Letter 418

Christmas 1944

Dear Christel

After a very long wait I had my first letter here in the East from you. Yours was the only letter for me that I had over Christmas, and it was therefore a big enjoyment for me. Thank you very much for it.

Today is the day after Christmas and that’s the end of the festivities and I must admit, it was my most saddest Christmas in my live. I am in the front line with a communication platoon and it was not very Christmas like here. There are 17 of us in a small bunker and hardly any room to move around. I am on my own right now, the others gone out to work on the trenches. On Christmas eve we had a Party, and I must admit, the Government had done its best to give us a little happiness. We all got a Christmas Cake, Cookies, Cigarettes, Chocolate, and Candy, and with all those good eating things I got myself sick. One is not used to all these sweet things here.

The Russians stayed remarkable quiet, we had expected at least some armed patrols or something to mess or Christmas up, well, we do not know what the reasons were, one thing, in these 3 days we had not one wounded, no one got killed lets hope it stays like that for a while.

How was your Christmas at home? The Bombers were busy according to the news. Let us hope that now with the new offensive, the matter in the west will be settled. About time the British and Americans will get a smack in the mouth. What did Ulla had to say lately, I would be interested to hear. I must close now, my Comrades coming back, they need the table for Lunch. Greetings for today and best wishes.

Your Günther.

From: Pvt 1st Class Günther Lüla FP # 44515 A = Grenadier Regt 355 Staff Company

To: Miss Christel Glaser, 15 Péssneck, ?Thuringia Georgste 21