58 - Uhrgraben, 30 June 1915

Uhrgraben, 30 June 1915

[Wednesday]

Dear family!

Since I wrote you last (I was just thinking that was a long time ago, last Friday) I received mother’s letter of the 22^nd, with the nice picture postcard which I shall treasure, and parcels upto nr 189.

The bottle of lemonjuice unfortunately arrived broken, but thankfully not much was lost. The juice was excellent. Then I received parcels from Aunt Vollmer, Hans and Aunt Bonert. Please thank Aunt Bonert for me (I’ve already written cards to the others), and tell her I’ll write to Paul as soon as we are in rest again.

Then I’d like to propose to you: please have mother include a list of the parcels you’ve sent with the letters. It makes it a lot easier for me to confirm which parcels had arrived. It happen often that I receive many parcels just as we are moving. You can imagine I’m always glad everything fits into the backpack again, and that I really don’t have time to note down the numbers.

We have to clean the dug-out every time we’re relieved, so empty parcels have to be thrown out as soon as possible. And also it looks a bit weird to others, all those high numbers on the parcels.

You please do me that favour, and write “up to this letter we sent off the following parcels, contents etc”. I hope you can see it’s for the better.

Then I received a parcel from Lena Pilgram lately. I can’t quite explain why this young lady sent me a parcel. Or is that story about the dance-lessons doing the rounds? What she sent was excellent and very tasty. But I’d still like to know what it is with that story.

A friend of mine, Otto Mertens from Solingen, also a Highschool graduate, gets sent roast meat from home, packed in a tin with a bit of gravy, which you can eat with bread and butter. It keeps well. I believe it’s cheaper than preserves. The peas you sent me lately were perfect, even though the can got broken in transit.

As I wrote you several times we have absolutely nothing to do with the fighting north of Arras. We are positioned just south of the Canal de La Bassée, and that’s a long way from Arras. Just look at the map!

Also when Karl Steigleder was killed there was nothing going on here. It was purely a random shot. We all still miss him. [*1]

Then to mother’s letter. I received the sugarcubes, and I can use them for a better purpose namely fly bites. There is a gigantic amount of flies here, but fortunately no gadflies. The flycatchers here, which we get from the Kompanie, are always fuller than the one’s in mother’s kitchen. The sugar is no good for lice-bites, because those lice predominantly irritate you by their constant moving around and itching, and you notice the bites only as tiny blisters on your skin. At the moment hey don’t bother me.

But from the fly-bites can cause nasty, festering sores, and many of us suffer from them. Those sores only occur on your legs, the doctors don’t quite know yet why that is. I had one of those, but had it bandaged by the medic immediately, and after 8 days it was gone.

Then I received the money (20 Mk) that father had sent me. I’m a rich man again. The day after tomorrow we’ll be going to the Prellbock [= frontline trenches], and I can put it to good use when we come in rest again.

Can you check whether that little Ticka can be made working again, and then send it to me? [*2} I can then make some photographs, which Henne I’m sure will like to develop. And when the photographs turn out okay you can have them enlarged at Jansens.[*3] A small camera like that is easy to schlepp around.

The Puffertkuchen that you baked for me were outstanding, very tasty. I request a new shipment. The mail arrived last night at 12, but I couldn’t resist to treat myself to one box right away. I can tell you they tasted even better than the chcocolatecake you send me often.

The “Kronprinz Wilhelm” cigarettes have also arrived. They’re still the best. Please send me a box now and then, or Zubau No 25 or Flaggengala.

Well I’m out of topics for today. So Schluß.

With many warm greetings to everyone   Your Fritz

[*1] Karl Steigleder, from Barmen, died 28 June 1915

Verlustlisten of 14 July 1914:

Karl was first buried at Douvrin:

He is now buried at the German cemetery, Lens-Salaumines

Block 28, grave nr 29

[*2] 

http://www.submin.com/large/collection/expo/cameras/ticka.htm

[*3]  From the Barmer Addressbook of 1924 : 

The original letter:

57 - Prellbock, 25 June 1915

Prellbock, 25 June 1915

[Friday]

Dear family,

Yesterday I received mother’s letter of the 20^th. I didn’t receive any parcels.

