Sergeant Maarten Gregoire
Sergeant James Kiheri
Corporal Nico Agricola
Specialist Alexander Vandle
Specialist Yarden Nissan
Specialist Vinny Garcia

ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Warrant Officer 1 Kristians Nils
Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka
Sergeant James Kiheri

JOINT SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Specialist Hazel McMahon
Specialist Angie Bee

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

Warrant Officer 1 Quinten Stain
Corporal Arthur Pendergast

JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL

Corporal Arthur Pendergast

ARMY AVIATOR FLIGHT BADGE

Warrant Officer 1 Quinten Stain
Warrant Officer 1 Kristians Nils
Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka
 

COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE (STAGE 1)

Specialist Hazel McMahon
Specialist Vinny Garcia

COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE (STAGE 2)

Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Corporal Nico Agricola
Specialist Yarden Nissan

COMBAT ACTION BADGE

Officer Candidate Alex Cruze
Warrant Officer 1 Garry Beaudoin
Warrant Officer 1 Quinten Stain
Warrant Officer 1 Rob Paxton
Warrant Officer 1 Kristians Nils
Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka
Corporal Jeremy Nichols

COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE (STAGE 1)

Private First Class Zoren Bernardino
Private First Class Garrett Earlywine
Private Second Class Lucas Silveira
Private Second Class Kurt Craven
Private First Class Tony Pearson
Private Second Class Jimbo Red
Private First Class Darby King
Private First Class Greg Garner
Recruit Tyler Okonma

COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE (STAGE 2)

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert
Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Staff Sergeant David Sklenar
Sergeant James Kiheri
Sergeant Johnny Ayers
Sergeant Kyle Skitz
Corporal Ryan Leng
Specialist Kyle Holmes
Specialist Caue Moalli
Specialist David Marsh
Specialist Paul Liwa

COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE (STAGE 3)

Sergeant Emil Poltorak
Specialist Angie Bee
Private Second Class Ray Thomas

COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE (STAGE 4)

First Sergeant Jannes Drake
Staff Sergeant Kalin Grigorov

3RD INFANTRY DIVISION UNIT PATCH

Sergeant Emil Poltorak
Specialist Yarden Nissan
Specialist Angie Bee
Private Second Class Ray Thomas

The 3rd Infantry Division Realism Unit extends to you our personal thanks and sincere appreciation of your contribution of honorable service to our unit. You have made a lasting impact on the unit’s history and thanks to your devotion to duty and a spirit of sacrifice in keeping with the proud traditions of military service.

 Your commitment and dedication have been an inspiration for those who will follow in your footsteps, and for all those who join us in saluting you for a job extremely “well done.”

 Our best wishes to you for happiness and success in the future.

From the Soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division MILSIM

Celebrating Staff Sergeant Eric Abel’s retirement, SSG E.Abel retires as former First Platoon, Third Squad, Squad Leader. SSG E.Abel enlisted into the 3rd Infantry Division MilSim Unit on April 8th, 2020 and served with distinction in his time here. He moved up through the ranks and led Third Squad Spartans through a number of combat missions successfully. He always found a way to overcome obstacles during missions and kept the safety of his men of who he was in charge of as his number one objective.

Staff Sergeant Eric Abel earned and received a number of medals during his time here in the 3rd Infantry Division including the Purple Heart and Soldier’s Medal. SSG E.Abel graduated from a number of special schools as well within the unit including Airborne, Air Assault, Expert Infantryman and Ranger School. He used the experience and knowledge from these schools to lead his squad as an honorable example to all others during his time here. On a personal note, I was under his charge in Third Squad Spartans and I can say from experience that SSG E.Abel is a capable leader who always looked after those under his charge and worked with them to fulfil not only mission objectives but personnel matters as well.

Congratulations to the soldiers of OSUT class 21-15 (ARMA3) for successful completion of training! These soldiers have been awarded the Army Service Ribbon and have earned the right to be fully active members of their squad and the unit! This is merely the first step in your career here at 3rdID, we look forward to your continued success! Hooah

Graduates:

Private First Class Chris Winters 
Private Second Class David Pelerine 
Private Second Class Mike Henderson 
Private Second Class James Koo 

Silver Star Service Banner

Image credit: Silver Star Families of America

Today, the United States marks Silver Star Service Banner Day.

Commemorated on May 1 by the Silver Star Families of America, it is a day of honor for American military personnel who were wounded or injured, became seriously ill, or are dying as a result of their wartime service.

The Silver Star Service Banner follows a tradition going back to our nation’s involvement in World War I. Created to remind Americans of the sacrifices of wounded servicemen, the banner originally displayed a blue star covered in silver thread.

These service banners would largely be forgotten until the United States’ entry into World War II. The Department of War then authorized the use of Blue Star and Gold Star service banners to commemorate those serving and those killed in action, respectively.

With this legacy, in 2010 President Barack Obama signed a congressional joint resolution marking May 1 as Silver Star Service Banner Day. This came in the wake of the Global War on Terrorism and the ongoing hardships of servicemen and woman who had fought and continued to fight.

Since then, all 50 states, as well as thousands of cities, counties, and civic organizations, officially recognize Silver Star Service Banner Day with memorial events.

The 3rd Infantry Division Realism Gaming Unit recognizes the extraordinary work of our nation’s warfighters, and we honor the men and women who have sacrificed their well-being in the course of duty.