When faced with death, there is never a right or wrong response. And for some — including several folks who found themselves on death row — smiling through the pain is the best way to keep their heads held high through a painful end.
From a Soviet secret agent to a steadfast Chinese spy, here are nine photos purportedly depicting people smiling in the face of death.
1
“A member of the French resistance, smiling at a German firing squad in 1944.”
2
“Jack Sullivan was convicted of fatally shooting railroad officer John Bradbury in a gunfight. This photo was captured of him smoking a cigar with a smile on his face just moments before being executed by lethal gas at the state prison on May 17, 1936 in Florence, Arizona.”
3
“War hero smiling moments before he was executed.”
4
“An Iranian man smiles and waves at his nephew before getting hanged from a crane.”
5
“Captain Carlos Fortino Sámano, gives one final smile to his firing squad before his execution. Mexico City. March 2, 1917. Mexican Revolution.”
6
“Chinese guerrilla fighter Cheng Benhua smiling moment before execution by the Japanese. (Late 1938).”
7
Chinese death row inmate He Xiuling shares a laugh with a guard and fellow inmates hours before her execution.
8
“Chinese communist spy smiling and laughing immediately prior to his execution by the retreating KMT forces in Shanghai. In 1949, just 16 days before the PLA took Shanghai, Zhu Datong laughed in the face of death, well aware of the coming victory.”
9
“Soviet spy laughing through his execution in 1942 Finland.”
