François Wehr (1923 – 1944)
François Wehr was born in Bourglinster on 30 March 1923. He grew up here together with his 3 siblings.
From 6 October 1942 to 31 December 1942, François Wehr was called up for the Reich‘s Arbeitsdienst (RAD). The RAD was part of the National Socialists' education, and young men were called up for 6 months of Arbeitsdienst (work service) before their military service. He also received further training as a grenadier (formerly a rifleman).
On 14 January 1943, François was finally forced into the Wehrmacht: he was part of the Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 203 Berlin-Spandau.
During 1943, probably while on leave, François Wehr did not report back to his battalion and, according to the military laws of the Wehrmacht, was declared a deserter.
Unfortunately for François Wehr, he was caught and imprisoned. He was held in the Bitburg Wehrmacht detention centre. The Field War Court Div. No. 462 Trier Branch then sentenced him to death on 14 April 1944.
The sentence was to be carried out by firing squad in Frankfurt am Main on 23 May 1944.
On 23 May 1944, François Wehr wrote the following parting letter:
Dear parents and brothers and sisters!
I would like to write you a few lines today. It has been many months since we last saw each other. I hope you are all still alive and in good health. My dear ones, unfortunately we will not see each other again, which we all hoped for. God wanted it that way and there is nothing we can do about it.
So your son Franz sends you his last greetings and kisses. Best regards to all relatives and acquaintances.
Do not weep, my dear ones, because I am no longer with you; do not grieve because God took me to Himself. Farewell, remember me, when the days flow away, no, that no one flees where I am forgotten. Goodbye on the other side, Praised be Jesus Christ, for ever and ever, Amen.
Franz
Text: Ninon Schaack and Julie Zirnheld (both 3CCG)
Sources: ANLux CR-3431, ANLux CDRR, L-C-46/095, image of François Wehr from the „Archiv des Enrôlés de Force“, Bescheid aus dem Bundesarchiv, parting letter from the Eiffes-Wehr family.
