Feldpost interesting contents need translation help

**Luftwaffe 1941** · 04-24-2018, 11:16 PM

Sometime last year a friend of mine helped me translate some of my German WW2 feldpost letters. One in particular seemed to stand out from the rest, or at least from my friends point of view. Anyways he told me this letter was written by a German soldier to his younger brother on his birthday. Apparently somewhere in the letter the soldier mentions something about Jews, and his disgust of them. Ever since my friend helped me translate it, I put this letter to the side. I have my doubts about those claims being true, so I thought I would post photos of the letter here. Maybe someone here can give me an accurate translation. Thanks in advance to anyone that helps out!

Best regards- Jarret

Feldpost interesting contents need translation help

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 04-24-2018 11:16 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**BrodieBartfast** · 04-24-2018, 11:22 PM

It was a common sentiment for the period, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was indeed the case. Hopefully Andreas sees this. He's the forum's best when it comes to translating Sütterlin, and has been a massive help in helping me translate most of my own feldpost collection.

I really do love these letters. The insight into a soldier's personal take on the war really is fascinating. The price-to-history ratio is incredible. It makes you wonder what kind of information might be hidden away in the millions of untranslated letters that are floating around out there, or gathering dust in desk drawers.

Regards, B.B.

**Luftwaffe 1941** · 04-24-2018, 11:27 PM

by BrodieBartfast

It was a common sentiment for the period, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was indeed the case. Hopefully Andreas sees this. He's the forum's best when it comes to translating Sütterlin, and has been a massive help in helping me translate most of my own feldpost collection.

I really do love these letters. The insight into a soldier's personal take on the war really is fascinating. The price-to-history ratio is incredible. It makes you wonder what kind of information might be hidden away in the millions of untranslated letters that are floating around out there, or gathering dust in desk drawers.

Regards, B.B.

I also love these letters B.B.! You are very right, the price-to-history ratio is incredible. It amazes me how cheap some of these Feldpost letters sell for. Ive bought quite a few of these letters, and im building a small collection of them. Sounds like Andreas is the man to go for this type of stuff. I also hope he will see this.

Best regards- Jarret

**BrodieBartfast** · 04-24-2018, 11:33 PM

Andreas really is a gift to this forum, as so many other members here are. Bringing together so many specialists in different fields really helps add to the vast pool of knowledge that exists here. If you want to see some of his previous translation work, here's one of my feldpost letters. I have a whole chain of them, and watching the war progress through Friesch's private perspective really is quite fascinating.

Friesch to Klara: 26th September 1941

B.B.

**Luftwaffe 1941** · 04-24-2018, 11:50 PM

Thanks for that link B.B.! Andreas can translate these letters VERY well. I really enjoyed the read. This makes me wonder what my other letters my contain. Here are the covers of a few of them.

Best regards- Jarret

**HPL2008** · 04-24-2018, 11:50 PM

Thanks for the kind words.

Yes; it's a private letter written by a soldier to his brother on the occasion of his 14th birthday. No mention is made of Jews whatsover.

I can translate it tomorrow or so. (But it's off to bed now!)

**HPL2008** · 04-25-2018, 08:16 PM

Here's what it says:

"Heidelberg, 28th March 41.

My dear brother Leo!

From the bottom of my heart, the very best wishes for your high 14th birthday from your brother.

May you enjoy much success in your life and study dutifully as well, so that you can become a naval officer.

It is so good to be a soldier*; that is true, but still, there are are bad and hard days here as well, and one cannot always keep one's stubborn head held high; but with good will and humor, it all works out.

It won't be long now until I go to the front as a brave soldier, where I will do my duty for the Fatherland. If I return home in good health, life will only start to be beautiful. But, if this is not to be, please do not give our dear parents any unneccessary grief and sorrow and show them that not all is lost just yet.

But enough of the gloomy thoughts now. If you have any wish or there is something on your mind, do write me right away, so that I may fulfil your wish, if it is within my powers.

Otherwise, I am fine and I hope you are as well.

I would like to finish for now, once again with the most heartfelt wishes for the future and am, with the most cordial greetings and kisses,

your brother,

Hans

PS: I have not been granted leave yet, so that I am unable to visit you on your birthday; thus, this letter."

*) A reference to a popular soldiers' song ("Es ist so schön, Soldat zu sein, Rosemarie...")

**Luftwaffe 1941** · 04-26-2018, 02:53 AM

This is truly amazing! Thank you so much for bringing life to this letter in English. This was once a random letter in my collection, but it now has a story behind it. I will write down this translation, and keep it with the letter. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. It really means a lot!

Best regards- Jarret