The story behind a 10€ find: Documents of a Resistance member murdered in Sachsenhausen
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a discovery from my collection that really puts things into perspective. A while ago, I bought a small group of documents for just 10€. After researching the name, I realized the historical weight they carry.
These are the Marriage Certificate (1917) and the Death Certificate (1941) of Friedrich (Fritz) Hennes from Eupen (Belgium).
The Background:
Fritz Hennes was a police commissioner. My research revealed that he was active in the resistance against the National Socialist regime. This led to his arrest and deportation to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, where he died in 1941.
I have attached a photo of Fritz Hennes himself, as well as a photo of his Stolperstein (stumbling stone) in Eupen, which serves as a memorial for him today.
Holding the official death certificate issued by the registry office in Oranienburg—documenting the end of a life in a concentration camp—is a sobering feeling, especially since I found it for the price of a small snack.
Coming from a family with its own history in the resistance and survivors of the camps, I feel a responsibility to preserve these papers. I am currently in contact with the local archives in his hometown to share digital copies for their records so his story remains complete.
Has anyone else stumbled upon documents that revealed such a powerful personal story?