Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series

This letter is written just one day after the last Feldpostkarte was stamped and sent home to Herbert's Family in Kiel, Northern Germany. Hebert writing this letter from his billeted accommodation whilst in service in Russia. This letter being used from stock of paper that Herbert has left in supply. Herbert wrote previous letters on Feldposkartes but this returns to Herbert's traditional A4 letter format.

The Feldpost in German reads as:

O.U. den 26.9.43

Ihr Lieben!

Heute habe ich Muttis lieben Brief mit

großer Freude erhalten, mit ebenso großer Freude

habe ich die Zigaretten in Empfang genommen.

Ich hatte gerade noch soviel Tabak, daß ich mir

eine Zigarette drehen konnte, da kam die Rettung.

Die Bilder sind ja auch ganz gut geworden. Ich

liege mit dem großen Krohn zusammen, habe ihm

gleich die Bilder gegeben. Das Bild, das Du, liebe

Mutti, gerne haben wolltest lege ich mit ein.

Das Negativ auf dem 3 Mann drauf sind schicke

bitte nach Hamburg. (Herr G. Krohn, Hamburg 39

Huthwalckerstr. 29). Der komische Gruß Fräulein

Koldes befindet sich auch in meinem Besitz. Ich

habe mich allerdings mehr gewundert als geärgert.

Unter den Schlachtern wird ja jetzt auch tüchtig

aufgeräumt. Nur gut, daß Köcher nicht dabei ist,

so ist es doch ruhiger für Euch. Wie schafft ihr es

denn. Was machen Pappa und Hanne. Von ihnen

stand ja garnichts darin. Onkel Willi´s Zeit

wird jetzt wohl schon um sein. Bleibt er

nun in der Heimat?

Du schreibst, daß die Stimmung sich

wieder etwas gehoben hat. Ich sehe auch nicht so

schwarz wie einige. Die Ukraine nützt dem

Russen doch nichts im Winter und der Krieg

muß ja bald mal zu Ende gehen.

Mir geht es sonst gut. Gestern abend habe ich

wieder gesaunt anschließend hinein in den

Bach, es war prima. Man fühlte sich wie neu

geboren nur etwas taumelig ist man anschließend.

Heute nachmittag habe ich wieder meine Wäsche

gewaschen. Marketenderwaren haben wir auch

bekommen. Nur kein Briefpapier, aber Schnaps und

Zigaretten waren dabei. Eben war Günther

Lamp hier, er soll auf Wache ziehen. Seinen 1/4 l

Schnaps hat er aus, er hatte einen kleinen in der Krone.

Ich habe Stubendienst heute abend, werde mir

die Sachen noch ein wenig aufbewahren, habe

heute abend auch gar kein Verlangen danach.

Nun will ich schließen

Es grüßt Euch Dreien

Euer Herbert

N.S. Schickt keine Pakete mehr, ich

weiß nicht wie lange wir noch hier sind.

Vielleicht noch 14 Tage. Die Post wird uns

zwar nachgeschickt; aber mit Paketen ist

es so so

D.O.

The Feldpost in English reads as:

O.U. the 26.9.43

My dear ones!

Today I received Mother's dear letter with

with great joy, and I received the cigarettes with

the same joy. I had just enough tobacco left to roll

myself a cigarette, and then came salvation.

The pictures turned out quite well. I'm lying with the elder Krohn.

I gave him the pictures right away. The picture that you, dear

Mutti, wanted to have, I'll put into the letter.

Please send the negative with three men on it to Hamburg.

(Mr. G. Krohn, Hamburg 39, Huthwalckerstr. 29). The weird greeting from Fräulein Koldes is also in my possession. I was more surprised than annoyed.

There is a lot of cleaning up going on among the butchers.

It's good that Köcher is not among them, so it's quieter for

you. How do you manage all. What are Dad and Hanne doing?

There were no news about them in the letter.

Uncle Willi's time will probably be over by now. Will he

stay at home now?

You write that the mood has lifted a little. I don't see things

so dark as some others do. Ukraine is of no use to the

Russians in the winter and the war must has to end soon.

I am otherwise fine. Yesterday evening I

went into the sauna again, and then I went into the stream.

It was great. You feel like you've been reborn

only a little groggy afterward. This afternoon I did my

laundry again. We also got sutler goods.

We got no stationery, but schnapps and cigarettes were there.

Günther Lamp was just here, he's supposed to go on guard duty.

He's drank all of his 1/4 l schnapps. He was very tipsy.

I'm on duty this evening, I'll keep my things for a while, I have no

desire consume them tonight.

Now I will close

Greetings to the three of you

Yours Herbert

N.S. Don't send any more parcels, I don't know how long

don't know how much longer we will be here.

Maybe another 14 days. The post will be

sent on to us, but with parcels it's so

so

D.O.

This Feldpost being a longer format than others recently written by Hebert in 1943.This letter being packed full of details about Herbert and his time Billeted.

Herbert starts the letter by addressing the letter he received from his "Mutti" (Mother). Herbert was filled with "Joy" and rightfully so as mentioned in previous letters how it had been four weeks since he had heard news from home. This showing the delay of postal routes from Home to the occupied vast terrain of Russland.

Herbert has countlessly across many letters has mentioned a lack of cigarettes, with this Herbert mentions how he was able to roll one last cigarette before receiving the package that was sent from his mother containing more cigarettes that Herbert describes, as "salvation". This comes as a result of waiting over four weeks to hear from Home, and in previous letters, asking his family to send him some more cigarettes as supplies have run low and the sutler goods hasn't arrived prior to this letter be written.

