May 6, 1945: General Stanislaw Maczek's 1st Armored Division accepts the surrender of the German naval base at Wilhelmshaven. 32,000 soldiers and 1,900 officers were taken prisoner, including a general and two admirals. Following the formal surrender of Germany on May 8, General Maczek was appointed commander of the Polish I Corps and charged with the administration of a 6,500 square kilometer area around Wilhelmshaven.
Picture: A Sherman tank of the Polish 1st Armored Division at the surrender of Wilhelmshaven.