Flensburg government

As managing imperial government in 1945 called after retiring the Chancellor for the time being the business further government of the German Reich in Germany both in the time of the Weimar Republic from 1920 to 1933 and after the end of National Socialism.

Was there for the governments of 1920-1933 a legal basis for their rules of procedure, so this is completely missing for the so-called government Dönitz. The Office of the President was transferred on 1 May 1945 without any legal basis of Hitler's last will and testament to Karl Doenitz. This commissioned on May 2, 1945 Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk as Chief Minister to form a government.

Shortly after the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht and of all forces met in Flensburg an " Allied Control Commission at the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht " one. Their task was to monitor the loyal fulfillment of the terms of surrender. First, it consisted only of Englishmen and Americans under the leadership of Major General Rooks (USA) and Brigadier General Foord ( UK). Headquarters of the Commission was the Patria at anchor there. On Wednesday 23 May 1945 Dönitz, General Alfred Jodl and Admiral Hans -Georg von Friedeburg were ordered for 9:45 on the clock Patria. U.S. General Rooks read a letter stating:

"I have a mandate [ ... ] let you know that the commander in chief, General Eisenhower has decided in accordance with the Soviet High Command that the incumbent government and the German High Command to be taken to the present day with its members as prisoners of war in detention. Thus, the current German government is dissolved. "