Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This is the long awaited return of the Herbert Tanks Feldpost series we are running, sharing a the Feldposts written by Hebert tank to his family whilst away in service. This year we are doing the 1943 letters! Be sure to read the previous 26 letters to understand the trail of events leading to this point. These can be found on the extended collection section of the website or via the collection tab !

If you are familiar with the story so far then enjoy ! We have many more coming from Herbert across 1943!

Recap:

This year has seen a introduction of the 1943 letters from the Herbert Tank Feldposts in the collection. Herbert has written since January to his family, with requests of food and tobacco that have been a common request not just after the stock run out after Christmas. Hebert wrote to his family whilst serving in training with the Marsch-Kompanie Grenadier-Ausbildungs-Bataillon 333 and then moved into Russia via Memelland "Auf dem Marsch im Memelland!" (Modern day Lithuania). Then from here whilst still on the move on the 2.03.4, Herbert took temporary residence in a old Russian Barracks in cramped conditions "A real lice cage" near the main battle lines. This was were Herbert contracted an illness as a result of his detreating health in these conditions, being in wet and cold conditions in the "Staraja Russa" region during the Battle of Demyansk. Herbert suffering from a form of Pneumonia. This saw Herbert withdrawn from the frontline fighting in Russland and sent to a reserve hospital in Riga, Latvia only to be treated and sent back to Braunschweig (Brunswick) to recover long term from the condition. It is from here that Herbert wrote his most recent letters, these letters being more personal with family and home life mentions with a real account if what patients in hospitals got up to and what leisure activities were available. Despite Herbert saying he would quit his smoking addiction after being advised to and suffering from Pneumonia still shows how Herbert has this addiction and comfort in smoking. The last letter (Written on May 13th 1943) saw Herbert wish his Mutti a Happy Mothers Day and confirm a request come through to be transferred to a hospital in the Mountainous region of Harz to complete his recovery. A hope of convalescent leave to see his family was likely granted to the recovering Herbert as there was 4 month break in letter writing. Either that or they are also sadly lost to time.

This letter sees Herbert straight back into Russland (Russia) detailing his experiences back home to his family.

The Feldpost in German reads as:

Russland, 4.9.43

Ihr Lieben!

Nun kann ich Euch wieder eine sichere Nachricht zukommen lassen.

Also, erstmal geht es mir gut. Wir sind gestern Abend hier in Stellung

angelangt. Wir, das sind, Günter Lange, Günter Krohn und ich. Bei

unserer alten Waffe natürlich.

Es ist eine ganz ruhige Stellung. Das bisschen Gepfeife geht über uns hinweg,

ist also zu ertragen. Daß es so ist hier, liegt an dem sumpfigen Gelände.

In der Beziehung hat es wieder sein Gutes. Ich traf

gestern Abend noch, Hermann Müller aus der Prüne und noch einige andere alte

Kameraden. Anton Mattuseck ist in Deutschland auf Kursus. Artur

Petersen ist jetzt bei den S.M.G. ich habe ihn noch nicht

getroffen; aber er ist auch hier. Ich habe ganz unverschämtes

Glück gehabt. Vor 14 Tagen hat unsere Kompanie hohe Verluste gehabt, in der

vorigen Stellung. Also dies zu Eurer Beruhigung.

Nun noch einen kleinen Erlebnisbericht.

Als ich heute Morgen aufwachte und Kaffee trinken wollte, fand ich von meinem

Brotbeutel nur noch ganz geringe Überreste. Mein Brot war bis auf

einige Krumen verschwunden. Als ich den älteren Kameraden die

Bescherung zeigte, erklärten sie, daß mein Brotbeutel, das Opfer

der Rattensippe geworden ist, das unter den Bohlen unseres Bunkers haust.

Habe also wieder etwas zugelernt. Ich habe ihn dann gleich wieder

notdürftig zusammengenäht und an einen Nagel gehängt, so ist er nun

erstmal sicher vor den Biestern. Dann habe ich meine Hose genäht,

was ich in letzter Zeit jeden 2. Tag tue und dabei den mutigen

Entschluss gefaßt, einen Flicken aufzutreiben und einen ganz neuen Boden

einzusetzen.

Das Wetter ist zu ertragen; allerdings regnet es viel tagsüber und nachts

wird es schon empfindlich kalt; aber wir sind ja in Russland und nicht

zu einem Vergnügen, solange es so bleibt will ich mich nicht beklagen.

Nun will ich schließen, in der Hoffnung, daß es Euch gut geht und Ihr

Euch für´s erste keine Sorgen um mich macht.

Es grüßt

Euer Herbert

NP. Ich lege noch ein paar Bilder mit ein. Verwahrt sie bitte.

The Feldpost translated to English reads as:

Russia, 4.9.43

My Dears!

