Local Quarters, 14 March 1942
All my loves!
I received your dear letter from 8 March yesterday afternoon. It would have been possible to answer it in my last letter, but I wanted to do that today in a special letter.
I’m already doing better. The pains have been weaker since the day before yesterday. During the week of 5 - 12 March, I finally gained some weight--2200 grams. You asked what I get to eat. In one of the last letters I wrote about that to you. In the mornings for breakfast, coffee with white bread, second breakfast: hot chocolate with white bread or cookies, lunch: mashed potatoes, vegetables and eggs (sometimes fish, too). In the afternoons, tea with cookies, evenings: rice with oranges and white bread and then in the evenings at 8 pm, coffee again or tea with cookies. I’m satisfied with the food. Ich muß mich aber umtun, daß ich etwas nachfassen kann. But you can tell by the weight gain that the food is to my liking.
I just received your dear letter from 4 March that was sent to my old Feldpost number.
As soon as I have the opportunity, I’ll order something for you or for the children. I’ll definitely be able to get some fabric and later maybe even a pair of shoes for you. That will certainly make you happy and me too, if I can bring you something pretty, because you’ve really earned it, my darling little wife. It put my mind to rest that you wrote to our aunt--please do that from time to time. That will make her happy, too.
I am amazed at the drawings our little artist Irmgard is making. I was so pleased with the little picture. Please tell the children thank you and give them an especially dear kiss from me. You can take care of the tax issue whenever you get the chance, and drop by again at the tax office in May. What a pleasure it is for me that all of my little ones can now stand on their own two feet! The older they get, the more worrying and work they cause, but the more joy they give to us parents as well. It’s hard to believe that Brigitte can already wear Elfriede’s old dresses--that means she must be growing quickly. If Elfriede can’t get anymore cod liver oil, maybe you can take her to the pharmacy and ask if they have another restorative, because out of all three girls, she’s the one who needs it most.
You should all be comforted--I am living with you all from morning to evening. You have our dear Uncle Malz now too, who will support you however he can.
Ich wünsche Dir, daß Du und ich zum letzten Mal im großen K. Wachen noch Glück und Freude erleben dürfen. How are you doing in that regard? Now we have to clench our teeth together even harder and like always, hold onto each other tightly and build a family that can rise to the challenges of our day. You can trust in me, my love. I will return in full health to you and into your loving arms. In comparison to the time that we should still have together, this period of separation is short, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have had a long time together already before it.
Please give the children my love, each one individually, and to you, my darling, brave little wife, I send my best and many kisses
From your faithful Josef, who loves you.
All my loves!
I received your dear letter from 8 March yesterday afternoon. It would have been possible to answer it in my last letter, but I wanted to do that today in a special letter.
I’m already doing better. The pains have been weaker since the day before yesterday. During the week of 5 - 12 March, I finally gained some weight--2200 grams. You asked what I get to eat. In one of the last letters I wrote about that to you. In the mornings for breakfast, coffee with white bread, second breakfast: hot chocolate with white bread or cookies, lunch: mashed potatoes, vegetables and eggs (sometimes fish, too). In the afternoons, tea with cookies, evenings: rice with oranges and white bread and then in the evenings at 8 pm, coffee again or tea with cookies. I’m satisfied with the food. Ich muß mich aber umtun, daß ich etwas nachfassen kann. But you can tell by the weight gain that the food is to my liking.
I just received your dear letter from 4 March that was sent to my old Feldpost number.
As soon as I have the opportunity, I’ll order something for you or for the children. I’ll definitely be able to get some fabric and later maybe even a pair of shoes for you. That will certainly make you happy and me too, if I can bring you something pretty, because you’ve really earned it, my darling little wife. It put my mind to rest that you wrote to our aunt--please do that from time to time. That will make her happy, too.
I am amazed at the drawings our little artist Irmgard is making. I was so pleased with the little picture. Please tell the children thank you and give them an especially dear kiss from me. You can take care of the tax issue whenever you get the chance, and drop by again at the tax office in May. What a pleasure it is for me that all of my little ones can now stand on their own two feet! The older they get, the more worrying and work they cause, but the more joy they give to us parents as well. It’s hard to believe that Brigitte can already wear Elfriede’s old dresses--that means she must be growing quickly. If Elfriede can’t get anymore cod liver oil, maybe you can take her to the pharmacy and ask if they have another restorative, because out of all three girls, she’s the one who needs it most.
You should all be comforted--I am living with you all from morning to evening. You have our dear Uncle Malz now too, who will support you however he can.
Ich wünsche Dir, daß Du und ich zum letzten Mal im großen K. Wachen noch Glück und Freude erleben dürfen. How are you doing in that regard? Now we have to clench our teeth together even harder and like always, hold onto each other tightly and build a family that can rise to the challenges of our day. You can trust in me, my love. I will return in full health to you and into your loving arms. In comparison to the time that we should still have together, this period of separation is short, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have had a long time together already before it.
Please give the children my love, each one individually, and to you, my darling, brave little wife, I send my best and many kisses
From your faithful Josef, who loves you.