THE "GHOST DIVISION" GIVES UP THE GHOST
(1 & 2) Preceded by his request for negotiations, Lt Gen Wend von Wietersheim, Commanding General of the 11th Panzer Division comes
into the town of Vseruby, Czechoslovakia, 4 May 45, and surrenders the "Ghost Division." Having asked to give up to XII Corps, before
units of which his outfit had been retreating so long, von Wietersheim receives terms of surrender from Brig Gen Herbert L. Ernest,
Commanding General 90th Infantry Division then under XII Corps direction. (3) The German general, with 11th Panzer division surrender
party, arrives under flag of truce at the entrance to Vseruby, 4 May. (4) Having achieved the desired end of becoming prisoners of XX US
Army Corps, instead of prisoners of the Russians, the personnel of the division was distributed about the Corps area of occupation and put
to various useful activities. Best remembered perhaps of these groups was the 11th Panzer Division Band, which was brought down to
Regensburg, promptly changed its colors and its clothes, and became (relatively) respectable as "Philips (XX Corps' Own) Band" in the
ballroom of the Park Maximilian Hotel.
ELEVENTH PANZER DIVISION SURRENDERS ITS T/O & E