Now I can send you a safe message again. Well, first of all I'm all ok. We arrived here at our position last night. We, that is Günter Lange, Günter Krohn and I. At our old force, of course. It's a very quiet position. The little bit of whistling goes over our heads, so it's bearable. It is so calm here because the terrain is so marshy. In that aspect, it's a good thing. I met Hermann Müller from the Prüne and some other old comrades. Anton Mattuseck is on a training in Germany. Artur Petersen is now with the S.M.G. I haven't met him yet, but he is here too. I have been quite outrageously lucky. A fortnight ago our company suffered heavy losses in

the previous position. So this is to reassure you. Now a little report on my experiences. When I woke up this morning and wanted to drink coffee, I found only very little of my haversack left.

My bread had disappeared except for a few crumbs. When I complained about it to my older comrades they

explained that my haversack had fallen victim to the rat population, that lives under the planks of our bunker.

So I learned something new again. Then I immediately sewed it back together and hung it on a nail,

so it's safe from the beasts for now.

Then I sewed my trousers, which I've been doing every second day lately, and made the brave decision to

find a patch to put in a whole new bottom. The weather is bearable; however, it rains a lot during the day and at night it is already cold, but we are in Russia and not for pleasure, so as long as it stays like this I will not complain. Now I will close, in the hope that you are well and that for the time being you are not worried about me. Greetings Your Herbert NP. I am enclosing a few more pictures. Please keep them.

This letter seeing a return of Herbert in Russland , this letter as before addressed to the family collectively sees Herbert write of his safety in Russland. An immediate update on Herbert's location shows that he is safe in position with some of his friends, Günter Lange and Günter Krohn. These likely known to the family or to give some re assurance that Herbert is not alone and is in the company of Kameraden and some of his old Kameraden too. The position that Herbert and his Kameraden find themselves in is descried as quiet, The little bit of whistling goes over our heads, so it's bearable." This giving some peace of mind the Herberts family that the current position isn't rough or unsafe and that Hebert hears the artillery shells that nearby German forces are firing overhead. The atmosphere being calm Hebert writes but that the terrain is marshy, this being similar to the conditions that Hebert wrote about when near the Demyansk region.

Herbert details how he has "Hermann Müller from the Prüne". Prüne is in Kiel, which is where Herbert and his family reside, this showing that Herberts family are likely to remember Hermann. Another old Kamerad known as "Anton Mattuseck" is still training in Germany and "Artur Petersen is now with the S.M.G.". This suggesting that Arthur could be a NCO who has as Sub-machine gun. Herbert is yet to meet him but he is said to be with his unit too.

Herbert recounts how lucky he is, this is due to Hebets Kompanie sustained heavy losses in their previous position. Hebert re assuring his family of his safety and news of front line activities. Hebert further details the experiences of his current situation; Hebert woke up in the morning and wanted to drink some coffee. Its was from here Hebert recalls that there wasn't much left in his "Haversack" (or possibly his breadbag, sadly Herbert's supply of bread also was diminished to a few crumbs. From here Herbert went to complain to his Kameraden about his food and coffee supplies being depleted when they explained "that my haversack had fallen victim to the rat population, that lives under the planks of our bunker". This showing the rough conditions of bunker life that Herbert finds himself in, this sanitation issue was common not only in the First World War but also during the Second especially on the Ost front. Rats carrying diseases were a worry to the health of Soldaten but also to their food supplies as detailed here by Herbert. Herbert and his Kameraden fighting the Soviets whilst also having to fight another kind of vermin that has infested their position. Rats would take refuge where it is warm, dry and food present. Such residence being Bunkers and strategic positions as the terrain and climate outside is very harsh. To prevent the rats eating any more of Herbert's supplies, he repaired the hole in his haversack and hung it upon a nail in the bunker, out of reach of the rats. Herbert writing this showing he is learning to adjust to life and conditions ion the Ost Front. Much different to previously mentioned clean and war hospital beds.

Herbert then recalls of some maintenance to his kit, Hebert has wrote of darning socks but here Herbert explains how he has found the time to patch up his trousers, this being a slow but gradual repair every second day. This comes as Herbert a result of Hebert finding and whole new patch for the bottom of his trousers.

Hebert draws the letter to a close by giving a weather update, with torrential rain during the day and bitter cold conditions at night. Hebert staying optimistic by this as he writes "but we are in Russia and not for pleasure, so as long as it stays like this I will not complain." Some humour despite the rough and bitter conditions.

Hebert recalling and concluding his safety and health to his family in reassurance. Herbert telling his family not to worry and hoping they are all safe and well too. Sadly a P.S at the bottom mentions "I am enclosing a few more pictures. Please keep them." This sadly missing from the Herbert Tank Feldposts we have in KB41 Collection. We can only hope that one day we might find them but like other letters mentioning items sent home, they are sadly lost to time. This letter like many before, concludes with "Es grüßt, Euer Herbert" - Greetings, Yours, Herbert