The title, Last Letters—The Final Thoughts, doesn’t reflect entirely their reality. The letters that were sent or received were often checked and edited by the Nazis, especially the letters in the camps. The Red Cross distributed the posts. The words in the letters may not have always been the final thoughts, but they may have been the last words seen by loved ones. Below are some examples of some of those final letters.
The Last Telegram from Erna and Arnold Korn.
These words were written by Erna and Arnold Korn in their last telegram from Berlin to their son Walter and his wife Chava (Chawa) on Kibbutz Matzuva, a month before the former were sent to their deaths in Auschwitz.
21 December 1942
Sender:
Korn Eliyahu
Matzuba Group
Post Office, Nahariya
We both, all the relatives, [and] Gerda, are healthy. Expecting baby at the end of January. Hope Reni, Paula and Oskar are well. Work is good. We were happy to get your letter.
Kisses, Chava [and] Eliyah
Sincere thanks for your words. Hope you are happy parents. We are both fine. No news of our dearest ones. Gerda is happy that you are well. Kisses.
Mother, Father
11 February 1943
Note written by Bella Kaminski from the train deporting her to Auschwitz.
Date unknown, Belgium. Language: German
“I’m leaving, am healthy, don’t worry, with the help of God we will soon see each other again”
Postcard written by Otto Bondy to his children
Otto was a prisoner of the Malines transit camp (Belgium) Hasselt, 20/9/43 (September 20, 1943)
“Dear Family,
We are still on this journey. I cannot complain, there is much variety on this journey.
Someone tried to escape and was shot but not killed. It was bad luck that I lost my good shoes.
The journey goes to Holland (Haeren). I hope we can write from there. It should be a good camp – secluded. We are together with people from Belg. J.
Greetings and kisses
Otto”
This one is not a letter as such, but a drawing.
Page that nine-year-old Zalman Levinson sent from Riga to his aunt, Agnes Hirschberg, in Eretz Israel
“Thank you for the present. Zalman Levinson”
I want to reiterate the drawing was from a 9 year old boy
The Last Letter From Aron Liwerant
Aron Liwerant wrote these words on a deportation train in France to his daughter, Berthe. Aron was murdered in Majdanek. Berthe survived.
“March 3 1943
Dear Berthe. It is already day four. I am now in the railroad car. We are surely traveling to Germany. I am also certain we are going to work. We are about 700 people, 23 railroad cars. In each car, there are two gendarmes. This is a commercial railroad car, but it is neat with benches and a heater. Of course, German railroad cars. Of course, without compartments. They put a pail in it. Imagine the impression this makes. Not everyone can use it. You have to be strong in every situation.
I hope, my child, that you receive all my letters. If you can, keep them for a memento. Dear Berthe, I enclose two lottery tickets. I don’t have a newspaper. I believe I will be able to write a letter to Aunt Paula. I hope, my child, that you will know how to behave as a free person, even though you are without your parents for now. Don’t forget that you must survive, and don’t forget to be a Jew and also a human being. Tell this also to Simon. Remain free people and observe everything with open eyes. Don’t be influenced by first impressions. Know that you cannot open up a person to look inside, at his concealed thoughts, if he has a serious face, or even if he laughs and is pleasant. I don’t mean one specific thing only, but everything that lives around you and everything you see. Both false thoughts and honest thoughts are often blurred, and you should watch how a person behaves in your presence. You don’t see the falsehoods or the honesty of a person in one day. You understand that my advice is for your benefit. Always remember these ideas. My dear child, I think this letter will be my last because we are nearing Paris. If I can – I will write again. My dear Bertshi, take care of your health, don’t drink cold drinks when you sweat so I will be able to see my healthy children once again. Tell Simon everything I have written you. Tell him to study and be a good student, because he is gifted. I am finishing my letter. Many kisses. I am going with confidence that you will grow up and be a good, healthy and smart girl.
Your Father, hoping to see you soon”
Sources
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1941/levinson.asp
https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1943/index.asp
History of Sorts 
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