E107 - The German Surrenders

May 2020

Since first marching into Poland on the 1st September 1939, the German army had conquered most of Europe. But the tide had turned and, as April 1945 began, they were caught between the Western Allies and the vast Red Army of the Soviet Union. The inevitable end was finally in sight, but not before multiple surrenders were signed.

For the Codebreakers of Bletchley Park, after more than 5 and a half years, their work wasn’t over. Not only did they have to keep supplying vital intelligence, but they also looked towards an uncertain future and the threat of a new enemy. It must have been satisfying for the night shift in Hut 6 on the 7th May 1945 as they secretly became some of the first people to learn that the war in Europe was at an end.

With the help of archival recordings and Ultra decrypts from the time, Bletchley Park’s Research Officer, Dr Thomas Cheetham, guides us through the dramatic last days of the Nazi regime. 

Very special thanks go to Mr Ben Thomson for voicing our archival documents.

In memoriam, Eileen Younghusband BEM  (1921-2016) WAAF Section Officer

Image: PD-USGov-Military-Army

* Producers Note *
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation & the podcast team working from home, we have had to record this episode remotely.  This means that the audio is not to the high quality we would normally wish it to be. But very much in the make do and mend spirit of WW2 we have improved it the best we can and hope our listeners will understand and still enjoy the episode.

#BPark, #WW2, #BletchleyPark, #VEDay75