Written, to his wife:
“Marie, my wife—I am with you to the last minute! This will help me to take it as a German! Even the heaven out there is dark. It’s raining. Our graves are far from home, but not forgotten. Marie, until we meet in a better world! May God be with you. My love to you, my heart to my country. Heil Hitler! Your Ed, always.”

— Eddie Kerling, convicted of espionage and conspiracy to commit sabotage, electric chair, Washington, D.C.
Executed August 8, 1942

Kerling was among the eight men who were part of Operation Pastorius, a Nazi sabotage mission. The plan: a series of attacks on American economic targets, such as the hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls.

To his American wife:
“Never thought they would take our life away. But as I write these lines I have control of my nerves again. If it only would not hurt so much, it would not be so hard…So my Alma, chin up, because I want you to be good and goodbye, until we may meet in a better world, may God bless you! I love you, Your Hermann.”

— Hermann Neubauer, convicted of espionage and conspiracy to commit sabotage, electric chair, Washington, D.C.
Executed August 8, 1942

Neubauer was a Nazi saboteur in the failed Operation Pastorius. His part of the assignment took him to Chicago. He was the last of the group to be captured when comrade George Dasch turned himself in. Though he had not actually committed an act of sabotage, he and the others were tried by a military tribunal and executed.

In a letter to his wife and daughter:
“These are the last lines I can write to you. I should like to tell you that I have always loved you and that I came here to make a better life for you, my dear ones. But unfortunately, God willed it otherwise. . . . Tell Kappe or one of his people that George Dasch and Peter Burger betrayed us. Begin a new life and think of me often.”

— Richard Quirin, convicted of espionage and conspiracy to commit sabotage, electric chair, Washington, D.C.
Executed August 8, 1942

Quirin, a machinist working for Volkswagen, was recruited to take part in Operation Pastorius, a Nazi plot to sabotage various economic targets in the United States. Quirin was a member of the first group of men involved in the plan, who were under the command of George Dasch. Their mission was foiled and all eight men were arrested when Dasch turned himself in and exposed the plot.