English Translation

If we do what is in our power, the Lord God will not leave us after so much suffering and sacrifice. Order of the day de s Gro Badmiral s Dönitz a n die deutsche Wehrmacht. =========== German Wehrmascht ! My comrades ! The Führer has fallen, faithful to his great idea of protecting the peoples of Europe from Bolshevism, he has committed his life and found his hero's death. One of the greatest German heroes has passed away with him. In proud reverence and sorrow we lower the flags before him, the Führer has appointed me as his successor as head of state and as chief commander of the Wehrmacht. I take over the command over all parts of the German Wehrmacht with the will to continue the fight against the Bolsheviks until the fighting force and until the hundreds of thousands of families of the eastern German region are saved from enslavement or destruction. I must continue the struggle against the English and Americans as long as they prevent me from carrying out the fight against the Bolsheviks. The idea requires further unconditional commitment from you, which you have already done so great historical deeds and which you now long for the end of the war. I demand discipline and obedience . Only by unreservedly carrying out my duties will chaos and destruction be avoided. A coward and betrayer is who is now evading his duty and thus brings death and enslavement to German women and children. The allegiance given to the leader of you is now valid for every individual of you without further me as the successor appointed by the leader. German soldiers do your duty, it is the life of our people. 3024