Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This is the 14th letter in the series of Feldpost's that Herbert writes home to his family whilst away from home in service. This letter being a small feldpost-briefe letter, the reverse is not shown as some how it is unused but this is possible that it was included in another letter and that is how it has become apart of the story of Herbert. This letter gives an immediate but brief update in the life of Herbert as he is towards the front lines of the Ost Front (Eastern Front). Hebert writes this brief letter, in a different style and not in his usually laid out format as the letter as detailed below explains why this is. As others from the collection this letter is shared exactly 80 years ago since it was written.

The letter in German reads as:

Rußland, 13.3.43

Ihr Lieben!

Werdet sicher schon länger auf Post von mir gewartet haben, aber ich bin am 10. plötzlich krank geworden und im Feldlazarett, was mir eigentlich fehlt ist noch nicht festgestellt. Ich bin furchtbar schlapp und habe Fieber.

Nun will ich schließen, ich bin zu schlapp. Es wird alles für uns getan. Also keine Sorgen

Herbert

The letter in English reads as:

Russia, 13.3.43

Dear ones!

I'm sure you've been waiting for mail from me for a while, but I suddenly fell ill on the 10th and was taken to the field hospital, but they haven't yet found out what's wrong. I am terribly weak and have a fever.

Now I want to close, I'm too weak. Everything is being done for us. So no worries

Herbert

This small felpost-breife containing some short details of Herbert which would put the family at ease that he is still alive and hasn't died. This slight worry had settled in due to Herbert's previous letter where despite telling his family not to worry it would have been inevitable for them to worry. This letter gives some ease to their worries of Herbert's letter as he previously detailed some rough living conditions and a bombardment of the area in which he found himself in on route to where he and his unit was to be positioned.

As detailed above this feldpost-breife doesn't detail a address on the reverse as this feldpost-breife is a form that when folded in half wouldn't require a envelope. This suggesting that it could have been added with some other items or possibly another letter sent home. The exact of which is unknown however the writing style is mostly the same except how abrupt the conclusion to this letter is, which given the contents and circumstance of is understandable,

What is known from this letter initially is that Herbert is in "Rußland" (Russia) as Herbert does detail in this letter where he is as he does in previous letters. Seen here in the top right next to the date, and below reads as Herbert normally would write his letter with "Ihr Lieben!" (Dear ones). Hebert updates his family by saying that he fell ill suddenly on the 10th, this being just 8 days after Herbert wrote his previous letter on the 2nd March 1943.

Herbert then details that whilst in Russia and unwell, Hebert was taken to a "Feldlazarett", commonly referred to by many Soldaten who suffered injuries and illnesses whilst on the front lines could find themselves in a "Feldlazarett" ( Field Hospital). These were hospitals, either a temporary or mobile medical unit that Soldaten could find themselves taken to for care were they could be treated and if further care or more serious aid needed could later be transferred to more permanent medical facilities or hospitals. Feldlazarett's were set up often across the front lines to give aid to as many Soldaten as possible and prevent further injuries or deaths so that Soldaten could recuperate and get back to health for re deployment were possible. Herbert details further that he has suddenly fallen ill and doesn't know why but he feels very weak and the people at the Feldlazarett don't know what's wrong currently with him either. It could be suggested that Herbert has contracted typhus as a result of the tight conditions he was in with 60 men crammed into a "Lice cage". Herbert could also possibly affects of Cholera or Tuberculosis as a result of poor conditions.

Herbert in a weak state writes that he has a fever and is terribly weak, not knowing what is wrong or any more details he can write for his family Herbert draws the letter to a close that everything is being done for him in the Feldlazarett so the family shouldn't worry. Herbert too weak to write cuts this letter short and we can really feel the worry on both Herbert's side, somewhere in Rußland away from his family and unit unwell in a Field Hospital not knowing what's wrong and his family now aware couldn't help but worry more and long to hear an update from the unwell Herbert as soon as possible. Herbert always ends his letters the same, but he is too unwell to end this Feldpost the same as others but we know by now his love and thoughts are with his family back home. We know that Herbert would write "Euer Herbert" , Your Herbert if he was well enough.