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Letters to Freya: 1939-1945
The compelling true story of a man of conscience at the heart of the Third Reich.
In the years when most Germans were abetting a policy of conquest and genocide, Helmuth James von Moltke, an aristocratic and devoutly Christian young lawyer drafted into the German Intelligence Service, was working tirelessly against it. Throughout the war, he fought through the labyrinthine insanity of wartime bureaucracy on behalf of Jews and foreign prisoners and organized a clandestine resistance to the Nazi regime.
From 1939 to the eve of his execution from treason in 1945, von Moltke wrote letters to his wife, Freya. Gathered here, these letters transcend their format to create at once a horrifying record of the daily workings of the Third Reich and an inspiring testament to the powers of love, courage, and conscience in the most conscienceless of times.
“Remarkable . . . A unique historical document, a morality tale, a love story, all set within the very heart of the Third Reich and, in a real sense, in the soul of a man of conscience.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review
“The words of this extraordinary patriot and humanitarian echo with astonishing relevance [and] stand on their own as testament to the impact for good a courageous individual can still exert.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“One of the great books of the twentieth century, [telling] a story of human failure, of overwhelming odds, of patience, and of grace.”—Christian Science Monitor
In the years when most Germans were abetting a policy of conquest and genocide, Helmuth James von Moltke, an aristocratic and devoutly Christian young lawyer drafted into the German Intelligence Service, was working tirelessly against it. Throughout the war, he fought through the labyrinthine insanity of wartime bureaucracy on behalf of Jews and foreign prisoners and organized a clandestine resistance to the Nazi regime.
From 1939 to the eve of his execution from treason in 1945, von Moltke wrote letters to his wife, Freya. Gathered here, these letters transcend their format to create at once a horrifying record of the daily workings of the Third Reich and an inspiring testament to the powers of love, courage, and conscience in the most conscienceless of times.
“Remarkable . . . A unique historical document, a morality tale, a love story, all set within the very heart of the Third Reich and, in a real sense, in the soul of a man of conscience.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review
“The words of this extraordinary patriot and humanitarian echo with astonishing relevance [and] stand on their own as testament to the impact for good a courageous individual can still exert.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“One of the great books of the twentieth century, [telling] a story of human failure, of overwhelming odds, of patience, and of grace.”—Christian Science Monitor
452 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 15, 2025
What a wild ride. It took me quite some time to read it. I can't help but put myself in his shoes . . . wondering how I would feel watching the country I love turn into what Germany became during these years of his life. How anyone survived during WWII is a true testament to humanity's resilience. I felt for his family . . . separated during the war due to his work anyway and then forever with his death that they knew there was a chance of coming. It was strange to start reaching the letters I knew were getting close to the last and he had no idea. Just living life then suddenly arrested. Arrested then tried. Then executed. His faith held him to the end and that was lovely too.
He had a beautiful quote about humanity amidst tragedy: "One should overcome this defense indifference, one should not put on armor, one must bear it. In order to endure death and horror one tends to kill one's own humanity, which is a much greater danger than not being able to bear it."
He had a beautiful quote about humanity amidst tragedy: "One should overcome this defense indifference, one should not put on armor, one must bear it. In order to endure death and horror one tends to kill one's own humanity, which is a much greater danger than not being able to bear it."
January 10, 2025
Uff.
I took a long time to read this. TOO long. I don’t know if my start date I entered here is remotely correct. I would not recommend reading it as I did. I took too many significant breaks.
I do, however, recommend reading it. It is a hard read. They are his letters to Freya (as the title suggests) with very little explanation given. I had to read almost every single one of the footnotes to understand what was happening.
It was well worth it though. Worth it for us all to understand the hearts and minds of those who stood by their consciences in the darkest points of history.
His last letter before his execution is stunning and I didn’t get through it without many tears.
I took a long time to read this. TOO long. I don’t know if my start date I entered here is remotely correct. I would not recommend reading it as I did. I took too many significant breaks.
I do, however, recommend reading it. It is a hard read. They are his letters to Freya (as the title suggests) with very little explanation given. I had to read almost every single one of the footnotes to understand what was happening.
It was well worth it though. Worth it for us all to understand the hearts and minds of those who stood by their consciences in the darkest points of history.
His last letter before his execution is stunning and I didn’t get through it without many tears.
November 29, 2017
An amazing story, even more astounding because it is true.
February 5, 2018
I read the "Selections of" edition by The Trinity Forum. Great insight into the man who was a light during World War II.
April 29, 2009
As a collection of letters that were never intended to be published by the author, but rather simply personal letters to his wife, there is no real room for criticism. As the testament of a man living under the most disquieting of circumstances and his attempt to respond coherently to the moral, spiritual, and political bankruptcy surrounding him, they are without peer. His obvious love for his country and his desire to find a way through the mess for all of them calls -- indeed, demands -- any who sense a similar decline in their own culture to similar sacrifice and service. And this most notably came at a price: years spent mostly away from his family and his beloved home, months in prison, and ultimately his execution.
That said, this book is probably better paired with a good biography of Moltke; one could wish for even more insight into his actions and endeavors with the Kreisau Circle, which may make the book even more challenging and insightful into how one could respond to the degradation of one's own culture and nation.
That said, this book is probably better paired with a good biography of Moltke; one could wish for even more insight into his actions and endeavors with the Kreisau Circle, which may make the book even more challenging and insightful into how one could respond to the degradation of one's own culture and nation.
December 13, 2013
One of the benefits that Louis Kim, my only friend on Facebook -- I never thought I would get one since I had vowed to say off the social media -- has given to me is Goodreads, bringing back in fits and starts memories of books read long ago.
One of those works is this one, which I had thorougly forgotten. I kept looking at von Stauffenberg, remembering that the letters were to the wife of the author, which finally led me to Helmut von Moltke (one of the great names in the German military history of World War I I think) and his letters to his wife.
Caught in a war he did not want, he had to fight bravely and die for the July 20 plot. The letters are marvelous, human love, fear, anger, despair...
One of those works is this one, which I had thorougly forgotten. I kept looking at von Stauffenberg, remembering that the letters were to the wife of the author, which finally led me to Helmut von Moltke (one of the great names in the German military history of World War I I think) and his letters to his wife.
Caught in a war he did not want, he had to fight bravely and die for the July 20 plot. The letters are marvelous, human love, fear, anger, despair...
February 23, 2016
As has been said - difficult to review a collection of letters from a bloke who imagined a Germany along the lines of Merkel's Germany (where refugees want to get in) - but was destined to live and die in Nazi Germany.
A very interesting insight of a good person in a situation that ultimately cost him and his colleagues their lives.
A very interesting insight of a good person in a situation that ultimately cost him and his colleagues their lives.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews