Schellenberg was neither unprepared for the future when he arrived in neutral Sweden nor alone for long. Outwardly still negotiating the cessation of hostilities in Scandinavia, or, more precisely, German surrender there, he was soon joined by several companions. His secretary Marie-Luise Schienke, her assistant Christl Erdmann, SS-Obersturmbannführer Heinz Renau, Renau's wife and daughter, and Franz Göring arrived in Sweden on May 6–7,1945. Schellenberg's family – his pregnant wife and three children under four – remained in Bavaria; his recent activities had not included fetching them. The group arrived in Stockholm with some means: enough cash to pay salaries for three months and a forged US passport for Schellenberg. As the Swedes furnished him with papers, this item was not needed. The group clearly had no intention of returning to Germany anytime soon. Schellenberg had “quit Germany.”

Between May 5 and 7, Schellenberg, true to his mandate, engaged in negotiations about the surrender of the German troops in Norway with representatives of the Swedish Foreign Office. He also still tried to arrange for a meeting with Eisenhower, claiming that he had received instructions to do so from Schwerin von Krosigk. No such meeting was forthcoming. The Dönitz government had established direct contact with the Allies for the purpose of surrender and the Swedes kept Allies representative abreast of Schellenberg's activities and “ongoing activities.” An end run by Schellenberg that excluded the Soviets had little chance, even though there was no lack of trying. Interestingly, arranging the surrender of the German troops in Norway turned out to be more difficult than expected. General Franz Böhme was unwilling to give up and have his troops interned; was hard to reach by phone; did not take a meeting with visiting German Minister Hans Thomsen; and doubted Schellenberg's authority.