WW2 Dutch Resistance and legendary Jazz musician signed typed letter, 8x12 inches in size, Wout Steenhuis (23 ...

WW2 Dutch Resistance and legendary Jazz musician signed typed letter, 8x12 inches in size, Wout Steenhuis (23 February 1923 - 9 July 1985) was a Dutch multi-instrumentalist. Steenhuis was born in The Hague, Netherlands. As a student in occupied Holland he listened to black market jazz records - banned by the Germans as "decadent" - every day, using "illegal" equipment centred around a radio glued under a bookshelf which he used as an amplifier. He helped to found the famous Dutch Swing College Band in 1943, played his guitar at secret parties, and moved into a flat with Peter Schilperoort, the band's leader, to start on the road to becoming one of the country's top jazz musicians. He had originally planned to pursue a science degree, but, in 1940, the Germans forbade him going to university because his father was in England. He became active in the Dutch Resistance and was captured by the Germans in December 1944 and sent to a concentration camp at Amersfoort. He was among a lorry load of prisoners condemned to death when he escaped by leaping over the side, running across a minefield, and hiding in a wood. Soon he was back with the resistance near his home town. In May 1945, the day before the liberation of the Netherlands, Steenhuis's right elbow was shattered by a bullet in a battle with the Germans. He was unconscious for 4 days and awoke in a British military hospital to find that his arm had been set in such a way that he could never again play the guitar. Eventually he cajoled the busy surgeon into breaking the arm again and re-setting it so that he could return to music when he was discharged from the hospital. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99