Eisenhower

 

Eisenhower Safe Conduct WWII Pass and Signed D-Day Address

 

Date: 1944–1945
Location: Western Front
Medium: Printed leaflet and signed book edition
Collection: Yavneh Klos Collection, WWII Archive

This powerful pairing of documents captures both the military strategy and moral messaging of the Allied campaign in the final months of World War II.

The Safe Conduct Pass, a printed leaflet dropped behind enemy lines by Allied forces, urged German troops to surrender with a guarantee of humane treatment. Compliant with international law, the leaflet served as both a psychological tactic and a humanitarian appeal—an attempt to end hostilities while minimizing further loss of life.

ZG61 “Passierschein” Safe Conduct Pass

By Virginia Clark.

The ZG61 “Passierschein” Safe Conduct Pass was created by the Psychological Warfare Division of the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Expeditionary Forces and was dropped in mass numbers between September 1944 and March 1945. This form of “white” propaganda was specifically designed to encourage German soldiers to surrender peacefully to Allied forces, reducing casualties and hastening the end of the war.

The text on the pass assured German soldiers that surrendering with the document would grant them humane treatment. It stated: "The German soldier who carries this safe conduct is using it as a sign of his genuine wish to give himself up. He is to be disarmed, to be well looked after, to receive food and medical attention as required and to be removed from the danger zone as soon as possible."

The term “white” propaganda refers to material that clearly identifies its source, in contrast to “black” or “dark” propaganda, which is designed to mislead by obscuring its true origins. The Safe Conduct Pass explicitly bore the name and authority of the Supreme Allied Commander, making it an official-looking document that German soldiers would be more inclined to trust.

There were several variations of the Safe Conduct Pass issued in 1944 and 1945, but all contained the signature of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander. Each version of the pass promised humane treatment, including food, medical care, postal privileges, and repatriation after the war’s conclusion. The design of the document was carefully crafted to appeal to a German soldier’s instinct to comply with official-looking paperwork, increasing the likelihood of surrender.

Over 65 million ZG61 Safe Conduct Passes were printed and distributed, primarily through aerial drops from airplanes and artillery shells filled with the leaflets. This widespread distribution ensured that as many German soldiers as possible had access to the surrender instructions, further weakening enemy morale.

The use of psychological warfare, such as the Safe Conduct Pass, was a critical component of the Allies' strategy to break the German war effort from within.

The use of psychological operations (PSYOP) by the United States military dates back to 1918 during World War I. At that time, the program did not have the full backing of President Woodrow Wilson. Nevertheless, between August 28 and November 11, 1918, U.S. forces printed approximately 5.1 million propaganda leaflets, of which over 3 million were distributed, mainly through airplane drops and hydrogen balloons. These efforts played a role in the erosion of German morale in the final months of the war, contributing to the eventual armistice.

During World War II, the Korean War, and earlier conflicts, official records on the effectiveness of psychological warfare and surrender rates were not meticulously kept. It was not until after the Korean Armistice in July 1953 that the United States formally recognized PSYOP as a permanent element of military strategy. Safe Conduct Passes and other psychological warfare tactics continue to play a crucial role in modern conflicts, such as efforts against ISIS in Iraq and other adversaries of the United States.

Signed Dwight D. Eisenhower D-Day Address

Accompanying this is a limited edition of Crusade in Europe, personally signed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, which includes a facsimile of his historic June 6, 1944 D-Day message. Delivered to Allied forces on the eve of the Normandy landings, the message begins with the iconic salutation, “Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force.” Eisenhower’s actual signature, featured beneath this rallying address, transforms the volume into a uniquely personal and powerful artifact—one that speaks to leadership, courage, and the historic weight of the moment.

Together, these documents exemplify the dual mission of the Allies: to defeat tyranny and to uphold the values of humanity and justice.