Letter 45

Russia June 27th 1941

Dear All at home !

Yesterday I got the first parcel since I am in Russia and thank you very much. We advancing all the time, The Red Enemy has been pushed back more than 100 Kilometers we are following the Infantry and the motorized Troops. I had no notion before what war was all about, we already got through some fighter bomber attacks. And the Horse drawn things are usually the victims. But when German Flak and Planes are about, we don’t see a Russian ast all.it is very warm and we get sand storms here. When we return to Germany we will all suffer from dirty lungs. We tie wet clothes around our mouths if it gets to bad, I am part of the wedge that advances from Luck to Roanowa and on to Kiev, the capital City of the Ukraine. The Ukrainians are decent people, when we enter a town or village they welcome us with flowers and banners across the streets. They are glad that we chased the Bolchevicks out. Nobody speaks German here, it is an honor for us to be part of Adolf Hitlers Wehrmacht and especially to the horse Artillery. I rather would like to be motorized , so we can keep up with the other motorized troops the Heavy Artillery is far out in front of us and we can not keep up that tempo. The Horses are dying because they don’t get enough oats . I got a scythe on my wagon and at each opportunity I mow some clover for my horses. Small groups of Enemy Partisans come out of the forest or corn fields at night to attack us so we have to be on constant guard. Let us hope we all will return in good health. In six weeks from now, Russia will be freed of the Communist , but I don’t want to be part of the Central front that will take Moscow. Any Red Commissar taken Prisoner will be shot by us, I hear-tonight we will cross a river. Stay brave back home, until the war in Europe is over.

Greetings Heinrich

From: Pvt Heinrich Bredemeier, FP # 10331 Art Regt 117