Event description

On May 4, 1945 at 4 p.m., the commander of the 90th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Herbert L. Earnest, accepted the capitulation of Lieutenant General Wend von Wietersheim’s 11th Panzer Division, formally commanded by Major General H. F. Treusch von Buttlar-Brandenfels, at House No. 1 in Všeruby.

From mid-April of 1945, Freiherr Edgar von Buttlar was commanding the 11th Panzer Division, and the division’s commander to date, Generalleutnant Wend von Wietersheim, was to take over command of the 41st Panzer Korps. However, Von Wietersheim remained with “his” division and reported to Berlin that he was ill and could not take over command of the corps. On April 25–28, 1945, the 11th PzD moved out of the area south of Zwickau onto Czechoslovak territory nearby Domažlice, where it was to prevent the US 90th Infantry Division (12th Corps) from advancing towards Pilsen. On May 1–2, 1945, a part of the division (the 111th PzGrRgt) along with General Buttlar shifted to Volary, where its aim was to prevent the advance of the US 5th and 26th Infantry Division (12th Corps) from advancing towards České Budějovice.

General von Wietersheim took advantage of this split in the division and took over command of the main portions of the 11th PzD, which were fighting nearby Domažlice. On May 3rd, 1945, he sent the commander of the 90th Infantry Division (General Earnest) an offer for the capitulation of the units he commanded. On May 4, negotiations took place in Všeruby, and on May 4 and 5, 1945, the main portions of the 11th PzD passed into American captivity. The remainder of the division, under the leadership of General Buttlar (who had tried to prevent the preceding capitulation) only surrendered two days later, nearby Volary.

Some Facts on This Event

9,050 German heavily armed soldiers surrendered to the Americans during this event.

The 90th US Infantry Division, containing soldiers from Texas and Oklahoma, was created back during World War I. The 90th Infantry Division’s badge joins the initials “T” and “O” to make reference to both of the two states. The 90th US Infantry Division participated in every major military operation in France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany, and on the territory of Czechoslovakia.

Their losses in battle were among the heaviest: 3,930 dead and 14,386 wounded. The 90th Infantry Division, which joined in the liberation of southwestern Bohemia and ended its war story here.

A monument to the German armies’ capitulation stands in front of House No. 1 in Všeruby. Memorial to the surrender of German troops on 4th May 1945.

In this house No. 1 in Všeruby, general Wend von Wietersheim and commander Treusch von Buttlar-Brandenfels surrendered the 11th Panzer Division to major general Herbert L. Earnest, commander of the US 90th Infantry Division, on 4th May 1945 at 4 pm L. Earnest, commander of the US 90th Infantry Division, on 4th May 1945 at 4 pm.