To the Allied Control Council
I would have let you shoot me without further ado!
But it is not possible to hang the German Reichsmar-
schall! I cannot permit this, for Germany’s sake. Be-
sides, I have no moral obligation to submit to the jus-
tice of my enemies. I have therefore chosen the man-
ner of death of the great Hannibal.
.Turning the page, he continued the letter on the back:
It was clear from the outset that a death sentence
would be pronounced against me, as I have always re-
garded the trial as a purely political act by the victors,
but I wanted to see this trial through for my people’s
sake and I did at least expect that I should not be de-
nied a soldier’s death. Before God, my country, and
my conscience, I feel myself free of the blame that an
enemy tribunal has attached to me.Finally, he wrote a last letter to his wife and enclosed it in an en-
velope with a letter to the chaplain:
Nuremberg, October ,
Dear Pastor Gerecke!
Forgive me, but I had to do it like this for political
reasons. I have prayed long to my God and feel that I
am doing the right thing. (I would have let them
shoot me.) Please comfort my wife and tell her that
this was no ordinary suicide, and that she can rest as-
sured that God will still gather me up in his great
mercy.
God protect my dearest ones!
God bless you, dear pastor, evermore. Your
.