Letter 167

Rothenburg Feb 17th 1943

Dear All!

Will first like I do every week, write my inevitable letter but the important things first, and what can it be? I am staying one more week here after the 25th so I be here until March 4th and this date is final. I can not stay longer, certainly not all spring time. So you can still send something. Even if I don’t want to , I still have to think about the war in Russia, we always were going forward in the time I was there , now the big retreat, Rostov and Woroshilowgrad back in Russian hands since today. So all our attacks and victories from last summer were for nothing . 75 % of our Caucasus troops are also surrounded at Stalingrad, I wonder what they think of it, my dear Comrades in Arms, and I can say that despite all the bad luck, I was lucky this time. I can talk to later generations about that. We have to take the hits now as they come and have to wait for spring time before we go on the offensive again. Today I visited the Rothenburg Museum and it was very interesting Major Lange mailed me aletter he had from the old General Mackensen and I have to send the letter back to him. Shows you I can look into private things from higher rank officers. I must close now, it is 6.30 PM and I have to lay the table for supper, so all the very best

Your Heinricj\h

Please send me 10 Marks.

From: Pvt 1st Class H. Bredemeier Rothenburg 0.d.T. Hospital Bären

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