Letter 156

Rothenburg Dec 25th 1942

Dear All at Home !

4th Christmas of the war, 3 of them I spend in the East, but one can feel the solace of Christmas anywhere as long as we feel in good health ourselves and thais year, once again, I am not walking hand in hand with Mother. I can tell you that I am up and about today and don’t look as yellow as I used to. I had been in bed for 5 weeks and now I must thank you for the 2 big Christmas parcels and my 2 Comrades and I in the same room will share amongst us. We are treated like Kings here, like” Does your Majesty the Pvt 1 Class have any wishes/” I am glad to hear that you got my parcel too, I never would have thought that Grand dad would become such a heavy smoker. But who cares as long as his pipe is under steam. Dear Mother, I thank you for the long letters and I can imagine what life is back home . Today we have frosty weather but no snow, and I just returned fropm my very first outing, I have been to Church and I went to the catholic Church and being protestant, I had to do the same as my catholic Comrades did. It is amazing and funny at the same time when one sees how the other religion works, Half of the sermon and singing is in latin that no German can understand. Now the Christmas in Hospital: we hada nice celebration yesterday evening for all patients with 2 big big parcels with Candy, 2 bottles of wine, books and Cigarettes , enough cigars for 2 days smoking, a Comb, Mirror, skin care, Writing paper, Razor blades, a film for the Camera, Cigarette lighter, a pocket calendar,, etc and in the evening the

Rothenburger S.A gave us cigarettes but only to 4 who had been in the S.A. and 60 Soldiers. I also had a big book by Major Lange about Field Marshall Mackensen.

I will write to the Major and thank him. I will send you the card from Major Lange. Well, I don’t know what to write to him, but all I want is stay here in Germany and not going to Russia again. I would stay here and do the most dirtiest work so you better let me know what I should write to him. I hope that back home there is a nice Christmas spirit present, and I hope that you all jump happily into the New Year. Take your good health too into 1943 and a prayer to our Lord for the future of all of us. Now all the Best and Greetings

Your Son Heinrich.

From: Pvt 1 Class H. Bredemeier, Rothenburg 0.d.T Hospital Baren

To: Family Heinrich Bredemeier, Rehren, A.O. #12, Near Rinteln Weser