Excerpts from farewell letters of those shot by Nazi firing squads during the German occupation of France in the Second World War.
“Be courageous, ma chérie. It is no doubt the last time that I write you. Today, I will have lived.”
“They are going to rip me from this life that you gave me and that I clung to so.”
“I only did good, thought of easing misery, but for some time now the elements are raging and everything conspires against men like me … we quarrelled a few times, hurt each other for trifles…
This evening, I think of your sweetness, your kindness, of our sweet moments, those from long ago and those of yesterday, know well, my darling, one could not love you more than I did…
And I will fall asleep with your sweet image in my eyes and the taste of our last kisses that are not that distant, my sweet friend, my gentle little Lienne. Be sensible … Be reasonable. Love me, for a long time yet.
I kiss passionately your photograph and press it to my heart, the first photo of our youth, and the one from Luchon in which you are wearing flowers.“
“I dreamt a great deal, this last while, about the wonderful meals we would have when I was freed. You will have them without me, with family, but not in sadness. I relived … all my travels, all my experiences, all my meals. It is 8 am, it will be time to leave. I ate, smoked, drank some coffee. I do not see any more business to settle.”
“I still have the time to talk to you ma petite, as if you were still here close to me, on the other side of the wire mesh. For this last day you were beautiful like you had never been before and oh what grief is now yours. I would like to be in this moment still.”
“[Sorry] for the suffering I caused you, the suffering I am causing you, and that which I will cause you. Sorry to everyone for the evil that I did … for all the good that I did not do.
“I close the envelope by cherishing you and kissing you for the last time, again good kisses. I send you my wedding ring and a lock of hair that you will keep in memory of me …
They are giving me more paper, I take advantage to write to you again and to kiss you still once more … And the little ones, and the older ones, too. Still more kisses and think that I am yours, even in face of the death that is coming.“
“Already the last letter, and already I have to leave you! … Oh the road is beautiful, ah, truly! I know I must clench my teeth. Life was so beautiful; but let us hold on to, yes hold on to our laughs and our songs … Courage, joy; immense joy … I love you always, constantly. I kiss you, I hug you with all my strength. Long live life! Long live joy and love.”