Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This is the third Feldpost letter that Herbert writes home to his family in 1944. The previous being written just five days earlier on the 5th January 1944. Both are written from Russland (Russia) as Herbert updates his family back in Kiel of his time in service. The previous letter being a brief single page in comparison to this Feldpost letter which details more home to Herbert's family.

The Feldpost reads as:

Russl. 10.1.44

Ihr Lieben!

Nun wird es ja mal wieder die höchste

Zeit, daß ich ein Lebenszeichen von mir gebe.

Aber was soll man auch immer schreiben. Es

passiert ja doch nicht viel Neues.

Die lieben Briefe vom 22. u. 26. Dezember

habe ich erhalten. Habe mich sehr dazu gefreut

besonders zu dem vom 2. Weihnachtstag. Ich habe

mir alles so richtig vorstellen können, wie Du es

mir schriebst, liebe Mutti, hoffen wir das bald

eine andere Zeit kommt und das wir unsere

schönen Feste, wie früher, gemeinsam erleben

können. - Mit der Arbeit seid Ihr ja gut klar-

gekommen. Ich habe oft gedacht, wie Ihr wohl

zurechtkommt; aber es geht ja gewöhnlich immer

besser als man denkt.

Es war ja schade, daß Liesa Euch am

1. Weihnachtstag verpaßt hat. Sie schrieb mir

einmal, daß sie Euch gerne besucht hätte; aber

sie hätte nicht so recht den Mut. Ich freue

mich auch, daß Hanne sie mit in die Operette

genommen hat. Sicher werden sie sich beide gut

amüsiert haben. Die beiden haben sich ja auch

am Strand, während meines Urlaubs, gut

verstanden.

Liebe Mutti, Deinen Rat habe ich

zur Kenntnis genommen und werde mir

ihn gut überlegen. Ich weiß ja, daß Du es

nur gut mit mir meinst; aber ich kann

mich nicht entschließen. Es ist, glaube ich,

auch besser wir besprechen es persönlich

miteinander, wenn ich in den Urlaub komme.

Jedenfalls bin ich Dir dankbar. Ich habe es

noch garnicht gewußt, daß Liesa wieder krank

war. Denn ich habe seit 14 Tagen, seit dem 26.12.

keine Post mehr von ihr bekommen. Ich warte

ja jeden Tag, und mache mich auch allerhand

Sorgen; aber hier muß man ja geduldig sein.

Vor einigen Tage hatten Ihr ja wieder

einen schweren Angriff zu bestehen. Ich bin ganz

beruhigt, dann einige Kameraden bekamen schon

am nächsten und übernächsten Tag bescheid,

daß sie Totalschaden hatten; und anderen

auch mein Gruppenführer, er wohnt in der

Karlstraße und Anton Mattusseck, der Euch

damals besuchte, als ich noch im Lazarett lag.

Hoffentlich setzt die Vergeltung bald ein

damit wenigstens in der Heimat die Ruhe

wieder einkehrt. Dann werden wir wohl auch

mit dem Iwan fertig.

Heute brachte mir ein Melder von

Lindemann die Mettwurst und das Stück

Speck mit, vielen Dank. Er liegt etwa

eine Stunde von hier in Stellung. In den

nächsten Tagen werde ich ihn mal besuchen.

Hermann Müller ist auch vom Urlaub

wiedergekommen, er mußte am 26.12. wieder

fahren. Günter Lamp ist jetzt zu Hause,

bei den nächsten wird Artur Petersen

wohl mit dabei sein.

Nun will ich schließen.

Viele herzliche Grpße,

Ihr Lieben

Euer Herbert

The Feldpost Translated in English reads as:

Russ. 10.1.44

Dear all!

Now it's time again for me to give you a sign of life.

But what can I ever write. There is

not much new happening after all.

The dear letters of 22 and 26 December

I have received. I was very pleased to receive them

especially the one from 2nd Christmas Day.

I could really imagine everything as you wrote it to me

dear mum, let's hope that another time will come soon

and that we can celebrate together, as we used to.

You have coped well with the work.

I have often wondered how you manage all the things,

but usually you always go better than one could imagine.

It was a pity that Liesa missed you on Christmas Day.

She wrote to me once that she would have liked to visit you, but

she didn't quite have the courage. I am also glad

that Hanne took her to the operetta.

I'm sure they will both have a good time. They also got along

well on the beach during my holiday.

