Letter 435

In the West, Nov 9th 1944

Dear Egon !

Since I left Garzweiler I have not heard from you , and that was 10 weeks ago and I did not get an answer to my last letter.Since my injury at Rath Anhoven I am south of Aachen and we are slugging it out with the Americans in the Eifel Forest. The weather is downright miserable but at least it keeps the Fighter bombers away. These last few days, I would say since All Saints Day , the

Americans are putting more pressure on us, from a very few Prisoners were heard , that they want to get to the Rhine at all cost , the Forest fighting does not improve their fighting spirit and mostly they fear our 88 Flak and the Nebelwerfers. At present we are near a village called Langerwehe for a deserved rest but rest? Artilly is still firing at us and somewhere not far off we hear Tank engines . I just wish that this whole Circus will end soon, it’s a terrible life sitting in a wet hole in the forest with nothing warm to eat or drink, with the enemy not far away, and nowhere to shelter. Today it is foggy and we promised a straw filled barn a few miles in the rear, that is, if it is still standing. Hope all is well up your way, but the few news we hear from the east are neither good nor encouraging , but we must not give up, we can not , if we do, Germany is lost for us.

For now, lets hear from you Greetings from

Your Cousin Ralf

From: Corp.Ralf Barczyk FP # 57 395 Res Grenadier Battalion 15

To: Mr.Egon Barczyk Putzig-Wpr. Bahnhof str 58