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

A Selection of Excerpts
Third Year
March 1944

Letter No. 251.

The East, March 3, 1944

... First, my heartfelt thanks for your three lovely letters and the two small parcels I’ve received in the meantime. I was so delighted by them. Everything arrived safely. ...

I would have loved to write to you so much, if only I’d had a little time to do so. ...

Because we are almost constantly on the move, no one can go on leave for the time being. ...

My dearest treasure, today is already March 5th, so I want to quickly continue writing your letter. I was interrupted the day before yesterday and haven't had a chance to get back to it since.

A messenger arrived, and I had to get ready immediately. Then I drove off in a vehicle to pick up a company and brief them. Unfortunately, I only got back from that this evening.

My beloved treasure, I want to tell you a bit about what I’ve been doing lately. I’ve been away from my company for quite some time now and am currently with the regiment in the leadership reserve. That’s a fair distance away from the main battle line. Things are going well, and I quite like it here. The only downside is being on the move so much.

My dearest treasure, in the last few weeks we’ve covered several hundred kilometers, and I had to walk most of the way. We’re currently stationed in a small village. Things are going quite well here. The only problem is the mail. Because we’re so far from the company, it’s very slow to arrive. ...

Now, unfortunately, I have to write you some sad news. I no longer have my Freia. Since I was traveling so much, I couldn't take her with me. I had left her with the baggage train for quite some time. But then, quite unexpectedly, they were relocated, and unfortunately, she got lost in the process.

Oh, that is a great shame, but nothing can be done about it now. ....

Letter No. 252.

The East, Thursday, March 16, 1944
My dearest, darling H...!

After a long time, I finally get a chance to write again today. Oh, my beloved treasure, I have so much to tell you. I hardly know where to begin. ...

My dearest treasure, I am still doing very well so far, and I hope the same is true for you. Oh, if only nothing has happened to you during those terrible air raids. My thoughts are always with you. How often I wanted to write to you, but I just never managed to find the time.

For the past eight days, I’ve been out on my motorcycle from morning till night. I covered 200–300 kilometers every day. I had to act as a liaison NCO, a courier for orders, and a messenger. Today, thanks to a repair job, I have about two hours of quiet. ...

In three or four days, I’ll likely be at a fixed location again, and then I can write to you more often. It’s already 4 o'clock, and I have to move on at 4:30. I still have about 140 km ahead of me today. It will be very late by the time I finish. So, I’ll close for now. ...

Letter No. 254.

The East, March 23, 1944
My dearest H...!

I want to answer your two lovely letters this evening. We are currently enjoying a quiet spell and are stationed in reserve behind the front lines.

Today was filled with washing, cleaning, and mending. Then I set up a few radios and loudspeakers, so now we have decent music again. Well, hopefully we can stay here for a while. It’s quite bearable here.

My dearest darling, two men are going on leave the day after tomorrow, and I’m sending my marriage papers along with them. A comrade of mine will send them off by registered mail. ...

Yes, my dearest darling, that was a bad time. I never had time to write, even though I wanted to so very much. We didn't receive any mail during that whole period, either. But hopefully, things will improve now. ...

My dearest darling, the only thing that worries me is the constant air raids. Oh, if only you always come through them safely. It is simply too terrible for you all. It’s nothing like our situation—after all, we are soldiers and can defend ourselves against any attack with our weapons. ...

Letter No. 255.

The East, March 27, 1944
My dearest treasure!

Once again, we are on the march, and I want to use a brief pause to send you a quick greeting. I am doing very well so far, and I hope that is the case for you, too.

My dearest H..., unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to send off the registered letter containing the marriage papers, as we had to leave quite suddenly. Sadly, I didn't manage to see my comrade before he left. ...

Letter No. 256.

The East, March 29, 1944
My dearly beloved H...!

Today I can send you a brief greeting once again. I am sitting here with the supply train right now and, to my greatest delight, have received three lovely letters from you. ...

My dearest H..., you write in your letter of March 7th that you wouldn't find out anyway if things were going badly for me. Well, you might not be entirely wrong there. And why should you? You would only worry unnecessarily, and there is no need for that. ...

Letter No. 257.

The East, March 31, 1944

.... I was horrified to realize that Easter is already in nine days, and I haven't written to anyone yet. I must make up for that as quickly as possible—at least with you and my parents. Time really does fly by so terribly fast.

You lose track of the day and date completely if you don't mark them off on the calendar every day. Things are truly chaotic, but despite everything, I am still doing very well, and I haven't lost my sense of humor or my good spirits. ...