A Rare Typewritten Message by Dutch Underground Activists (LKP), Titled: “Vredesaanbod van Himmler. Hitler is stervende. Opstand in Munchen” – “Peace Offer from Himmler / Hitler is Dying / Uprising in Munich.” The first typewritten message circulated among Dutch resistance members reporting the death of Adolf Hitler. From the estate of Nazi hunter Tuvia Friedman, who noted in the margins: “The first message sent among members of the Dutch underground (LKP) about the death of Adolf Hitler.” Dutch.
The message on the page states: “The negotiations conducted with the Germans regarding the distribution of food to Western Holland and its geographic spread have been completed…”. It reports on riots west of Nijmegen, where 100 Germans were killed and 50 were captured. Additionally, it states that Himmler has unconditionally surrendered to the Allies. The most intriguing part of the message is the final report—it states that Himmler sent a message to England and the United States, announcing that Adolf Hitler was dying and would not survive more than 40 hours. As a result, Himmler unconditionally surrendered, leading to the imminent end of the war in Europe.
The Dutch underground group Landelijke Knokploegen (LKP) was one of the major resistance organizations operating in the Netherlands during World War II. It was established in early 1943 as a unified coalition of smaller units that had previously operated independently. The primary mission of LKP was to assist regime opponents, escaped soldiers, Jews, and those who refused forced labor under German rule. Their activities included forging documents, securing food and supplies for fugitives, and breaking into government offices to steal identity cards and ration coupons. Members of LKP also engaged in sabotage operations against German infrastructure, including blowing up bridges, railway tracks, and strategic facilities to disrupt Nazi troop movements. One of their most daring operations was the liberation of prisoners from German-controlled prisons, including the bold raid on the Weteringschans prison in Amsterdam. The organization operated under constant life-threatening conditions, and many of its members were captured and tortured by the German SD (Security Service). After the war, the crucial role of LKP in the fight against the Nazis was widely recognized, and many of its members were honored for their bravery and sacrifice.
Tuvia Friedman [1922-2011] – A Survivor of the Schöklun Camp, Devoted His Life to Capturing Nazi War Criminals, Founder and Director of the Institute for Documentation. His Role in the Capture of Eichmann Was Significant. Acting on his own initiative, Friedman began placing advertisements in foreign newspapers offering a $10,000 reward for information on Eichmann’s whereabouts. As a result, he was flooded with letters from numerous countries. In October 1959, one particularly credible letter arrived, claiming that Eichmann was living near Buenos Aires, Argentina—this was the first lead confirming Eichmann’s location. On May 23, 1960, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announced in the Knesset that Eichmann had been captured and brought to Israel. Two days later, Friedman handed over a file to the Israeli police, containing 400 pages of material on Eichmann, which he had meticulously compiled over nearly 15 years. Additionally, Friedman campaigned to abolish the statute of limitations in German law for Nazi crimes. His struggle succeeded in 1979, when the Bundestag decided to eliminate the statute of limitations on crimes of murder and genocide.
[1] Mounted sheet attached to plain paper. 18×22 cm. Very good condition.
