I am deeply moved by the honor that you are so kindly conferring upon me today in making me Honorary Citizen of the City of Reims. It is not so much to me personally that this distinction is addressed, but rather to all the troops who have fought under my command - to the soldiers of France, of the British Empire and of the United States - as well as to their brave comrades of the Red Army who have fought so courageously in the East. It is, therefore, on behalf of the men under my command, and as a symbol, that I am happy to accept this great honor.

When we decided to establish our Headquarters at Reims, we well knew all the inconvenience and small annoyances that the presence of a large number of troops would create for your fellow-citizens. Since our arrival, the people of Reims have extended to us a most friendly welcome, and all possible assistance which they were able to afford us.

May I ask you to be good enough to express to all your fellow-citizens of Reims our thanks and our gratitude.

I am anxious on this occasion to express our appreciation to the Frenchmen in the Resistance Movement, whose courageous effort has contributed so much to our success from the day of our landing to the day of victory. These words are addressed to all Frenchmen who have fought at our side, either in uniform or in the underground to prepare the road which led us all to victory.

For the second time in this century an arrogant Germany, thirsting for power, has wrought destruction and misery on your Continent. At the end of the last conflict, we merely made an armistice, for it was soon obvious that we had only achieved a temporary end of hostilities and that we were living not in a state of peace, but rather under a temporary cessation of the struggle.

This time, everything is quite different. The arrogant German was forced to sign his unconditional surrender and to acknowledge formally his total capitulation. This event took place in your city, whose history is already filled with glorious events. May the act of surrender signed by our enemy in your city be added to the glorious history of Reims.