My dear, just imagine for a moment that the war is over.

A Selection of Excerpts
Second Year
September 1943

Letter No. 149

Deba, September 4, 1943
My dearly beloved treasure!

On Thursday, I received your lovely letter dated August 27th just before leaving for my hearing. I thank you with all my heart for your affectionate words. Yes, my dear treasure, that matter is over and done with now.

Oh, my dearly beloved treasure, I am so glad that things turned out as well as they did. I had certainly expected a sentence of one and a half to two years. But in the end, I wasn't punished quite so severely. The prosecution had asked for one year in prison and loss of rank, but the judge reduced it to eight months.

Now the verdict has to go to Berlin for confirmation. I have submitted a petition requesting a probationary period. If I’m lucky, I might get off with just two or three months; and if I prove myself during the time I’m free again—meaning I behave well and decently, giving no cause for complaint—then the remainder of the sentence will be remitted.

Now let us hope for the best; I will pray to God to show me mercy and stand by me. I think I’ll be able to let you know in about two weeks when I might be allowed to come to you and what will become of me.

Oh, my dear treasure, the worst part is that I am no longer a non-commissioned officer. There is nothing that can be done to change that now. Now I have to start all over again from scratch as a lowly grenadier.

But I am determined to do everything I can to advance again as quickly as possible. After all, there is no reason to let my head hang low. Now I’ll really show the new superiors I’m assigned to just what I can do and what I’m made of. I certainly didn’t earn my previous standing for nothing, and I believe I can make it to the top again.

Letter No. 152 (DUPLICATE NUMBER)

Deba, September 9, 1943
... I didn't sleep well at all last night, and today I feel so restless. Yesterday at midday, I read about the air raid on Stuttgart. I hope nothing happened back home. I haven't received any mail in a long time, either. If only someone would put a stop to those devils once and for all. But retribution will strike them terribly.

Oh, my dearest darling, just stay away from Stuttgart, and stay safe and sound at home. I wouldn't know what to do if something were to happen to you there.

If only we could cross over to England to neutralize those wretched criminals. ...

But this time, too, will pass, and then the sun of happiness— and hopefully the sun of peace—will shine upon us all the more beautifully and brightly. ...

My dearest H..., yesterday I received another letter from Liesel. Oh, she really is a poor soul and truly to be pitied. She has such constant bad luck. Now she has received a letter from her fiancé that was addressed to a "Trudel."

Then there’s the disaster in Hamburg, and her brother is out on a combat mission again. Liesel is so hopeless. She writes that she would prefer it if a bomb hit her too—but in such a way that she’d be killed instantly. The poor soul is all alone, with no one to turn to for help or comfort. ...

Letter No. 153.

Deba, September 10, 1943

... Oh, my darling, loved above all else—what you write about the stonemason really doesn't sit right with me. For God's sake, do me a favor and try everything you can to get the employment office to release you. You must say or write that: 1. You can no longer do such heavy work because you are suffering from abdominal pain due to your fall from the ladder. 2. That I am coming home on leave in the next few weeks and we are getting married then...

I’ll draft a letter for you and enclose it; then you can write to the employment office again right away. I won't stand for you going back to Stuttgart. You are far too precious to me to keep toiling away for people like that. And then there’s the constant danger to your life from air raids. That is absolutely out of the question.

They ought to keep his business shut and teach him how a German and a National Socialist is supposed to behave and conduct himself. After all, the war isn't meant for gentlemen like that to enrich themselves at the expense of their fellow citizens. Because that is exactly what he is doing. I’ve pretty much seen through his way of operating.

It would be best, of course, if I could come home right now, but unfortunately that isn't possible. Hopefully, though, you’ll succeed in getting permission to stay home.

Letter No. 155.

Deba, September 15, 1943

... today I can share some very joyful news with you. My final verdict arrived this morning. I was practically speechless when I heard and read it. Oh, my dearest darling, at that moment I could have embraced the whole world.

Just imagine, I’ve been sentenced to four weeks of confinement, and the loss of rank has been set aside for the time being, as has the rest of the punishment.

Oh, my dearest darling, I am so happy and relieved that everything turned out so well. Now I really have to buckle down to ensure I always get good evaluations and never do anything wrong again; otherwise, I’ll have to serve the other punishment too. But it won’t come to that. Getting locked up is something that happened to me just this once—it won’t happen to me a second time. I’m going to strive to have the punishment not just suspended, but completely remitted as soon as possible. ...

I’m leaving here around October 10th!!!

Letter No. 164.

Deba, 30 Sept. 1943

... Many thanks, too, for the food ration coupons. But my dearest darling, you really shouldn't send those to me, seeing as you have so few of them yourselves.

... In the excitement, I think I forgot to write and tell you where I’m going. Yes, I have to go back to Berlin first, to my replacement unit. Once there, I’ll see about getting my leave first.

Perhaps I’ll even manage to get transferred somewhere else. We’ll see what comes of it. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to write you more until I’m in Berlin. I’m actually only allowed to write one letter every two weeks, so I have to be very careful and always write in secret. That’s why there’s really so little in them.

But now there are only 7 days left. I’m leaving here on the 7th or 8th. From the 10th onwards, you can write to me in Berlin. That’s where my address is: Inf. Nachr. Ers. Kp. 76, Berlin-Spandau. ...