diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.5.6.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.5.6.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a9eaf76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.5.6.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+Git v1.6.5.6 Release Notes
+==========================
+
+Fixes since v1.6.5.5
+--------------------
+
+ * "git add -p" had a regression since v1.6.5.3 that broke deletion of
+   non-empty files.
+
+ * "git archive -o o.zip -- Makefile" produced an archive in o.zip
+   but in POSIX tar format.
+
+ * Error message given to "git pull --rebase" when the user didn't give
+   enough clue as to what branch to integrate with still talked about
+   "merging with" the branch.
+
+ * Error messages given by "git merge" when the merge resulted in a
+   fast-forward still were in plumbing lingo, even though in v1.6.5
+   we reworded messages in other cases.
+
+ * The post-upload-hook run by upload-pack in response to "git fetch" has
+   been removed, due to security concerns (the hook first appeared in
+   1.6.5).
diff --git a/Documentation/git.txt b/Documentation/git.txt
index 8e93d35..c1fcfff 100644
--- a/Documentation/git.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git.txt
@@ -43,9 +43,10 @@
 branch of the `git.git` repository.
 Documentation for older releases are available here:
 
-* link:v1.6.5.5/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.5]
+* link:v1.6.5.6/git.html[documentation for release 1.6.5.6]
 
 * release notes for
+  link:RelNotes-1.6.5.6.txt[1.6.5.6],
   link:RelNotes-1.6.5.5.txt[1.6.5.5],
   link:RelNotes-1.6.5.4.txt[1.6.5.4],
   link:RelNotes-1.6.5.3.txt[1.6.5.3],
diff --git a/GIT-VERSION-GEN b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
index 0c9be20..9c945d9 100755
--- a/GIT-VERSION-GEN
+++ b/GIT-VERSION-GEN
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 GVF=GIT-VERSION-FILE
-DEF_VER=v1.6.5.5
+DEF_VER=v1.6.5.6
 
 LF='
 '
diff --git a/RelNotes b/RelNotes
index 5b19dba..115c335 120000
--- a/RelNotes
+++ b/RelNotes
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.5.5.txt
\ No newline at end of file
+Documentation/RelNotes-1.6.5.6.txt
\ No newline at end of file