Letter 57
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Transcription
The author’s English translation, machine-read from his typed copy (scan); may contain small errors
Ukraine August 21 1941
Dear All at home !
As I write this date aug 28th, I think back 2 years when the mobilization came , people were woken up at night and then by Sept 1°, the guns opened up in Poland. I never thought then what life would be in two years time. If I had been born 2 or 3 years later, I could have lived in peace for a while in Germany. Nowadays I have to fight for peace in Germany, You back home can be happy that you are far from the shooting front, that you don’t have to fight for a homeland that will be devastated by war. Where I am now, I can tell you the battle goes on, the last week I was unable to write, we were constantly on the advance, move to another front position, it is like a desert here the steppe, over a dozen horses died on us, some were so sick, we left them behind. One of our guns is no motorized if you can all it that, we found an Russian Prime mover,. Then we are bombed daily from Russian fighter bombers, at night we can not light a cigarette . But Capt Molders has returned to the front and that has lifted our Spirits. We keep the fingers crossed for him. The Russian have a huge maretial reservoir, but we know that one day he will/use his last plane and last Panzer . In the next few days we must croiss the we
Mate
Dnjper River Dear Parents and Opa, pray and pray that I come home one day in good health. I got all the parcels and 2 large cans of sausage too, If yourcan send me an old Pullover it is already getting cold at nights. You said the harvest is hampered by bad weather, Plowing will begin next month and you must pray for dry weather, you can use the tractor and the Prisoner you got can plow with the horses. Yesterday I seen in the paper that farmers are getting reimbursement fo r hail damage. I am still ok, and I hope you too, Mother you make sure that all the vegetables and things go into the cellar for the winter. One day I will be happy when I put down the grey coat and the belt for good. I shall never become a member of a soldiers club or soldiers VA home I had enough and want to stay at home and do my job.