Földvári Books

Breaking News of the Conclusion of WWI

[Three Original Telegraphs Related to the Surrender of Germany During WWI and the Peace Treaty of Versailles.] The Surrender. Germany. / High Sea Fleet. / Peace Treaty

[London]: [Wireless Press], 1918; 1919. Original, vintage typed telegraphs. “The Surrender” separately, the “High Sea Fleet” and the “Peace Treaty” mounted together. Mounted on hard paper, in passe-partout, unframed. Measures ca. 190 × 190 mm; 190 × 65 mm; 190 × 85 mm. Each telegraph captioned in ink on the frame. Paper yellowed due to aging. The passe-partout and the rear cardboard of “The Surrender” are creased, with no damage to the text. Otherwise in fine condition.

Three original telegraphs of the Wireless Press News reporting about the German Surrender during WWI and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

The first telegraph, dated on 8th November 1918 2.55 PM, addressed to the Admiralty and transmitted through the wireless stations of the French government, reports about the beginning of the negotiation process of the Armistice of 11 November 1918 (Armistice of Compiègne) which put an end to four years of fighting of the Great War, by marking the victory for the Allies and the defeat for Germany. It reports that the German Plenipotentiaries received the conditions of the armistice with the deadline of 72 hours, that Marshal Ferdinand Foch rejected the “German proposal for an immediate conclusion of a provisional suspension of hostilities”, and that of the subsequent German steps of sending the conditions to the German Supreme Army Command at Imperial Army Headquarters in Spa of occupied Belgium, and the related communication of Matthias Erzberger the representative of the Reich, and later the signatory of the Armistice.

The second telegraph of the “Press Bureau” dated November 21st, 1918, reports of the announcement of the Secretary of the Admiralty regarding the surrender and internment of the German High Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte). It was a term of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, ordering the German ships to be interned in the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow. The fleet was eventually scuttled on 21 June 1919.

The third telegraph, also transmitted through the wireless stations of the French government, dated 28 June 1919, the day of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which brought World War I to an end. It announces the Peace in capital letters, and reports that at “3.48 this afternoon the French Minister of War ordered by wireless the immediate firing of salvoes in celebration of Peace”.

We could not trace any other copies of these documents in institutional holdings.

.

Price: €5,000.00