Dear mum, I have taken note of your advice and will

think it over carefully. I know that you

only mean well with me; but I can't

make up my mind. It is, I think,

better we discuss it personally

with each other when I go on holiday.

Anyway, I'm grateful to you. I didn't realise

that Liesa was ill again.

Because I haven't received any mail from her for 14 days, since 26.12.

I've been waiting every day, and I'm also very worried

but you have to be patient here.

A few days ago you had another

serious attack. I am quite

reassured by the fact that some of my comrades got the information

the next day and the day after that,

that they had total losses; and others

including my squad leader, who lives in

Karlstrasse and Anton Mattusseck,

who visited you when I was still in hospital.

Hopefully the retribution will begin soon

so that at least at home peace

returns. Then we will probably also be finished

with the Ivan.

Today a messenger from

Lindemann brought me the sausage and the piece of

bacon, thank you very much. He's in position about

an hour from here. In the next few days

I'll pay him a visit.

Hermann Müller has also returned from holiday,

he had to leave again on 26.12.

Günter Lamp is now at home,

Artur Petersen will probably be on leave soon.

Now I will close.

Many warm greetings,

Dear ones

Your Herbert

Herbert starts the letter by addressing his family that he is still alive, however that there isn't really too much to say, this contradicts itself as Herbert then goes on to write a more detailed letter than previous letters.

Herbert details from this that he received letters from the 22nd and the 26th of December 1943, Herbert expressing gratitude for these letters, especially that from the 26th. Herbert detailing that he could really imagine everything as they wrote it to him. Herbert extending his thanks to his family as he mentions his "Mutti" (Mother) at this difficult time during the Christmas period. Herbert writes that he hopes that another time will come soon when they can be together to celebrate Christmas as a family as they once used to before the war. These times away from home during the war was tough on all Soldaten across the Wehrmacht.

Herbert extends the wishes to his Mutti by saying that she has coped really well maintaining the shop at work, as previously suggested that Herbert's family runs a shop back home in Kiel. Herbert details that he can never understand how his Mutti can manage to organise such work.

Herbert then moves to writing more about family and friends with the mention of "Liesa"who sadly didn't see Herbert's mother at Christmas, Herbert mentioning that Liesa did want to visit as she had wrote to him expressing this but didn't have the courage, possibly a distant family friend or relation that was close to Herbert when he was at home. This is further detailed by "Hanne" taking Liesa to the operetta (A type of theatre performance with spoken and musical opera dialog). Herbert assuring his mother they had a good time as he recalls they were good friends when Herbert was home for holiday when they visited the beach.

Herbert then addresses his mother with a discussion they seem to be having privately through letters that are not discussed openly in the return letter. Something Herbert hopes to discuss in person when he has some leave and possibly another beach holiday. It is assumed that Herbert wrote this letter in stages or possibly started it to finish when received other letters as Herbert writes again about Liesa, not knowing she was ill again and Herbert expresses he is now worried as he hasn't heard from her for 14 days, since 26.12. Herbert expressing worry as not heard anything but is patient and hopeful he may hear from them soon.

The talk then moves to talking about home, which for Herbert is Kiel, Northern Germany. Herbert's family living here saw previous letters mention the allied raids and British attacks on the city. Here Herbert mentions again that a attack occurred at his hometown. Herbert hearing this news from some of his fellow Kameraden as he is serving somewhere in Russland (Russia) on the Eastern front. Far from home staying connected by his letters , Herbert details getting this news and then hearing further that there was sadly many losses from this recent attack on Kiel. Herbert writing that his "Gruppenführer" (Senior Group Leader) who lived on "Karlstrasse" died in this attack and sadly "Anton Mattusseck" who visited Herbert's mum when he was recovering in hospital back in Early 1943. Anton sadly passing in this attack too, Herbert hoping for retribution and then finally peace at home and then later peace for where he is serving with "Ivan", the Soviets.

Herbert then writes of what he has done today, Herbert writing that a messenger from "Lindemann" (Unknown where this is possibly Düsseldorf) brought Herbert some sausage and the piece of bacon, this is suggested to be sent from Herbert's family as he thanks his family for these items. Herbert hoping to catch up with him in the next few days as in a position about an hour away from where Herbert is staying. Herbert also details that "Hermann Müller" has returned from leave as he was away on "26.12", previously mentioned "Günter Lamp" is now at home on leave and also "Artur Petersen" will likely be on leave soon. Herbert updating his family on his close Kameraden on what they are doing and drawing this letter to a close with warm greetings, Euer Herbert, Yours Herbert.