The unconditional surrender of Germany has just been announced. At midnight tonight, the war is over. Tomorrow, you'll begin the process of looking for survivors of your families. In most cases, you won't find them. After six long years of murder, victims are being mourned throughout the world. We've survived. Many of you have come up to me and thanked me. Thank yourselves. Thank Itzhak Stern -- and others among you who worried about you and faced death at every moment.

I am member of the Nazi Party. I'm a munitions manufacturer. I'm a profiteer of slave labor. I am a criminal. At midnight, you'll be free and I'll be hunted. I shall remain with you until five minutes after midnight, after which time, and I hope you'll forgive me, I have to flee.

I know you have received orders from our Commandant -- which he has received from his superiors -- to dispose of the population of this camp. Now would be the time to do it. Or, you could leave and return to your families as men -- instead of murderers.

In memory of the countless victims among your people,

I ask us to observe three minutes of silence.