Letter 271

Jena Nov 10th 1941

Dear Parents and Werner.

Monday morning here and I am sending you greetings from Jena , Iam not well and I hope you are in good health. I reported sick this morning as my toes on my left foot had swollen. The Doctor in the Base Hospital cut it open and it was an infection. He said it happened when I had a blister on my feet from long marches. I am in bed now and every morning I have new bandages put on. If you think of coming to visit me on Sunday, I will not be able to get up but I don’t know if it will be better by Sunday. If there is no improvement, I have to be transferred to the big Hospital here in Jena. My other Comrades are all out on training in the field and I am here in bed and can do nothing. Today we had a bit of frost here too, if that goes on , be careful that the Potatoes and sugar beets don’t freeze. Are the turnips all harvested now? Is the Motor running well too? If it does not go well, call on Raiffeisen Engineer to do something about it, after all, we are members of the Co-operative for farmers. What is going on in Udestedt, have you been to the mill? Lotte send me a letter a few days ago, they still have potatoes in the ground, now Grand Dad is not very well. Has Artur written? Is he still in Russia? Lotte wrote that his Battalion is back in the front line, let us hope for the best that he gets out of it. He has not written to me yet, but neither has Edwin and Edwin is in Norway. Do you get any help from the other Ketschau’s, I do get a letter there and then from them. Ritter’s have not written yet, they will be done with fiels work. Have you been sowing the Rye and winter Barley? Anyone we know on furlough yet?

I don’t know what else to write, lets hear from you soon, and hope to see you soon too.

Artur.

Did you get the card? Send me a parcel with some cake, ham and cigarettes and if you send a letter, send me some money.

Greetings Artur.

From: Pvt Artur Ketschau, 4th Machine Gun Comp. Reserve Battalion 59

Jena.