Essen, 4th May 2025
Dear Colonel Foster-Brown,
On 8th May we will be celebrating the end of World War II. As chairman of the Deutsch-Britsche Gesellschaft Ruhr I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the British Armed Forces for liberating Germany from the scourge of National Socialism and for laying the foundations for „Unity and Justice and Freedom“ in the Ruhr and beyond.
The Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft (then The Deutsch-Englische Gesellschaft) which was founded by the British re-education officer Robert Birley jointly with Lilo Milchsack a German citizen from Düsseldorf is a shining example for the spirit of reconciliation and peace, which was to become a hallmark of our relationship ever since.
I can assure you that we will be committed to preserving and enhancing the understanding and „freundship“ between citizens of both our nations in the years to come thus making a contribution to peace in Europe.
With my best wishes to you, your comrades and to the veterans of the British Army
Bernhard Nadorf
P.S. Please find attached a letter to Her Majesty the late Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her visit to Bergen-Belsen and her reply.
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Dear Herr Nadorf,
Thank you for email and the kind sentiments about the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of WW2, its significance, and the strong relationships which have since been forged. Relationships which saw post-war occupiers, become neighbours, friends and allies, and which are as important as ever with the threat of war to the east.
It was also fascinating to see the historical Royal correspondence exchanges that you had in 2015.
I send you and the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft my best wishes and my hope that the good work of the society in enhancing friendships and understanding endure long into the future.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Mike
Col ME Foster-Brown (Mike) | Commander NATO Forward Holding Base Sennelager (NFS) | Normandy Barracks
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Dear Bernhard,
On behalf of Brigadier (RM) Jonathan Sear, Defence Attaché to Germany, and the wider British Forces, thank you and the members of the Gesellschaft for your generous tribute and message on the occasion of VE day. Thank you also for the fascinating letters – of especial interest as my wife’s Grandfather was a medical officer engaged in the liberation of Bergen Belsen in 1945. They demonstrate the enduring friendship between our two countries over many centuries which has been further demonstrated by the commitment of the incoming Federal Government to a Friendship Treaty with the UK.
I look forward to joining you for your event in December.
Cofion cynnes
Ollie
OER MAJOR (He/Him) | Lieutenant Colonel | R WELSH | British Army Liaison Officer to the German Army for Force Development | British Liaison Officer to the Bundeswehr Joint Support Command | Army Concepts and Capability Development Centre (ACCDC)