Letter 454

This fieldpost letter was written by German private Hans Prokopetz. He is unfortunately listed on the German Volksbund website. Hans, so Johann Prokopetz was killed in action age 22, in East Prussia on 1. February 1945.

He was a gunner with the Grenadier battalion z.b.V 560. Z.B.V means „Zur besonderen Verwendung‘, so „for special use“. The Grenadier battalion z.b.V. 560 was a punishment battalion. German soldiers who committed

misconducts or who committed desertion, had been charged and were sent to a punishment company.

This Grenadier battalion z.b.V 560, fought Paretisans in Caucasus, Kuban and in Nikopol, so these soldiers have to fight very heavy battles. While Hans wrote this offered letter, he fought in Warsaw. In the end of the war, the battalion fought in East Prussian where he died. He wrote following lines:

16.10.1944

my dear Rosi !

With much joy and thankfulness, | just received your kind letter from 8. October. My dear Rosi, | can not express how happy | am for your letter. | also got a letter from your dear Mother ! She was again very angry, because she didn’t get a letter to her birthday. | indeed wrote her a letter, but she aggrieved me anyway. My dear Rosi, when | don’t have any pains, | feel good, but my injury is very bad anyway and begins to ulcerate now. Perhaps | will have luck and may be sent to a hospital, especially if the wound does not become better. Regarding your letter, | thank you for your kisses. Also a lot of kisses to you my dear Rosi ! You are certainly not angry that | didn’t send you kisses with my other letter. Yes, jawoll, you’re right, write when you get the time. Also here, we have a good weather. It would be great when your thoughts could travel to me. My God Rosi, your letter was so nice. The birds are singing and we both love us. | love you is such a nice sentence as well as the truth. It is a good feeling to know, that such a good girl, a proper girl is waiting for me in the homeland. It is a great feeling. Dear Rosi, it is not a dream, but pure truth. Your photo is standing on my table. | look at you and thank God that | have found such a nice girl. The reality is so different. | hope your dreams come true. In case that | wouldn't have survive it, | never would have ask you if you want to share your life with me. | already know it today, that we will love us in the future. | don’t have great demands and if possible, we will live our live as easy as possible. Even when you are sick, | am also able to do the household. | always have helped my mother at home. | know much from you and | will help you as much as | can. | am waiting for this day, better today than tomorrow. Dear Rosi, it becomes more and more dangerous here at the frontline and many of my comrades were killed and had been wounded, but the SS will manage everything. The Ivan (Russian) can do what he want to do, but here at this area he can not break through. | am glad that the

mentioned air raid was not on the inner city. Thanks for the greetings from your mother and your sister. Yes, It was a great film „Dream Music*.| hope that everything will not last that long and that we soon be together. Then, we will go together in the cinema — right ? Let’s hope that God will make it that you, my mother and | will be stay well. Your letter was a joy and helped me to bear my pains. Well my dear Rosi, | will end. Sleep well. | kiss and greet you a thousand times. Yours, Hans who wloves you and who never will forget you. Please write again .