Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This is the 22nd letter in the series of Feldpost's that Herbert writes home to his family whilst away from home. This being 7th letter that Herbert's writes from his hospital bed, away from the fighting in the safe confides of a "Reserve Lazzarett - Braunschweig," (Reserve Hospital- Brunswick). Where only the noises of air raid warnings and sirens that could worry him, as written in previous letters. But even these proved to not hinder the spirits and activities of this recovering Soldat, getting up from his hospital bed and wondering the wards and attending what entertainment is available to patient's. These mentioned performances previously being concerts and variety shows to pass the time, all whilst staying on side of the Deutsche Rote Kreuz (DRK) nurses and doctors, the latter of which Herbert has been told can only get up for amount of time. Of which Herbert still pushes his luck and is yet to be caught.

This Feldpost letter like the 21 before this being shared on the exact they were written, this like the previous share from this year in 1943 being 80 years, on this day.

The Feldpost in German reads as:

Braunschweig, 15.4.43

Ihr Lieben!

Endlich will ich mal wieder zur Feder

greifen. Ihr werdet sicher schon lange warten. Aber

ich liege den ganzen Tag in der Sonne und bin furcht-

bar schreibfaul. Nun will ich mich erstmal für die Pak-

ete und Briefe bedanken, die ich im Laufe der Zeit

erhielt. Die Pakete kamen gestern. Naschsachen und

die Span. Wind sind schon den Weg alles irdischen ge-

gangen. Letzere waren zwar ziemlich kaputt, ich habe sie

mit dem Löffel gegessen. Sie schmeckten aber prima. Den Pul-

lover kann ich jetzt bei der Hitze nicht gebrauchen; aber es

kann ja auch wieder anders kommen. Hanne´s Brief habe

ich im Moment dankend erhalten.

Das Geschäft ist ja auch wieder auf; aber es ist ja

schon eine große Erleichterung, daß Fr. Vogler wieder da ist;

aber Mutti wird ja trotzdem alle Hände voll Arbeit haben.

Wie geht es Pappa? Mir geht es blendend, aber vor Ostern

komme ich wohl nicht heraus. Ich hatte schon gedacht,

ich könnte Euch Ostern mit 7 Tagen Festtagurlaub

überraschen; aber es ist eine Bestimmung erlassen nach dem

alle die nach dem 6.1. d.J. Urlaub gehabt haben, nicht dafür

in Frage kommen. Na dann eben später.

Das Wetter ist hier momentan ganz herrlich.

Fast sommerlich. Es wird auch schon schön grün.

Hoffentlich bleibt es so, auch wenn ich in Urlaub

komme. Nun will ich schließen. Übrigens, Zigaretten

werden knapp bei mir, die Kästen schicke ich morgen.

Der Karton ist noch nicht leer.

Viele Grüße und gute Besserung

für Pappa

Euer Herbert

The Feldpost in English reads as:

Brunswick, 15.4.43

Dear all!

Finally I want to take up the pen again. You will surely be waiting for a long time. But

I lie in the sun all day and am terribly lazy to write. You will surely be waiting for a long time. Now I want to thank you for the packages and letters

that I received in the course of time. The packages came yesterday. Sweets and the Spanish Wind have already gone the way of everything earthly. The latter were quite broken, but I ate them with a spoon.

But they tasted great. The pullover I can not use now in the heat, but it can change again. Hanne's letter I received with thanks.

The business is open again, but it is a great relief that Mrs. Vogler is back;

but Mutti will still have her hands full of work.

How is Dad? I'm fine, but I won't be out before Easter. I had already thought

I could surprise you with a 7-day holiday at Easter.

But there is a provision enacted according to which

all those who have had leave after 6.1. this year are not eligible for it.

Well then just later.

The weather here is quite beautiful at the moment.

Almost summerlike. It is also getting green.

Hopefully it will stay like this, even if I will come on vacation. Now I want to close. By the way, cigarettes are running low, I'll send the boxes tomorrow.

The other box is not empty yet.

Many greetings and get well wishes

for Dad

Yours Herbert

This letter being a double sided A4 size, complete with its Feldpost envelope that gives rare details of the family name and sender information. The envelope displaying the address of the Hans Tank family, and the information of Herbert being seen displayed sideways on the envelope. The Feldpost envelope also showing the postage mark, "16.4.43" with the area in which it was sent from "Braunschweig" (Brunswick) and a postmark that reads "Vermeidet Rundfunk=störungen" this meaning "avoid radio interference" a slogan used to encourage people to stop listening into interference on radio broadcasting as to listen into allied radio broadcasting was illegal during the period.

Herbert writes how he has been relaxing and lazy in the sun to be able to write, to which he details how he would like to thank his family for the packages and letters received whilst addressing the fact that he hasn't sent a letter home for some time. Thanking his family he received the packages yesterday (14.4.43), from which sweets and a "Spanish Wind" that Herbert explains were very nice and was eaten in no time. The "Spanish Wind" is a type of dessert, A Meringue that's made with flavoured sugar, to which Herbert details was received was "quite broken" but Herbert eats it "with a spoon", remarking they "Tasted great" Herbert also details how the "pull over" was useful but would be to warm to use now, this assumed a blanket that would later serve as good use for Herbert when in service. Herbert also thanking Hanne for the letter that was received.

Herbert also addresses the family business that in previous letters was mentioned due to the hard times that the family faced due to Herbert's father being ill in hospital that "Business is open again". This mentioned with a "Mrs. Vogler is back;" a employee that would greatly help the family, but still the stresses of work with Herbert's "Mutti" still have her hands full of work but this employee would greatly help. This letter goes on to ask how Hebert's father is and explaining that Herbert would like to be out and with his family for Easter however it seems that Herbert will not be allowed to do this as he mentions anyone with leave after the "6.1" wont be allowed to have leave to visit his family because of this, sadly.

Herbert then continues the letter by writing how it is currently at the hospital and how he is . Herbert begins by detailing "weather here is quite beautiful at the moment. Almost summerlike. It is also getting green.". This suggesting that the cold and hash winter is now on the decline and the nicer weather with spring is on its way. Hebert being hopeful it will stay like this even if he can come to visit. Hebert then writes " cigarettes are running low, I'll send the boxes tomorrow.

The other box is not empty yet." This being a cause for concern as Hebert previously wrote how he was looking to finally quit this habit as he reason he is currently in hospital is likely linked and would worsen his current health but it seems that Herbert has been unable to shift this addiction and as also previously mentioned he is begging his family to send him more. Hopefully Herbert would find the willpower to shift such an addiction but it can be suggested he wont. We will learn more of this in later letters no doubt.

Herbert draws this letter to a conclusion with many wishes to his family and get well wishes to his father. With his final words as always being, Euer Herbert, Yours Herbert.