48 - Trenches, 30 May 1915

 

Trenches, 30 may 1915

Dear family,

Yesterday I received mother’s letter of the 24^th inst. with a letter from Walter Benzenberg. H aven’t received any parcels since the last time I wrote you. The rumour goes parcel-delivery has been suspended. Furthermore I received the 20 Mark father sent by money order. Many thanks for eveything.

I don’t need so much money at the moment. All you have to do is, when you want, enclose a 5 Mark note in a letter now and then. It doesn’t happen often but I think I’ll keep the 20 Mark in reserve.

At the moment we’re in the reserve-trenches for 4 days. We’re all doing very well in this nice weather. We only always feel sorry for those “poor soldiers in France”.

The officer’s candidate course is continuing here. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning there are classes in Douvrin. I’m not going though. They never told me about it. So I assume I’m good enough, or rather still, I’m surplus to requirements and they have favoured those who have been in the field for longer. Ah well, I don’t care. I’m not going to pursue them.  I don’t really care for a promotion, as I already wrote you, as long as I can return to Germany healthy and quickly I’ll find my way.

I hope you too think the same way. At least I had a 3-wekk summer-holiday which did me the world of good. So that’s settled.

As I already wrote you I'm doing well. The English here have been very well behaved lately. That is of course because we have so much artillery here now, and they always get the respectful reply when they’re naughty. But they’ve gone off that now apparently. But then they don’t have that much ammunition to fire like before.

Next door at the 56’ers [*1] the English have also gone quieter. When it’s so quiet life here is really extremely boring. But there are always those small things that make you smile. Like a few days ago : two Barmer, who were also at Kevelaer, Don etc., tied, at dawn when sight is at its worst, ropes to the Spanish Riders in front of the English positions. They then reeled them in when it got light, right in front of the perplexed English. Would have loved to see the long faces of the English. In our Kompanie’s position this sort of thing is out of the question as the English are 200-300 meters away. With other Kompanies that gap is only 50-60 meteres, making it a lot easier. [*2]

What I wanted to write you: my good Wickelgamaschen [“Puttees”} were stolen from me. But I did see a young man wearing them today, and confronted him with it. He didn’t want to give them back though. So I turned to the Feldwebel, and he will see to it the good man gets 3 days detention.

For me it’s not about the Gamaschen, even though that’s bad enough, but more to finally get one of those brothers. Theft is on the increase here.

What about photographs? Please send me one of you all. Haven’t you received mine yet? Please finally write about that. I don’t need underwear, as I already wrote you. On the other hand I’d like some marmelade, preserved fruit etc. Also more cigarettes, they don’t bother me in the open air.

There are these cigarettes “Krinprinz Wilhelm”which I used to smoke. Please send me a box dor Sundays.

With many warm greetings   your Fritz.

[*1] the “56’ers” (Infanterie Regiment 56) were positioned just north of the canal de la Bassée, at La Bassée opposite the “English” at Givenchy.

[*2] 1^st Btn Gloucestershire regiment was in position south of Cuinchy (possibly sector A1), and their war-diary for 16^th May 1915 has this intriguing entry:

“…. A wire cable discovered running from enemies lip [of the crater] towards ours was destroyed by rifle fire and bombing.”

Perhaps the story of “reeling in the Spanish riders” got a little embellished when it travelled down the line towards Fritz’s position? 

Sectors at Cuinchy section:

The original letter:

47 - Trenches (Prellbock) , 26 May 1915

Trenches (Prellbock) , 26 May 1915 (*1)

Dear family,

Yesterday I received the letters from both of you of the 19th and 21st, together with parcels nrs 130, 132, 133, 134 and a parcel from Aunt Vollmer, whom you’d like to thank for me. Many thanks for everything.

You don’t have to send me so many socks and towels, like mother writes. I still have enough socks, and I can’t wash myself in the 12 days we are in the trenches. I do need fuel for the fieldcooker though. Coffee and such I can now get enough here from the field-kitchen, so you don’t have to send that.

I haven’t had time to write to the Bonerts yet, and now too I haven’t got round to it. Please tell them that. I would really like to write them a few words.

The fighting at Arras is not extending to this area. You can be reassured. I don’t believe it will come to an attack from the English here in the foreseeable future., because first of all they got it good attacking the 57’ers to the right of us a short while ago [*2], and they themselves write in the Times that our positions here to the left of the Canal de la Bassée are stronger than they thought, and are impenetrable. You may have read it to. It was in the Kölner Zeitung. [*3] And they’re totally correct. When they attack here they’ll run from one predicament into the other.

You don’t have to worry about a breakthrough of the English or the French here. We are as strong as can be, and of course we have artillery here. I have seen it for myself when we were going from Bersée to Douvrin. So it’s okay should they have garnered courage from Italy’s attack. They’ll get it good again.

Incidentally I am of the opinion this Lumpengesindel [ Riff-raff] needs something descending on them as soon as possible, so they don’t know what’s happening to them, just like Belgium.

