*When you grow up, you’ll read this letter from your dad. He wrote it 3 hours before falling under the firing squad’s bullets.
I love you so much, my little boy, so, so much. I leave you alone with your little darling mommy. Love her most of all.Make her happy, so happy.
Replace your daddy-bear with her. She’s so good your mommy, and your daddy loves her so much Console her, my darling little boy, support her. You’re everything to her now. Give her all the joy. Be good and brave.I will fall bravely, my darling little Microbe, for your happiness [and that of] all children and all mothers.
Keep for me a tiny corner in your heart. .A tiny corner, but all mine. Don’t forget your daddy-boy. My dear little son, I see your smiling face again, I hear your cheerful voice. I see you with all my eyes. You are all our happiness, mine and that of your darling mother.Obey your mother, love her above all else, never cause her sorrow. She has already suffered so much. Give her so much happiness and joy.My last moments. I’m only thinking of you, my darling little boy and your beloved mom. “*
Worldly_Tank_5408 on
I’ve learned the most effective anti-depressant to take while reading historical scholarship is to not read historical scholarship
Ceterum_Censeo_ on
“I must not allow myself to dwell on the personal – there is no room for it here. Also it is demoralising. But I do not want to die. Not that I mind for myself. If it be that I am to go, I am ready. But the thought that I may never see you or our darling baby again turns my bowels to water.
…My one consolation is the happiness that has been ours. Also my conscience is clear that I have always tried to make life a joy for you. I know that if I go you will not want. That is something.
But it is the thought that we may be cut off from each other which is so terrible and that our babe may grow up without my knowing her and without her knowing me. It is difficult to face. And I know your life without me would be a dull blank.
Yet you must never let it become wholly so, for you will be left with the greatest challenge in all the world; the upbringing of our baby. God bless that child, she is the hope of life to me.
My darling, au revoir. It may well be that you will only have to read these lines as ones of passing interest. On the other hand, they may well be my last message to you. If they are, know through all your life that I loved you and baby with all my heart and soul, that you two sweet things were just all the world to me. I pray God I may do my duty, for I know, whatever that may entail, you would not have it otherwise.”
The words of Captain Charles May, written to his wife and baby daughter in June 1916, just before the Battle of the Somme. He was hit mere minutes after going over the top, dying before sunset on the first day of the battle.
Pierre8747 on
What’s worse it’s when it’s unexpected and you’re unprepared, I remember when reading Stahlgewittern from Ernst Jünger that his description of the shock he felt when describing his company getting anihilated by a stray shell was rough especially since most of the time he came out as calm and in control of the situation, here I felt bad and even sick, I know some soldiers that were introduced before died but also a lot of unknown people too and I remember feeling as shocked as the man described himself.
Geniuscani_ on
As the war ends for me…
History-Afficionado on
Reading war letter and description of combat is a quick and sure fire way for some extreme sadness or depression. No wonder only few that live through these events ever return to normalcy…
6 Comments
Okay here the one that geniuely hit my soft heart.
Letter written by [Epstein Joseph](https://fusilles-40-44.maitron.fr/spip.php?article24842&id_mot=10754) before being executed in 1944 by a german firing squad
*”My little Microbe, my son,*
*When you grow up, you’ll read this letter from your dad. He wrote it 3 hours before falling under the firing squad’s bullets.
I love you so much, my little boy, so, so much. I leave you alone with your little darling mommy. Love her most of all.Make her happy, so happy.
Replace your daddy-bear with her. She’s so good your mommy, and your daddy loves her so much Console her, my darling little boy, support her. You’re everything to her now. Give her all the joy. Be good and brave.I will fall bravely, my darling little Microbe, for your happiness [and that of] all children and all mothers.
Keep for me a tiny corner in your heart. .A tiny corner, but all mine. Don’t forget your daddy-boy. My dear little son, I see your smiling face again, I hear your cheerful voice. I see you with all my eyes. You are all our happiness, mine and that of your darling mother.Obey your mother, love her above all else, never cause her sorrow. She has already suffered so much. Give her so much happiness and joy.My last moments. I’m only thinking of you, my darling little boy and your beloved mom. “*
I’ve learned the most effective anti-depressant to take while reading historical scholarship is to not read historical scholarship
“I must not allow myself to dwell on the personal – there is no room for it here. Also it is demoralising. But I do not want to die. Not that I mind for myself. If it be that I am to go, I am ready. But the thought that I may never see you or our darling baby again turns my bowels to water.
…My one consolation is the happiness that has been ours. Also my conscience is clear that I have always tried to make life a joy for you. I know that if I go you will not want. That is something.
But it is the thought that we may be cut off from each other which is so terrible and that our babe may grow up without my knowing her and without her knowing me. It is difficult to face. And I know your life without me would be a dull blank.
Yet you must never let it become wholly so, for you will be left with the greatest challenge in all the world; the upbringing of our baby. God bless that child, she is the hope of life to me.
My darling, au revoir. It may well be that you will only have to read these lines as ones of passing interest. On the other hand, they may well be my last message to you. If they are, know through all your life that I loved you and baby with all my heart and soul, that you two sweet things were just all the world to me. I pray God I may do my duty, for I know, whatever that may entail, you would not have it otherwise.”
The words of Captain Charles May, written to his wife and baby daughter in June 1916, just before the Battle of the Somme. He was hit mere minutes after going over the top, dying before sunset on the first day of the battle.
What’s worse it’s when it’s unexpected and you’re unprepared, I remember when reading Stahlgewittern from Ernst Jünger that his description of the shock he felt when describing his company getting anihilated by a stray shell was rough especially since most of the time he came out as calm and in control of the situation, here I felt bad and even sick, I know some soldiers that were introduced before died but also a lot of unknown people too and I remember feeling as shocked as the man described himself.
As the war ends for me…
Reading war letter and description of combat is a quick and sure fire way for some extreme sadness or depression. No wonder only few that live through these events ever return to normalcy…