Herbert the details in his letter how he is laying in this billeted accommodation somewhere in Russia with his comrade Krohn. As previously mentioned Krohn was a known friend of Herbert, to which Herbert wrote to his family, ask his family to forward some photographs that were taken off him to his friend. It's needed not to happen as her that explains that he has already given the photographs taken to him in person. Herbert then goes on to explain how the photograph in which his mother wanted to have has been included in the letter sent home (Sadly it is expected like other photographs mentioned that were enclosed with the field posts discussed in the series, but they were likely put into a family album and have not remained with the letters, Unfortunately for now these are lost to time).

But Herbert also details and address of Krohn, who resides in Hamburg, to which he would like the negatives, of the three men to be sent to. This likely being requested as development of the photographs may not be possible, but also to give the negatives to the family back home in Germany, so that they can distribute copies within the closest family of his friend. Herbert also mentions a unusual mention of a letter from a "Fräulein Koldes" it is Unknown who is this lady is however Herbert has detailed, but it is rather suprised to have received a letter from them.

It's from here that we learn a little bit more about Herbert's family situation and family occupation. It has been suggested the previous letters, his family owns a shop in Kiel. Herbert explaining that a butchers has been cleaning up. Suggesting that possibly some members of staff have either been made redundant, or some form of reorganisation within a business. With this, it is mentioned that a "Köcher" was not among those mentioned, possibly someone who Herbert's mother did not get on with. (it is ultimately really hard to determine information about these people as so little is written in these letters as the information was sent in letters to Herbert, so we only learn what is written and sent home to his immediate family)

With this Herbert asks how his family is managing to cope with the situations. Herbert also ask how his Father and Hanne are doing, as no information he explains was details about them in letters he received. This suggesting possibly that his father may still be unwell and away from home as previously mentioned in other letters, when Herbert himself was recovering from pneumonia in hospitals in Riga, Latvia, and later Brunswick, Germany.

Another name by that of "Uncle Willi" is mentioned, with regards of "his time is up now" suggesting will he stay at home. This possibly coming as a result of another ill health that his uncle may have to recover at home or a possible death. It is ultimately undetermined as a little is known about his uncle as this is the first mention of him in this letter.

Herbert then goes on to talk briefly about the current climate of the war. The only news in which he receives is from magazines and newspapers and word from Home in letters from friends and family about what is going on within the government back home. Herbert's mum has detailed that the mood has lifted. It's from here that we learn that Herbert does not see things as they are all negative me as other people do. It's here that Herbert mentions that Russia has no use for occupying the country of Ukraine during the winter. This suggesting that the Axis forces will come to occupy the country again, and can push back the Russians. This optimistic side of Herbert comes with a mention, the war should come to an end soon. (unfortunately Herbert, knowing that it would go on until his country is collapse and surrender in April 1945) discuss show the spirits in which Herbert find himself in, and his perspective of his current circumstances, lost in service on the eastern front in 1943.

After this Herbert goes on to talk about himself and how he is doing, so which he explains that he is doing fine. Explaining his activities, Herbert writes that he attended a sauna, and washed himself in the nearby stream. However, explaining how he feels less groggy, and almost reborn as a result of such a relief to wash and relax himself. This kind of activity was common, not only as a form of hygiene, but as a way to refresh on themselves whilst in service across both fronts during the Second World War. Herbert, unfortunately details that Arthur this process has been undertaken, but he does return to feeling slightly groggy afterwards acting as a short term resolution at feeling better but a greater relief than not having done it. Herbert explaining that he has also done some of his laundry in this time.

However, spirits were lifted when a Suttler goods arrived to where Herbert purchased some Schnapps and cigarettes are available. However to Herbert's disappointment, there was no stationary available to be purchased. The latter of which Herbert was hoping he could purchase as he is running low on supplies, as without such supplies of stationary as mentioned envelopes in particular, it seems that Herbert will not be able to write any letters home and keep in contact with his family. This would act as a huge decline in Herbert's morale and routine as he's seen through previous letters.

However, despite not being able to obtain any stationary, it seems that some fun and enjoyment was had with the Schnapps obtained from the Suttler goods. This is mentioned as "Günther Lamp " a suggested friend of Herbert, has drank 1/4 of the bottle ready himself and has become quite tipsy. It's becoming a joke among the two soldiers as Günther is suggested to have to do some guard duty.

Herbert then goes on to close the letter by detailing that he himself is going to go on a guard duty. Whilst he has some supplies, and some of the schnapps left, he writes that he has no intention of consuming them prior to his guard duty. There is potentially to not worry his family, but he will be intoxicated whilst on guard duty, and it's safe and sober. As such activities, such as drinking and camaraderie where common to keep morale high and relieve stress and anxiety whilst in service however as we have seen in previous letters, Herbert is very efficient and smart in balancing these two behaviours.

It is noted that before Herbert closes this feldpost letter, but in other letters similar A "PS" is added at the bottom. This time its written to his family not to any more parcels. Comes as a result of her, but not knowing how long he will be in the same region that he is, Herbert, suggesting possibly 14 days is all they have left in the current area. As a precaution Herbert writes this so that the parcels containing items that will benefit him and possibly his comrades are not lost within the Postal Service as letters will make their way easily to the front line or to where ever Herbert moves to however parcels have a tendency it seems just like modern day to get misplaced or lost.

This letter, how much longer letter than in previous studies from this series in the collection, shows how much clearer insight to Herbert's day-to-day activities, whilst his accommodation is expected to be another occupied buildings, belonging to a local civilian of the region, as before mentioned that her, but was staying with a Finnish family in the Leningrad region of Russia. We see his mentality and thoughts at this late war period, hopeful that the war will come to an end soon, hoping that their forces can achieve a victory. Unfortunately, stationary supplies were not replenished and this can be foreshadowed for later letters which we will be continuing to post.