When the Italian declaration of war on Austria got known here we shouted “Hurrah!” so loudly that the English all started shooting like mad out of fear. [*4] (It can of course only be in our favour when they waste their ammunition for nothing)  Then the next morning the English put up a sign outside their trenches “Italy has declared war on Austria. Gott strafe Italien! ”, I could read it clearly through my Scherenfernrohr [*5]. Whether they wanted to frighten us I don’t know.

In any case we all are convinced that this new enemy will not alter the final outcome of this war, although maybe peace will come a little later. But nobody would care about that.

Italy has no money of itself, and nobody wants to lend them any as they all need it for themselves. And it blundered with its own army uptill now (See Eritrea and Tripoli). So let’s not get upset about it.

Here it usually is quiet. The English artillery shells the positions of the 57’ers on our right now and then, but they usually leave us in peace. A mine or a shrapnell once in a while, but those don’t do any damage. All they do is keep us awake.

Last night we had a lot of rifle-fire. But we laugh at that, and we like that they’re not sparing their ammunition. I annoyed them greatly this morning: I shot one of their periscopes, with which they can look out of their trenches without popping their head up. As a thank-you they sent me a mass of rifle-fire and a few shrapnells. But that didn’t cause us any head-aches. [see *4]

By the way I’m now in a group with Steigleder, Heede and Mais, so there are now 5 Einjährige [*6] in our group (a group is 8 men strong), which is unique within the Kompanie. It’s fun, we are always together.

Mail: the mettwurst always arrives in good order, but not the bratwurst. You can of course also send smoked beef if you like. The ggs always arrive broken unfortunately, and are spoiled. Maybe it will be okay if you pack them carefully. Then my laced boots are worn out. There’s a tear in the side, and the shoemaker said they can’t be made waterproof anymore. So if you can send me a new pair please (You can also send heavy parcels) you would make me very happy. But it’s not absolutely necessary. I you’d rather not spend the money please let me know. I can have them give me a new pair here. And the old pair is still okay in this nice weather.

Was very happy with Else’s letter, even though it was only half a letter. I don’t hold it against her she doesn’t write so often. So in her next letter she shouldn’t first write two pages full of apologies, and then when you think “There we go, finally” start all over again.

It’s a shame the mail-connection with the East is so bad. I too haven’t heard from Walter Benzenberg for a long time. I fully and completely agree with what mother’s transcibed from his letter. My thoughts exactly. It would be good if mother writes me a transcription of part of his letters when she receives one. It always better to write to him when you have a link to what he wrote.

If you haven’t sent the contactform yet, but I hope you already did, please send it then not to me but to Feldwebel Wiegemann, 6. Komp. Inf, Regt. 16 etc. That way I don’t have to send it on to Douvrin myself. I didn’t think of writing that to you last Sunday. But it’s too late now.

Last Sunday I also wrote to Hans [Seynsche. See letter nr 46]. I wrote him everything that went on at the course, and have explained it all extensively, and asked him whether he could do anything for me. He knows what the circumstances are, and knows better than us what to do next. I myself don’t expect anything, after I took part. Everything is arranged by the Regiment.

But schluß. I have to get out at 7, guard duty. So please send me fuel for the fieldstove. We are not allowed to have open fires in the dug-outs, the English could see us because of the smoke. [*7]

So, with many warm greetings to you all, Father, Mother, Helene, Else-August, Hanne and Stropp, who I hope is doing and behaving well [*8]

I am   your Fritz

[*1] “Prellbock Stellung” is the name the Germans gave to what is known to the British army as “The Triangle” or “Embankment Redoubt”

[*2]  Battle of Aubers, 9^th May 1915

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat11.htm

[*3] Excerpt from the Diary of Capt. T. W. Sheppard   

(From “History of the King’s Regiment (Lliverpool) 1914-191 Volume I “

“….If you go up into the Cowl House of the brewery [at Cuinchy], where the observing station is,

the gunners will give you a fine view of the famous Triangle through their telescopes.

It is exactly opposite our section and is simply a railway line with a lot of wagons on it.

In front are three lines of German trenches, away to the left is La Bassee church, and they

say the Triangle is one of the strongest enemy positions on the western front.”

[*4] Have not quite established which regiment was in the trenches at that time, so can’t yet confirm this with a report from “the English”.

[*5] “Gott strafe Italien”: God will punish Italy. Whether or not this was a mistake by the English, as Italy is on their side so why would God punish Italy?, or whether this is a mistake by Fritz, and the sign actually read “Gott strafe Deutschland”, I’m not sure. 

The fact that Fritz writes “I could read it clearly” suggests the English made a mistake in the sign.

