I don't believe he ever lapsed in the faith. Only last night I watched a docuмentary about him and it mentioned he had to borrow his wife's shoes to go to work. Once or twice he stayed in bed as to give his dinner to a family member.
The outrage at his execution whilst sitting in a chair and wounded possibly saved about 100 men from execution. The doctor present regarded him as a brave man. He held on to the chair and looked straight ahead whilst waiting for the volley of shots.