Operation Sunrise Timeline- Spring 1945

February

Parrilli contacts Gero von Schule Gaevernitz.

March 3

Dollman, Parrilli, and Zimmer meet with OSS representative Paul Blum in Lugano.

March 4

Dollman meets with Wolff.

March 8-9

Wolff goes to Switzerland for a meeting in Zurich with Dulles and Gaevernitz. London, Washington, and Caserta are notified of the meeting.

March 10

Alexander sends message to British Chiefs of Staff in London notifying them of the meeting.

March 11

FDR agrees to inform the Soviets that a meeting has taken place.

Churchill sends a message to Moscow.

March 12

Molotov replies to Washington and London. Combined Chiefs tell Alexander to send military representatives to Bern.

March 12

Molotov replies to Washington and London.

Combined Chiefs tell Alexander to send military representatives to Bern.

March 13

Kesselring is summoned by Hitler.

Lemnitzer and Airey leave Caserta to meet Dulles.

March 14

Joint Chiefs of Staff send recommendation to Britain regarding what plan to pursue regarding Russia.

March 15

Wolff replied via Parrilli that if Kesselring did not come back he was prepared to work out a plan with the Allies on his own or with the successor.

Lemnitzer and Airey meet with Dulles and send Parrilli back to Wolff’s headquarters with the message that it would be desirable for him to come back to Switzerland for further conversation.

March 16

Molotov sends a reply deploring the Western refusal to admit Soviet representatives to Bern.

March 17

Alexander sends another letter to Moscow.

March 18

Soviets respond with more restrained letter.

March 19

Dulles, Gaevernitz, Lemnitzer, Airey, and Wolff meet in Ascona.

March 20

A revised version of Secretary Stimson’s telegram is sent to the Soviets expressing the whole matter as a misunderstanding and that no talks were to take place at Bern.

March 21

Plan detailing surrender reaches Allied-Anglo command.

March 23

Molotov responds angrily to March 20 letter.

March 24

First of 3 letters sent from Roosevelt to Stalin

March 25

Kerr recommends that the British inform the Russians of the talks.

March 26

Zimmer informs Lemnitzer and Airey that Wolff is still working on a plan.

March 27

Zimmer says they (the Germans) are risking their lives by involving themselves in the talks.

March 29

Stalin responds to Roosevelt’s first letter.

March 31

Roosevelt sends second letter to Stalin.

Zimmer meets Dulles and assures him that Wolff is preparing to come to Switzerland for final conversation.

April 2

Alexander sends letter to Soviet military chiefs denying involvement in talks.

Disappointing meeting in Ascona, as Parrilli once again shows up instead of Wolff. Allies demand Wolff must act.

April 3

Stalin replies to Roosevelt’s second letter.

April 4

Roosevelt sends third letter to Stalin.

April 5

Russia signs neutrality agreement with Japan.

April 7

Stalin responds to third letter.

April 9

Wolff sends 2 memorandums via Parrilli to Dulles in Bern.

April 10

Dulles responds saying that that the Germans would not be given an advanced copy of the surrender terms.

April 14

British recommend that the Bern OSS contact be broken off because there is no prospect for an acceptable surrender.

April 17-18

Wolff and Hitler meet.

April 15-21

Contact continues between Dulles and Wolff, increasing the likelihood of surrender.

April 21

It is requested that Russia send a representative.

April 23-25

Allies gain decisive military victories.

April 25

Kislenko is appointed as the Russian representative.

April 27

Wolff is rescued by Dulles and other Allies.

April 28

Surrender terms are given to Germans.

April 29

Final meeting takes place setting the surrender date for May 2.