Scherenfernrohr = Telestereoscope.  A telescope with stereo view

Here a picture of a Scherenfernrohr from WW2 :

[*6] Einjährige = One-year-volunteers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-year_volunteer

 

[*7] King’s (Liverpool) Regiment had the same problem :

From “History of the King’s Regiment (Lliverpool) 1914-191 Volume I”

 “….No cooking was allowed in the trenches, as the smoke which would have been occasioned by cooking would only have encouraged enemy fire.  “

[*8]  Stropp is the family dog. 

The original letter 

46 - Douvrin, 22 May 1915

Douvrin, 22 May 1915

[Saturday]

Dear family,

As you can see the course ended right on time. We arrived back here yesterday. Today I received an enormous amount of mail, which had accumulated here, and some 11 parcels amongst which one from the Benzenbergs and two from the Bonerts. A.Weyerbuch’s always sends me the Wochenschau (please thank them for me) Furthermore I received a letter from Paul Bonert in which he informed me Erich was killed in action. I am so dreadfully sorry for Uncle and Aunt Bonert. Hopefully they, especially Uncle B, quickly come to terms with this dreadful loss. You should always keep in your mind that all the sacrifices that have been made in this war, and will continue to be made, will not have been for nothing. I hope Erich did not suffer in his last moments. We here on the frontline always wish that, should it all come to a bitter end. I’ll write to the Bonerts tomorrow.

Our Kompanie too has been though some terrible days when they were at the front. They have been deployed at La Bassée, to reinforce the 56’ers, and suffered heavy casualties. Ernst Fischer was wounded, but only relatively light, shrapnell-shot through the thigh.[*1]

Please send me a.s.a.p. the contactform for one-year-volunteers. You’ll have to pick it up from the army office on the Wegnerstrasse [in Barmen]. Not the certificate, but the form from Düsseldorf, in any case please send it immediately. I have to have it before 1^st June.

So the course finally came to an end. Those were really nice days, although the lessons themselves did not serve much purpose. But the rest did me good. You can’t imagine how well I look now. From the acquaintances from Barmen only Hugo Pass was there, nobody else. I think because the others don’t have the proper schooling.

Today I received a postcard from Hans Seynsche, and he writes he’s highly surpised I didn’t reply to his letter. But I really haven’t received anything from him. I’ll send him the name of my superior still today. Maybe it leads to something.

They haven’t told us what will happen now, or whether any of us will be sent to Döberitz. The Regiment has to decide now. We’ll know shortly I hope.

As I already wrote you we had some beautiful days in Bersée, and I will think back to those days for a long time to come. Especially the farewell party, Thursday evening, was very nice. We all sat around in the grass, and we were served beer, cigarettes etc by the officers. And of course there was a piano there too.

It would have been nicer in Bersée if I had received my mail regularly. In the end I only had dry bread and the enormous capital of 3 Pfennig left. You’ll understand you can’t do much with that.

Okay, so now the subject “Bienen”! Bienen are not, what mother thinks, fleas, but lice to call them by their correct name. I’m now so experienced in removing the little critters that I hope to be rid of them quickly.

My hands have now completely healed. From Aunt Nettelbeck I received a tin with cookies, that must have around Easter. I’ve confirmed that to her already of course.

Then the garden. It gives me great joy to hear everything grows so well, and that father likes to work in the garden. Did you remember to prune the almondtree, so that it will flower beautifully  again next year? When the big irissen start to bloom, can you send me an upper and a lower petal of the one that’s right at the back on the right? I’d like to know what that species, which is supposed to be very special, looks like.

It’s supposed to have pink flowers, and it’s called Lohengrin if the nameplate is still there. [*2]

Here the big irisses are already in bloom everywhere.

Father needs to look out for snails with the Delphinium. But with this dry weather I don’t think they’ll be much of a problem. I’d also like to know how the Papaver, Campanula and the Carnations are doing. Please write that to me in detail.

I don’t need underwear for the time being. I still have an extra set. Every time we come out of the trenches I have my dirty laundry washed and disinfected, that way I have something clean to put on every 12 days.

I don’t need socks for the time being, I still have plenty. So mother can get some respite now from knitting, and giving herself backache.  I don’t need newspapers either. We have a reading- and writingroom with all possible magazines and newspapers, even the General Anzeiger [the General-Anzeiger für Elberfeld-Barmen, the  local newspaper for Barmen and Elberfeld] [*3]

But schluss for today. I hope Helene, Else and Hanne enjoy their trips with August. It’s of no use to just stay at home and let your head hang. We’re not doing that either. And the two oldies should just go out for a walk, and have a coffee at Gerhards, Rigi Kulm or somewhere else. It’s much better than always staying at home.

Many warm greetings to everyone

Your Fritz

Please write to me exactly under which circumstances Erich was killed. But then you might not know much about that. 

[*1] Verlustlisten of 3 June 1915  (http://des.genealogy.net/eingabe-verlustlisten/search )

[*2] a Lohengrin iris

[*3] Reading- and writing-room of the IR 16 at Billy-Berclam (the village next to Douvrin)

The original letter: