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

A Selection of Excerpts
Third Year
April 1944

Letter No. 258.

The East, April 1, 1944

.... If only the time would finally come for me to go on leave. Unfortunately, the Russians don't like that idea, and they always want to go wherever we are. We can't allow that, of course, so one simply has to wait patiently. ...

Letter No. 259.

The East, April 2, 1944

... Is the weather still so bad where you are? Oh, and then you have to sit in the cellar so much. That is the worst part. Those scoundrels’ engines really ought to break down 50 km outside Stuttgart. But hopefully this wretched mess will end soon.

I am so glad that nothing has happened to you so far, and I hope and wish with all my heart that it stays that way.

Letter No. 261.

The East, April 8, 1944
My dearest H...!

Once again, we are on a long journey. We have already covered 119 km today. Thank God we were lucky, for we are now moving into a well-fortified and quiet position. Tomorrow is Easter. Unfortunately, we have to relieve the troops there tomorrow, but it is still significantly better this way than if we had stayed where we were. But more on that later. ...

I am going to turn in now. Yes, it is only 8 o'clock, but I have to make the most of it, since I’ve hardly had any sleep over the last few days. ...

Letter No. 262.

The East, April 10, 1944
My dearest H...!

Many, many thanks for your lovely letter of March 24th, which I received yesterday with great joy. My dearest treasure, so my letter of March 3rd was opened after all.

Yes, my darling, one can never be too careful. Just imagine how I would have been punished if it had mentioned where we are.

I would love to write it to you so you would know exactly. Well, hopefully it won't be much longer now, and then I can tell you all about it. Two men are heading off on leave again on April 14th. Hopefully things will keep moving along briskly, since we took up a very quiet position yesterday.

Now I have a nice bunker again, and we don't have to lie in holes in the ground anymore. I am commanding a platoon now and feel very comfortable here.

I am doing very well, too; it’s just that my longing for my treasure—whom I love above all else— is becoming unbearable. I never would have believed it would take such a terribly long time until we could finally see each other again.

My dearest treasure, I am very glad that your throat is better and that you are doing well.

Yes, my darling, I have unfortunately lost my Freia now. Oh, you know, I really missed her at first, and it hurt. I had grown so attached to the little creature and was very fond of her. But unfortunately, nothing can be done about it now. ...

Letter No. 263.

The East, April 13, 1944

... My dearest treasure, I am actually doing very well. You can certainly believe that. I’ll tell you why when I’m on leave.

Unfortunately, we’ve moved again, about 15 km further north. It’s even quieter here. It’s a very good position. But none of that really matters, because leave would certainly do me a world of good. You are absolutely right about that. ...

Letter No. 264.

Easter, April 19, 1944
My dearest H...!

Today I can finally write to you again. After five days of travel, we have arrived at a new position. We got here yesterday evening.

It is a very good and very quiet position. I am in a great bunker made of steel and concrete. It is a so-called "U-boat bunker" because it is oval-shaped and the interior is comparable to that of a submarine. It is admittedly a bit cramped in here, but all the safer for it. ...

If only the planes would leave you in peace. My dearest darling, two more leave passes have come through—for April 23rd. Once those two are gone, I’ll be fourth in line. So it can’t be much longer now before I’m finally back with you.

Oh, if only the time were already here. When you’re on the verge of it, you get so terribly impatient. It just always takes far too long. ...

Letter No. 266.

The East, April 21, 1944
My dear, sweet H...!

It’s 5 o’clock again already, and I want to quickly write you a short letter before the meal arrives.

Oh, my dearest, precious darling, the weather was glorious again today. I went for a lovely walk at 5 o’clock this morning. I inspected the entire main battle line and took a look at "Ivan" from various vantage points. Well, let him try coming here. He’ll burn his fingers badly.

My dearest darling, I really miss my Freia here now. Now that we are once again in a fixed location and a quiet position, I miss her. She would surely feel at home here, too. ...

Letter No. 267.

The East, 23 April 1944
My dearly beloved H...!
It is now 6 p.m., and Sunday is slowly drawing to a close. It was a very lovely day again. Unfortunately, it has started to rain now. My dearest, precious darling, how are you doing? I always hope for the very best. Sadly, the mail situation here isn't working out at all right now. Nothing is getting through.

We have been waiting in vain for it for ten days now. Well, my precious darling, that is certainly no reason for me not to write to you. Unfortunately, I didn't get around to it yesterday. ...