signed by the chief of the wehrmacht high command, field marshal wilhelm keitel, commander of the german navy, admiral hans georgnder was accepted from the soviet union, commander first belarusian front marshal georgy zhukov, from the allies, deputy commander-in-chief british marshal arthur teder. the commander of the us strategic air forces, general karl spaas, and the commander-in-chief of the french army, general jean delator de tatagny, signed as witnesses. central european time, this historical event occurred at 23:1 on may 8th. but in moscow a new day was already beginning, so we celebrate the great victory day on may 9. on may 8, 1657, oliver cromwell, leader of the english revolution, refused the crown that parliament offered him, modestly saying that it was not for him to restore what was destroyed by the implementation, but his duty to protect civil rights and freedoms, of course, he was disingenuous. after the civil war and execution. charles ii, england was proclaimed a republic, but he ruled without a royal title and had absolute power. at first he was declared lord protector with unlimited powers.