Fight until the end:That was Hitler's order in the final weeks of the Second World War in April 1945. But the commitment of three courageous men paved the way for Hamburg's capitulation without a fight 75 years ago, on May 3, 1945.
At the end of April 1945, the British forces are just outside Hamburg. The front line runs only 15 kilometers south of the Hanseatic city. The Lüneburg Heath is in the hands of the British, who liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on April 15. Lüneburg surrenders without a fight on April 18th, Bremen falls on April 27th - and suffers great losses and massive destruction because the city resists to the end.
Hitler demands fight to the bitter end
Hamburg's path seems clear. On Hitler's orders, the city is declared a fortress. In other words, it should be defended under all circumstances. The Hanseatic city was already badly marked after the bombing. At the end of February 1945 the 190th bombing raid takes place. Of the 563,533 apartments that existed before the start of the war, only 114,757 remained undamaged in May 1945. Tens of thousands of people fell victim to the bombs.
Volkssturm is to fight a defensive battle
In the summer of 1943, Hamburg was the target of massive Allied air raids. More than 40,000 people are killed in the firestorm.On April 22, the official "Festungskampfzeit" begins in Hamburg. Tank barriers on the Reeperbahn are intended to stop the British. In addition, the port facilities are to be made unusable for the enemy, for example by sinking ships. However, the Hamburg military command, Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, can get away with it convince them to suspend the order to destroy the port for the time being.In addition to the 20,000 remaining regular soldiers, the so-called Volkssturm - all men capable of bearing arms between the ages of 16 and 60 - are ready for defensive combat.
Alibi attacks by battle commanders
Commander Alwin Wolz is to defend Hamburg to the last man. But when the opportunity presents itself, he capitulates and saves the city.But combat commander Alwin Wolz is aware of the hopelessness of the situation. Probably in order to officially comply with the order, at the end of April Wolz launched two small attacks on the southern towns of Hoopte and Vahrendorf, which are already in British hands.
Harburg under fire
Meanwhile, the British remain in front of the city. The British artillery is already so close that it occasionally fires on the outskirts of Hamburg. The British have their sights set on important hubs such as the Harburg train station. In the immediate vicinity of the train station are the Phoenix works, where tires for Wehrmacht vehicles are manufactured. There is also a military hospital in the factory, which also houses British prisoners of war.
Bold plan to save the hospital
In order to protect the hospital, Medical Officer Hermann Burchard had a Red Cross placed on the factory roof and made a bold decision with Phoenix General Manager Albert Schäfer:They wanted to act as negotiators against the British and thus save the hospital. Burchard has Wolz approve the planned humanitarian rescue operation.
With a white flag to the British lines
Their mission begins on the morning of April 29:together with their interpreter, Lieutenant Otto von Laun, Burchard and Schäfer approach the British lines - and are fired upon at first, despite the white flag. The English later explained that they were afraid of being spied on by the Wehrmacht with this trick. The three negotiators are taken blindfolded to British Captain Thomas Martin Lindsay in Buchholz. There they assure the British that the factory has completely stopped production and receive a promise that the military hospital will no longer be shelled.
British explore possibility of surrender
Albert Schäfer takes on a tricky mission:He is to deliver a letter that initiates the surrender of Hamburg without a fight.The British captain used the meeting to inquire about the possibility of Hamburg surrendering without a fight in one-on-one talks with the emissaries. As members of the military, however, Burchard and von Laun are only allowed to negotiate about the hospital - and they stick to it. The civilian Schäfer, however, explains that he believes that the people of Hamburg are tired of the war and that Gauleiter Karl Kaufmann will act sensibly. Lindsay then decides to give Schäfer a letter to the combat commander Wolz. In it, Lindsay's superior, Major General Lewis Lyne, calls on the Hanseatic city to surrender without a fight.
Negotiator Schäfer delivers explosive letter
On April 30, the British sent Schäfer back to Hamburg to Wolz - with the controversial letter under the insole of his right shoe. A delicate mission:If the letter had been discovered, Schäfer would have been considered a traitor. But he gets through. The combat commander receives Schäfer in the command bunker on Rothenbaumchaussee and declares his willingness to get Reich Governor Kaufmann to agree to the capitulation. With success:in view of the hopeless military situation, the Gauleiter no longer shies away from the realization that the war is lost. He agrees to prepare the handover of the Hanseatic city without a fight.
Message of Hitler's death
In the midst of these sensitive preparations, two reports burst on May 1st. One day late, the news of Adolf Hitler's death was broadcast via the Reichssender in Hamburg. Wolz also learns that he is to be replaced shortly. Hurry is required. On the evening of May 1st, two German officers, following Wolz's instructions, go to the British and deliver the letter in reply to Major General Lyne:In it the Hamburg leadership declares its willingness to negotiate the handover of the city without a fight.
Dönitz learns of intentions to capitulate
A day later, a publication in the "Hamburger Zeitung" caused an uproar among the population. From midday on May 2nd, a copy of the appeal to be circulated in the event of a capitulation can be read in the window of the newspaper. Hitler's successor, Grand Admiral Dönitz, also found out about this. Although he was not involved in the negotiations, he agreed to the surrender of Hamburg without a fight. Because in the meantime the British have taken Lübeck and the Americans Wismar.
Capitulation near Lüneburg sealed
On the evening of May 3, 1945, British tanks roll down Mönckebergstraße towards the town hall.On the evening of May 2, Wolz went to Major General Lyne and prepared the surrender with the British. The next morning he drives to the headquarters of the Second British Army in Häcklingen near Lüneburg. There he signs the surrender document. Meanwhile, since the early morning hours of May 3, the radio in Hamburg has been broadcasting the news that the British will invade in the afternoon. There is a curfew between 1pm and 7pm.
Hamburg in British hands
From 4:00 p.m., British troops roll towards downtown Hamburg in three large marching columns from the direction of Buxtehude, Tötensen and Hittfeld. At 6:25 p.m., Wolz hands over the city of Hamburg to British Brigadier General John Michael Spurling in front of City Hall. Karl Kaufmann was arrested on May 4th and Mayor Krogmann a week later. From now on, the British control all areas of public life.
The people of Hamburg are relieved that there is finally peace. Alwin Wolz, Albert Schäfer and Captain Thomas Lindsay played a large part in this. Lindsay returns to England and works there as a composer and translator. Wolz has to be a prisoner of war for two years. After that he lives as a farmer in Bavaria. In later years he headed the German War Graves Commission. At the end of 1946, the courageous civilian Schäfer took over the post of President of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce for nine years.