The United Kingdom unveiled on Friday the final Nazi message it decoded as World War II drew to a close as a way of marking the 75th anniversary of V-E Day.
The Government Communications Headquarters, a British intelligence agency, revealed a farewell message from a Nazi soldier identified as Lt. Kunkel. The dispatch was sent on May 7, 1945, at 7:35 a.m., prior to the Nazi’s communication system being shut down.
“British troops entered Cuxhaven at 14:00 on 6 May — from now on all radio traffic will cease — wishing you all the best. Lt Kunkel,” the message read. “Closing down forever — all the best — goodbye.”
To mark #VEDay75 our Historian Tony Comer tells an untold tale from our archives.
For the first time he reveals the final messages intercepted by GCHQ from a German communications network in the days leading up to #VEDay ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/K7hLcN9c1J
— GCHQ (@GCHQ) May 8, 2020
To celebrate the 75th V-E Day anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II is set to address the U.K. at 9 p.m. local time, the same time her father addressed the nation after Nazi Germany surrendered to Allied forces.
“Today is the 75th anniversary of VE Day: the day when people across the Commonwealth marked the end of war in Europe with a mixture of jubilation and quiet reflection on the many sacrifices which had been made for peace,” the royal family said in a Friday tweet along with the audio from King George VI’s address.
Today is the 75th anniversary of VE Day: the day when people across the Commonwealth marked the end of war in Europe with a mixture of jubilation and quiet reflection on the many sacrifices which had been made for peace. pic.twitter.com/vhJvmW7fg3
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 8, 2020
