THREE DAYS TO SAVE HONOUR

ASSOCIATION SAINT-MICHELLOISE DU SOUVENIR DE MAI 1940

Fighting on 16, 17 and 18 May 1940

FORGOTTEN FIGHTS

 A WAR BETWEEN EUROPEANS IS A CIVIL WAR. (Victor Hugo)

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Letter dated 11 September 1939 from the

Second Lieutenant LIBERGE

to his father on paper "Special Military School of St. Cyr."

Made available by Mr. Antoine de PONTBBRIAND (little nephew).

Copy in extenso.

Sheet 011.2

             My dear dad,

I have just written a letter on Rue Prémion, which you will probably receive at the same time.

If I write you a postbox, it is to settle a crucial question: tomorrow we arrive 320 peasants in the battalion, classes ranging from 1928 to 1935; gifts from physically fit people; for my part I receive about thirty in my Section.

We are now touching all the equipment needed to get into the campaign; so Friday or Saturday we will be ready to leave: maybe we will then give them some instruction in the army zone, maybe we will go directly online!...

If I have a minute, on the day of departure, I will send you a word, mailbox, so that you can announce it to mom, very slowly.

According to her letters, I realize very well, that she still has many illusions and I address you to make her abandon them with all your heart and your delicacy, well known, my dear father.

Personally, I tell you unequivocally, since you are valiant enough to know the truth naked, I do not retain any illusion: if by chance if the war ended quickly and we are not engaged, perhaps I will return to it; if we go to the front soon, which is in the normal order of things, you think that these robust classes are destined to make a big effort: you understand me.

It is up to us, which nothing attaches to life, to give the first examples: it is not the war in casoar and white gloves that I want to speak, an act of pure and simple madness.

I want to assure you only that I will do whatever it costs, until the end my duty as Section Head; you know that in 14-18 it was the most dangerous role; it will be the same again.

What I mean by these words is that a LIBERGE, worthy of the name, does not retreat unless there is an imperative order; I do not brawl, I think about the situation coldly: the order to retreat is something that happens very rarely; it should not even be counted; the conclusion must be reached.

These two feathers I sent you are not just a memory; consider them as a testament: they will tell you a little about me and remind you that to the end your son has been grateful for the sacrifices made for him.

I will be, perhaps, a little cruel; forgive me what a better dream for me (and my comrades are at the same point) than to die, without a way, at the head of my Section, in full assault, with on the sleeve, this beautiful galon, the dream of all my life.

This is without a way, the ideal of a small active sub-lieutenant: you are the only confidant.

In this capacity I beg you to keep this letter for you, to make it known to anyone, only on the day when I am reported missing; if by chance I came back, you would burn it.

Farewell, dad, as the song says, so touching: it is only a goodbye because God will reunite us one day.