VE Day: Last Nazi message intercepted by Bletchley codebreakers revealed

The last recorded message Britain intercepted from a German military communications network at the end of the World War Two has been revealed for the first time.

It shows that Bletchley Park codebreakers carried on working in the final days of the war to keep Britain safe in case of a final stand by the Nazis.

GCHQ historian Tony Comer said the message, which is being released to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, gives "a small insight into the real people behind the machinery of war".

Someone identified only as Lieutenant Kunkel sent out a statement as the Allies closed in and the network had to retreat to the German town of Cuxhaven.

The intercepted message, which was sent as he signed off on 7 May 1945 at 7.35am, said: "British troops entered Cuxhaven at 1400 on 6 May - from now on all radio traffic will cease - wishing you all the best. Lt Kunkel."

This was immediately followed by: "Closing down forever - all the best - goodbye."

By the end of the war, the network's outstations were spread across Europe from western Germany to the Baltic coast, sending reports about the development of German experimental weapons.

"These transcripts give us a small insight into the real people behind the machinery of war," Mr Comer added.

"While most of the UK was preparing to celebrate the war ending, and the last of the German military communicators surrendered, Bletchley staff - like today's GCHQ workers - carried on working to help keep the country safe."

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The recording is among a number of never-heard-before messages which have been publicly released, giving an insight into the final hours of a German communications network, according to GCHQ.