Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This is the 18th letter in the series of Feldpost's that Herbert writes home to his family whilst away from home in service. This letter being written on a small Feldpost-Breife that as seen can be folded in half and sent as a envelope containing the letter. This letter has been slightly cut on one side, this may be as a result of it being sent and possibly checked for censor or as it was opened (as sides would have been lightly stuck) it could have torn and been cut to form a smoother and sharper finish. This letter appears to be in direct reply to some mail that Herbert has received, this would have been great for Herbert as when he writes this he is recovering in hospital in Brunswick and hasn't heard anything and awaiting mail for over 5 weeks!

The letter in German reads as:

(Front)

Familie Hans Tank Kiel Hohenstaufenring 36 From Sold. H. Tank Res. Laz. Braunschweig, Standort Laz. (Innere Station) Zimmer 146

Braunschweig, 30.3.43

Ihr Lieben! Heute Morgen erhielt ich Euer liebes Päckchen und die Grüße von Annelieses Verpflichtungsfeier. Vielen Dank. Ich werde die Kuchen heute Nachmittag mit zum Kaffee verspeisen. Leider habe ich nicht gewußt, daß am letzten Sonntag Annelieses Verpflichtungsfeier war. Sonst hätte ich ihr selbstverständlich einen Glückwunsch übermittelt. Man hört und sieht ja nichts von der Außenwelt, bis auf ein paar alte Zeitungen, die schon x-Mal gelesen sind. Mir geht es gut. Hoffe dasselbe von Euch. Leider habe ich noch keinen Brief von Euch bekommen. Aber ihr habt wohl auch nicht viel Zeit. Nun noch etwas. Ich muß unbedingt auf dem schnellsten Wege die Feldpostnummer von meiner Feldeinheit haben. Ich habe sie vergessen und gebrauche sie jetzt für das Führerpacket, meinen Sold und außerdem wollte ich auch mal etwas von mir hören lassen. Hier im Lazarett hatte ich einfach eine Nummer angegeben, ob sie richtig war weiß ich nicht. Also schreibt bitte gleich. Es ist dringend Herzliche Grüße Euer Herbert

The letter in English reads as:

(Front)

Familiy : Hans Tank Kiel Hohenstaufenring 36 (Road/street) From Soldat . H. Tank Res. Laz. Braunschweig, Standort Laz. (Inner Station) (Reserve Hospital Brunswick) Room 146

Brunswick, 30.3.43

Dear All! This morning I received your nice parcel and the greetings from Anneliese's commitment party. Many thanks to you. I will eat the cakes with coffee this afternoon. Unfortunately, I did not know that last Sunday was Anneliese's commitment party. Otherwise I would have sent her a congratulations, of course. One hears and sees nothing of the outside world, except for a few old newspapers that have been read umpteen times. I am well. Hope the same from you. Unfortunately I have not yet received a letter from you. But you have not much time. Now one more thing. I must know the field post number of my unit as soon as possible. I have forgotten it and now I need it for the Führerpaket, my salary and I also wanted to let them hear something from me. Here in the military hospital I had given them a number, whether it was correct I don't know. So please write right away. It is urgent Best regards Your Herbert

This letter as mentioned above is a small Feldpost-Briefe style letter, this smaller form of Feldpost would allow for short messages to be sent and then folded for a convenient envelope and sent directly to the recipient. This letter being written in direct response to mail that Herbert received. This is seen as Herbert states "I received your nice parcel and the greetings from Anneliese's commitment party", This being an update of a suspected family member or close family friend who is having a party likely due to an engagement or marriage celebration of Anneliese. Herbert thanks his family for the letter and the cake that came with the parcel, he will enjoy eating it with some coffee later. Herbert didn't know that the commitment party was the previous Sunday otherwise he said he would have sent a congratulations card. This is in part due to the 5 weeks of delays Herbert has mentioned in previous letters that he isn't getting any mail. Hebert further explains this with "One hears and sees nothing of the outside world, except for a few old newspapers that have been read umpteen times." This shows that Herbert isnt getting any updates on anything at the time of writing this, no mail due to delays and no other updates on the newspapers that are in the hospital. This would have a significant affect on Herberts Morale.

This is were Hebert gives his family a brief update on how he is doing " am well. Hope the same from you". With hope mentioned that he will receive the other letters they sent soon.

Herbert draws this Feldpost-Briefe to a close in this paragraph by detailing "Now one more thing. I must know the field post number of my unit as soon as possible. I have forgotten it and now I need it for the Führerpaket, my salary and I also wanted to let them hear something from me. Here in the military hospital I had given them a number, whether it was correct I don't know. So please write right away. It is urgent".

Here Herbert details how his Feldpost number will be changing as a result of being re organised in his unit, Herbert unfortunately not remembering details how as soon as he finds it out again he will write it as the family as much as Herbert would need to know this information. Feldpost numbers were essential both ways in communication, it was essential for the family sending the letters as the Feldpost number that Herbert is being re assigned is attached to his unit, similar to a postal code or company "PO Box" in modern terms these Feldpost numbers co-ordinated with units meaning that they could be sent directly to the Soldaten of that unit wherever they were in service. The Feldpost numbers being in correlation between the Reichspost (German Postal Service) and the respected service of the Soldaten, wether this is the Wehrmacht or an elite unit such as Waffen SS or Political organisation all would comply with a Feldpost Number so that mail could be sorted and sent to the known location either in the field or to a barrack/ military base. These Feldpost numbers also would correlate to as mentioned by Herbert "I need it for the Führerpaket, my salary". This showing the information for Herbert's military wages that he would spend whilst in service or send home to help with his family, this also in direct relation to a mention of the "Führerpaket".

A "Führerpaket" also known in English as a Guide Packet" was a food package issued to those serving the Wehrmacht in addition to supporting roles such as medical personal and paramilitary or auxiliary units. These Führerpaket's could be received once a year and were in use from 1942-1944 (Seen here as Herbert writes in 1943) to which would be eligible for those Soldaten returning from the frontlines that could benefit the Soldaten to either take back with them to the front when they return or to greatly aid their family and friends at home. Such Führerpaket's often contained food and beverages, in most cases dried sausage or hams, butter, cheese, flour or corn-starch, oil , canned food (which would server as good long life food and easily stored in a Tornister of Breadbag), Cheese, sugar and Chocolate or cocoa. These supplies would be enclosed in a box with a pre printed Reichsadler on that would read "Ein kleiner Dank des Führers an seine Soldaten“ (A small thank you from the leader to his soliders). After all a "Führerpaket" was named after "Der Führer", Adolf Hitler. Such Führerpaket's as Herbert writes would need to be logged in the Soldaten's pay book (Wehrpass) or identification card. The receiver of the Führerpaket would also receive 10 reichsmarks in cash. This would be of great help to Herbert and his family at this time.

Herbert urgently asking his family to write again so he can relay the information to them, Herbert concludes the letter like always with his best wishes to the family, Herzliche Grüße , Euer Herbert, Your Herbert.