Albert Merz – Part 2
May 19, 2002
Dear Friends,
Last week, we began with a series of letters concerning a believer named Albert Merz who was convicted to die by beheading for refusal to join the German Army in World War II. The following two letters are from Albert after his conviction and while awaiting execution.
Berlin, February 3, 1941
My beloved all, I find it hard to write you today, not for my own sake, but rather as I know that this letter will bring you much grief. Therefore I want to ask you not to take it too hard. You know my faith and my hope: Christ is my life and to die is my profit. And do not cry on account of me if I have to suffer the worst, be firm and compose yourself. If I was sentenced to death on the 21st February and if I shall be decapitated, then you know that life, that has taken shape in me, goes back to its source and reshapes in time. When my time has ended and I have to part I want you to remember that man is destined to die and afterwards to undergo the judgment.
Tomorrow I shall file a petition for pardon. Perhaps the court will have mercy on me, and if it has not I will still hope to get permission to write you once again. Include me in your prayers. I want to come to a close now, trusting in God and His Kingdom and send you all my love.
Albert
Here is Albert’s letter to his family after failing to obtain a pardon from the German military authorities.
Brandenburg, April 3, 1941
My beloved all, I should like to use my last hours for writing you once again and asking you not to take it too hard for it is God’s will now (John 19.7, Romans 8, Isaiah 59).
On Friday the 4th April at 5.30 in the morning my time will have expired and my struggle therewith come to an end. It is my last wish that you may live in peace together and take care that none is lost. (2 Timothy).
Oh, my Beloved, if I only could write down on paper the thousand thoughts I have been addressing you with in silent conversation and still do. However, you can find many of them in the Good Book, especially the letters of the Apostles, the farewell address of Jesus in John etc., and I hope to see you again after my awakening.
With this I shall come to a close and you will understand, when I do not write more, it would be too much. And I send you kindest regards,
Yours,
Albert
Send my love to all Brothers and Sisters who are well disposed to me. Our Lord’s mercy be with you. Amen
Brother Albert Merz was executed by beheading on the following morning, April 4, 1941, for his refusal to fight in the German army.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ (Rom. 8:35-36)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12)
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