75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy: ‘What more honourable death could I die? I die gladly for my Fatherland.’ Letter from Henri Fertet

Today we remember those like Henri Fertet who gave their lives for a free world. Shot at the age of 16 during the dark years of the war, he wrote a letter on the eve of his execution which is a genuine expression of courage and which I wished to share with you. Through this letter i would like to salute the young people of yesterday, but also the young people of today. In young people, from generation to generation, there is ‘commitment, courage, and good humour,’ as young Henri put it.

“My dear Parents,

My letter is going to cause you great suffering, but I have seen your tremendous courage and I am sure that you will continue to be courageous, if only out of love for me.

You cannot know how much I have mentally suffered in my cell, how I have suffered from not seeing you, from only feeling your tender kindness from a distance. For these 87 days in my cell, I have missed your love more than your packages, and I have often asked for your forgiveness for the suffering I have caused you, all the suffering I have caused you. Have no doubt as to how much I love you today because, before, I loved you more out of routine, but now I understand everything you have done for me and I think I have achieved true filial love, real filial love. Maybe a comrade will talk to you about me, about the love I told him about. I hope he will fulfil this sacred mission.

Please thank everyone who has been thinking about me, especially our closest friends and relatives; tell them how confident I am in eternal France. Give a kiss to my grandparents, my uncles, aunts and cousins, Henriette. Shake Mr Duvernet’s hand for me; say hello to all. Tell our priest that I have been thinking of him in particular. I would like to thank Monsignor for the great honour he gave me, I hope I have been worthy of that honour. As I fall, I would also like to salute by schoolmates. On this subject, Hennemann owes me a packet of cigarettes, Jacquin my book on prehistoric man. Give “The Count of Monte Cristo” back to Emourgeon, 3 chemin Fran?ais, behind the station. Give Maurice André, of La Maltournée, the 40 grams of tobacco I owe him.

I leave my little library to Pierre, my schoolbooks to my dear daddy, my collections by my dear mummy, but she should be careful with the prehistoric hatchet and the Gaulish sword sheath.

I am dying for my Fatherland. I want a free France and happy Frenchmen. Not a proud France, the leading nation in the world, but a working France, hard working and honest.

May the French people be happy, that is what counts most. In life, you have to know how to enjoy your happiness.

For me, do not worry. I will keep my courage and my good humour to the end, and I will sing “Sambre et Meuse” because you, my dear mummy, taught it to me.

Be strict and tender with Pierre. Check his work and make him work hard. Do not accept any slacking. He must be worthy of me. Out of three children, he is the only one left. He must succeed.

The soldiers are coming for me. I am hurrying. My writing may be shaky; but it is because I have a tiny pencil. I do not fear death; my conscience is at peace.

Papa, please pray. Think that, if I die, it is for my own good. What more honourable death could I die? I die gladly for my Fatherland. The four of us will see each other again, soon in Heaven.

What is a hundred years?

Mummy, remember:

“And these avengers will have new defenders who, after their death, will have successors.”

Farewell, death is calling me. I do not want to be blindfolded or tied up. I send my love to you all. Still, it is hard to die.

Love to you. Vive la France.

Sentenced to death at age 16

H. Fertet

Forgive the spelling mistakes, no time to proofread.

From: Henri Fertet in Heaven, with God."