Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series
With special thanks as always to Tamara for her help in translating these Letters !
This is the second letter that Hebert writes home to his family. Sadly like other letters this is the letter only and the envelope is lost to time. This letter is a double sided A4 page that gives us more information than Herbert has done previously. This letter coming from end of October 1943.
The Feldpost in German reads as:
Russland, 24.10.43
Ihr Lieben!
Gestern erhielt ich wieder ein Packet mit
Leberwurst, Mettwurst usw. sowie Brief No. 1 mit
Schmalz, die anderen beiden habe ich ja schon er-
halten, und den Brief Nr. 7. Für alles danke
ich herzlichst. Zeitungen braucht Ihr nicht mehr
zu schicken, wir bekommen hier auch welche, und
sie kommen hier doch nicht an. Einmal habe ich
eine T.Z. bekommen. Von Liesa erhielt ich gleich-
falls ein Päckchen mit Kuchen, Zig. und eine Dose
Fisch u. Bonbon. Ich lebe augenblicklich wie der
Herrgott in Frankreich.
Ich verstehe garnicht, daß Ihr so wenig
Post bekommt, denn ich schreiben doch 2, 3 mal
die Woche, aber sie werden wohl noch kommen.
Du schreibst, liebe Mutti, ob ich Winterzeug
haben möchte. Es ist hier noch nicht so kalt
und leider kann ich nicht soviel schleppen.
Schicke bitte noch nichts. Das einzige wäre ein
Schal. Den kann man sich ja um den
Hals binden. Ich muß ja alles in die Packtasche
stopfen können, was ich an Habseligkeiten habe.
Das Wetter ist jetzt ziemlich herbstlich.
Es regnet den ganzen Tag. Ein Matsch ist
das hier.
Ich bin jetzt wieder bei meinen Kameraden.
14 Tage war ich als Karabinerschütze im Schützen-
graben. Ich bin froh, daß ich da wieder heraus
bin. Sonst geht es mir gut.
Nun schließe ich mit herzlichen Grüßen
an Euch Drei.
Euer Herbert.
N.P. Ich bin vollkommen gesund. Erkältung
habe ich noch nicht gehabt hier. Es geht wohl
gut, diesmal.
The Feldpost translated in English reads as:
Russia, 24.10.43
Dear ones!
Yesterday I received another parcel with
liver sausage, Mettwurst etc. as well as letter No. 1 with
lard, I have already received the other two, and letter No. 7.
Sincerely thank you for everything. You no longer need to send
newspapers, we get some here too, and
they don't arrive here. Once I received
a T.Z. once. From Liesa I received a parcel
with cake, cig. and a tin of fish and candy.
At the moment I'm living like
God in France.
I don't understand why you get so little mail, for
I write 2 or 3 times a week, but they will probably still come.
You write, dear Mutti, whether I would like to have
winter clothes. It is not so cold here yet
and unfortunately I can't carry so much.
Please don't send anything yet. The only thing maybe
would be a scarf. You can tie it around your neck.
I have to be able to stuff all my belongings into the pannier.
The weather is quite autumnal now.
It rains all day. It's very muddy here.
I am now back with my comrades.
I spent 14 days in the trenches as a rifleman .
I'm glad to be out of there again.
Otherwise I'm doing well.
Now I will close with warm greetings
to the three of you.
Yours, Herbert.
N.P. I am perfectly healthy.
I have not yet had a cold here. I think it's going
well, this time.
This is the second letter written by Herbert to his family in Kiel, Northern Germany. Hebert discusses recent mail he has received, thanking his family for goods sent from home to him. Hebert writes how he has received liver sausage, Mettwurst and other items from home in the first letter which also contained lard. Mettwurst is a strongly flavoured German sausage made from raw minced pork preserved by curing and smoking, often with garlic. These items of food a taste of home for Herbert and his fellow Kameraden whilst in service on the eastern front. Hebert is thankful for these items and also details how he has other two letters and the 7th letter.
Herbert also thanks his family for sending him these parcels as they contain newspapers. These were requested by Hebert in previous letters so that himself and fellow Kameraden can keep up to date with the news and words of the party from back home. With this Herbert writes how he no longer needs any newspapers as he can get some newspapers and such items where he currently is. Herbert the writes how he also received a parcel from "Liesa" (Another suggested family friend) who sent Herbert items of " cake, cig. and a tin of fish and candy." These all being items that Herbert would greatly benefit from whilst in service, as it would be extra on his allocated rations from the Wehrmacht. With this Herbert writes how he is "Living like God in France" a saying that means life is treating him pretty well and rightfully so with the many gifts Herbert is getting sent to him from home.
After this Herbert writes how he is confused at how his family is receiving such little mail from him. Herbert explaining how he writes at least two to three times a week, Hebert detailing that they will hopefully and eventually make their way home to his family. This showing the difficulties of postal; routes from the frontline home to Germany.
Herbert then addresses his "Mutti" (Mother) in regards to winter clothes being sent to him. Herbert replies that so far it isn't so cold and he is unable to take on any new items as he has no way of storing on carrying the items. With this Herbert asks that noting is sent to him at this moment but if something could be sent that possibly a scarf be sent or something of that nature so that he could wrap it around his neck for warmth and comfort. This is due to Herbert having to fit his belongings into a "Packtasche". This being a small backpack, not suggested to be a Tornister as that word isn't used in the original letter but likely that of a small rucksack or possibly a bread bag, in which Herbert must fit his belongings.
Herbert then addresses the climate of where he is currently based in Russland (Russia). Hebert detailing how the weather as become autumnal as he writes this letter. Rain setting in every day and that this results in muddy conditions. Hebert being back with his Kameraden to where he has spent the past 14 days on guard as a rifleman in a trench. Hebert writing how he is glad to back out at the frontline and in service. This comes as a result of Herbert being behind the lines and away from the frontline. With the only emersion in the war coming from casualties sustained to his Kompanie from bombardments by artillery from enemy forces when in billeted housing or from news of fighting read in newspapers or discussed from word of mouth. The latter which was most common for Herbert as mentioned in previous letters. This of which lead Herbert as recalled in previous letters to become very bored and longing for a return to the frontline or closer to the fighting.
Other than this Herbert recalls that he is keeping well and that he must close the letter now, wishing the three of his family back home in Kiel well. Hebert reinforcing how he is keeping by adding extra at the bottom of the letter with how he has not fallen ill or caught a cold yet. That he is perfectly healthy and it is going well for him this time, The letter signed of as others before, Euer Herbert. Yours, Herbert.