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Feldpost Projekt:
Hans Simon, Letter home to his parents on 16.11.1939

(This is the same as the “Letters Home” from WW2 projects in the US and Britain)

Just for Mom!
My dear Mom!

16 November 1939! November 1939!
A year ago today I came to the army. With mixed feelings, I admit honestly. Today, however, the service gives me a lot of fun.

What I’ve seen? Everything this year. East Prussia. On the streets endless Kollonnen draw attention to the border. For hours, with short breaks it is the whole night, and the next morning still.

An old woman Stood watching our train, the tears stood in her eyes. “So zogen 1914 auch die Soldaten”.
(”As 1914 drew the soldiers.”)

Then the first day in Poland. The first casualties are coming back. An armored train brings back a wounded comrade. He lies on a stretcher and with every breath sounds like a moaning to our ears, we are upset.

I hesitated for a minute on my courage to fight. Am I too young, too soft? Well, I clenched my teeth.

After killing only two Poles, I had a Poland to the sword. Not out of lust for murder, only a sense of duty, iron reasoning was that my true feelings or diverted. This is war.

A soft boy has become a tough soldier and yet I do not think that the softness is completely gone from my feeling that he is zurückgestimmt. Precisely, it is not in place.

We have war. If we are: We are going to sing against England. With the same feelings we may have sung this song 1914

Whether you have then guessed the outcome of the war. Where’s the victory yet so often seemed on our side? I forgot about it in the minutes before the attack.

On 1 Sept. at 4.45 war was fixed so the invasion began. Neither exuberant nor enthusiasm for a certain depression dominated us. Well, it was impossible to even think clearly and soberly. Man war Realist.

There was a realist book The Commission has brought me this year. There were just some thoughts.

What has brought us this year in what is beautiful!

I was looking forward to your letter. I see how you feel about o me. For you have certainly had little time. I look forward to double. You have at home so much worry.

The fact that you got a letter at home after a long time no hearing from me, I’m sorry, for I have written every day at home and when I once had no time, I wrote in short, a note.
This is probably due to the delivery.

Dad has now perhaps prospects come to the middle school, I am very happy. I hope he comes.

I hope it is daddy with the neck better soon. Where’s Daddy just now serve the neighboring communities, must be particularly strained his neck.

You’ve probably just very difficult. Ich muß noch immer an die Geschichte denken, die Du mir von Tante Mariechen und Tante Cila erzählt hast.

I still think about the story that you told me of Aunt Maria and Aunt Cila. You know what I mean, where they trained me with chocolate and sweets. Today, it will probably be the same.

Pity I can not tell you come to the assistance, for you have certainly seen a hard time I hope costing, what’s playing.

I will pray at night, then maybe you have it easier. Something like this makes such a mellow, Winfried especially when you just need so badly.

Simply, it is not certain. Frankly, I would often go out of the skin. But does it not, shalt rise up before the hoary head thou. Well, mommy’s, daddy and hopefully open the eyes, so you have it easier. If I had to put myself in your situation!

At the moment I am very nervous. You will certainly double in the work may be. Where do you taking from his strength? As costing is, she is already thinking as far as self-employed, that she sees what’s going on? Well, Mom’s, I hope you have it easier than before. You have suffered so much already in this respect. But I hope that Omutti to take root.

Maybe you can find something that they fully claimed, except that you will not gefuscht in the economy. Omutti means it must be very good. She pushes it in one way.

If you were in Estonia on a visit, it was beautiful, but in daily life it is something different. As you may have cost the victim, Omutti record. Perhaps Uncle Arthur may unconsciously compensate. We certainly hope this is not best?

If you always think of the past, eating its way deeper and deeper with grief and everything becomes harder. Maybe there is something that Omutti so interested that Omuttis of occupation is fully satisfied. Well, they will turn up something.

Dear Mom’s, Please do not let this letter go into other hands. He may perhaps see trouble and discontent that is not hereby intended. Best if you burn it. I am sick over him especially.

At Winfried You probably have your trouble, but probably also your joy? .... Costing the brave .... , She torments probably still so with mathematics. Pity I can not help her.

I Order you please extend my warmest greetings to Winni please from me.

Has she really got my note? Later I will write him again. Was

What can you send me from time to time, are a few apples and a little jam. Of the other wishes, I wrote in recent letters. Assuming you have enough.

And do not forget our brave Tutti in Derneburg. She has certainly much to do. I also try to write to her every day.

From vacation, I wrote to you already. A slight glimmer of hope?? I dare not believe.

So mom’s, I hope that you will not have it too hard.

Would love to time (if time) have a brief physical description of our tenants. It still lives on with his thoughts at home. A few times a day for a walk, my thoughts to you at Kloster Malchow.

Please give my regards all. Pappi my best regards. Daddy I will also write some times.

If this letter is yet to arrive on Sunday, so I wish you a happy and beautiful Sunday. We will probably live firing on a military training area.

Well good luck and thank you, dear Mom’s
Your Hansi