This is the 4th letter that Herbert has written to his family, this letter also mentions other names as detailed below. This letter was written on 26/12/1942, also now commonly known as Boxing day. The letter, as seen on the envelope attached was stamped and sent on 27/12/1942, Unfortunatley due to the way this letter was opened then year cannot be seen. This envelope is the same as the previous envelope, a Danish stationary type of envelope. This is due to Herbert spending his Christmas as detailed in the previous letter in Occupied Denmark.
The letter in German reads as:
O.U. den 26.12.1942
Liebe Eltern, liebe Hanne!
Schöne Grüße vom letzten Weihnachtsfeiertag sendet Euch Euer Herbert. Euren lieben Brief und auch den von Hanne, erhielt ich gerade am Heiligen Abend als wir bei der Schlagsahne Torte angelangt waren. Dann anschließend wurden die Pakete geöffnet. Ich bin wirklich schön bedacht worden. Vielen lieben Dank für Euer liebes Paket. Es ist alles gut zu gebrauchen. Für die Bücher habe ich jetzt die Festtage über ja Zeit und die Kuchen sind ja schon immer mein Fall gewesen, auch Giftnudeln habe ich nun für's erste genug. Von Lisa bekam ich ein Paket mit einer Sandtorte und Zigaretten und eines mit sonstigen Gebrauchsartikeln, von Tante Tine eins mit Plätzchen, von Tante Ilse dasselbe und noch eine kleine Mettwurst, von Tante Hedwig auch eine und das von Tante Erna will ich heute abholen. Sie schickt es hier an Bekannte. Also ich bin wirklich von allen bedacht worden und habe mich riesig gefreut. Jetzt will ich Euch ein bisschen davon schreiben, wie ich Heiligen Abend verbracht habe. Also um viertel 6 Uhr haben wir Kaffee und Kuchen gegessen, dann wurden die Pakete geöffnet und dann kamen die Getränke an die Reihe um halb 8 Uhr war alles blau und dann haben wir bis um 11 Uhr Unsinn gemacht. Gestern war alles verkatert. Heute fühle
ich mich wieder einigermaßen. Vorher war ich mit 4 Kameraden zur Kirche. Es war wirklich schön. Es ist mir noch nie so feierlich zu Mute gewesen wie heute morgen. Man denkt ja auch viel an zu Hause. Nachher gehe ich zu Johannsen´s und hole das Paket ab. Ich war schon mal dort und habe das Paket mit Hemden abgeholt. Es sind sehr nette Leute. Ich mußte gleich zum Kaffee da bleiben; leider bleiben wir nicht mehr lange. Nun will ich schließen, indem ich Euch ein frohes Neues Jahr wünsche.
Herzliche Grüße
Eurer Hebert.
N.S. Schickt bitte das Geld für Januar ab. Ich bin blank.
The Letter in English reads as:
26.12.1942
Dear parents, dear Hanne!
Yours Herbert sends you nice greetings from the last day of the Christmas holidays. I just received your dear letter and that from Hanne on Christmas Eve, when we got the whipped cream cake served. Then afterwards the packages were opened. I was given a lot of thought. Thank you very much for your lovely package. It's all good use. I now have time for the books during the festive season and the cakes have always been my thing, I also have enough "poison noodles" for now. From Lisa I got a package with a sand cake and cigarettes and one with other everyday items, from Aunt Tine one with biscuits, from Aunt Ilse the same and another small Mettwurst, from Aunt Hedwig also one and that from Aunt Erna I want to pick up today. She send it to friends here. So I was really thought of by everyone and I was really happy. Now I want to write to you a little bit about how I spent Christmas Eve. So at a quarter past six we ate coffee and cake, then the packages were opened and then it was the turn of the drinks, at half past eight everyone was drunk and then we did nonsense until 11.00. Everybody was hungover yesterday. Today
I feel more or less good again. Earlier today I went to church with 4 comrades. It was really nice. I have never felt so solemn as this morning. You also think a lot about home. Later I´ll go to Johannsen's and pick up the package. I've been there before and picked up the package with shirts. They are very nice people. I had to stay there for coffee right away; unfortunately we won't stay much longer. Now I want to close by wishing you a Happy New Year.
Best regards
Your Hebert.
N.S. Please send the money for January. I am broke
In this letter Herbert writes to his family as a summary of the last days of Christmas and also mentions Hanne again, its still not sure who Hanne is but she is mentioned in this letter. This is because Hanne has written to Herbert which he reciver on Christmas Eve.
Herbert recalls this memory to them as he details a whipped cream cake he enjoyed as he recived the letter from Hanne. Herbert thanks his family for their presents, he appreciates the thought. Herbert was gifted books and cake by his family which he thanks his family for as he now as time across the festive season to read and enjoy cake. Herbert the writes he recived "Giftnudeln habe" which translates as "I have poison noodles". Its not 100% confirmed what "Posion Noodles" are but suggested that they could be cigarettes. Herbert details he has enough of them, Herbert recieved some in addition to sand cake ( Simlar to a Light sponge cake). Herbert also details how he recieved everyday items, this could have been some hygine items such as razors and soap, or clothes. Something that would have greatly helped him when away in Denmark. Herbert then details another gift he recived from his Aunt Hedwig and Aunt Erna who both sent him Mettwurst ( A type of strong flavoured sausage made from raw minced pork preserved by curing and smoking, often with garlic) Herbert also explains how there was enough for his fellow Kameraden, to which they were most pleased. Likely at taste of home for most, reminding them of their familys and memories of back in Germany.
Herbert then details how he wishes to talk of how he spent Christmas eve, Herbert explains that "at a quarter past six we ate coffee and cake, then the packages were opened and then it was the turn of the drinks, at half past eight everyone was drunk and then we did nonsense until 11.00. Everybody was hungover yesterday" This detailing how relaxed the opening of packages was to which then turnwd to drinkinking and "nonsense" which can only be assumed of a drinking and comedic escapades to which led to everyone becoming hungover.
Herbert explains how he feels more or less good again today. This detailing he is still recovering from his drinking the day before. Herbert writes how today he visited church with 4 other kameraden. With his visit to church, Herbert writes how he is feeling very Solemn, this is seen as a serious reflective visit to Church. It is new to us interpreting this letter as we now learn Herbert has a belief in faith. It is not determined what faith but has shown Herberts belief and how he reflects at this time of year. With this Herbert writes how he thinks alot of home. Herbert writes how he will also visit Johannsen's and pick up some shirt, its written that Herbert has visited there before. Johannsen's is suggested as a store and likely to be a Chemist, this being appropriately named after Wilhelm Johannsen, a Danish Pharmacist. Herbert explains how the people at this place were so nice to him, he would stay for coffee there but couldnt stay long.
Herbert draws the letter to an end by writing of wishes of Happy New Year to his family, signing off the letter as before as "Eurer Hebert". Yours Herbert. Cheekly written just after as another form of PS as "N.S. Schickt bitte das Geld für Januar ab. Ich bin blank." This translates as "Please send the money for January. I am broke". It seems Herberts partying and time in Denmark has proved an expensive one! Much like any Christmas period, money is always spent. Herbert hoping for money to see him through to the New Year and early January days.