I have time now and will try to complete another letter to you.

I’v received the cigarettes you sent me, Aunt Lise’s too, and I’m enjoying them right now. They’re different from the ones before. Unfortunately they’re a little strong, but when you’ve smoked all kinds of “Kraut” [rubbish] it doesn’t really matter. At least they’re better than many of the 5 Pfg cigarettes you can buy here in the canteen. Please thank Aunt Lise for me.

It’s comical: some time ago I lost all sense of taste, and I smoked anything that would come near my beak. Not anymore though, now I immediately recognise a good cigarette. I very much like the Zuban No 25 you sent me.

Then, I’ve been meaning to write this to you for a long time, please send me a wrist strap for my watch. I don’t need underwear, socks etc, but when I do I’ll write you early enough. On the other hand I could use one coloured handkerchief. It makes it extremely difficult when you’ve got so much stuff in your backpack. You have to remember that we move every 4 days.

Furthermore I am out of sugar for the tea, the French sugar you can get here in the canteen is not at all sweet and has a nasty aftertaste.

And I’m eagerly awaiting the photographs that August took of you.

Well, this letter is turning out to be a complete wish-list. That is though because I don’t have much to write about. Please write me questions about the things you would like to know more about.

I’m happy everything in the garden is flowering so beautifully. Did the Lohengrin iris, that’s the one on the far right, not flower at all or did the flowers wither quickly? [* see letter nr 46 – 22 May]

The Spiraea not flowering well is most probably because they’ve grown too big. They should be parted in autumn and then replanted. Also remember to cut back the Delphiniums once they’ve flowered, even when the leaves are still green. Has the salmon-rose Papaver flowered yet, and how about the carnations? The papavers here in the garden are flowering beautifully.

The English were well-behaved the last couple of days. The fights of which you’ve read did only take place north of the Canal de La Bassée. We are just south of that canal.

Mother is right when she writes it’s important the enemy does not break through the Westfront, especially now that the bulk of our Army is in Russia. But we won’t let them through. Let them come.

Let’s hope it will be over quickly in the East. It seems it will now with the capture of Lemberg. [*1]

And then we can move on here, and finally get to our target.

I was planning to write you about what it looks like here in the trenches, and how our life is.

Nah, next time.

With many warm greetings to everyone   Your Fritz

[*1] 

The battle of Lemberg, 20-22 June 1915, was a short-lived Russian attempt to defend the great fortress of Lemberg against advancing German and Austrian troops during the aftermath of the great German victory at Gorlice-Tarnow. That battle had seen the Germans break through the Russian lines at the western end of the Carpathian front and advance east along the line of the mountains, forcing the Russians to abandon their attempt to invade Hungary.

Lemberg was a great Austro-Hungarian fortress at the eastern end of that front. It had been captured by the Russians during the battles of Lemberg of 1914, which had seen the Austrians first forced back to the Carpathians. In June 1915 it was defended by two tired Russian corps (VIII and XVIII) under General Brusilov. His army had been fighting in the Carpathians since the winter and was significantly under strength.

On 20 June the German XLI Reserve corps and Austrian VI corps launched an attack on Lemberg. These were relatively fresh units – the Germans in particular had been at close to full strength at the start of the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive and the Russians in Lemberg were outnumbered.

The battle was short-lived. On 22 June the Germans and Austrians broke into the outskirts of Lemberg, and to avoid being trapped Brusilov pulled his corps out of the city. The Russian retreat would continue until mid-September, and their new front line would be fifty miles east of Lemberg.  

From:   http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_lemberg1915.html

The original letter: 

56 - Prellbock, 24 June 1915

Prellbock, 24 June 1915

[Thursday]

Dear family,

Finally I have time to write to you. Since my last letter I haven’t received any from you, but I did receive a whole load of parcels, with numbers up to 176, and one with Kuchen. Also one from Anna and one from Hartmut. I’ll send Hartmut a nice picture postcard for his album in the next few days.

The new shoes have also arrived. Many thanks for everything.

So the shoes didn’t take as long to arrive as I had expected. They fit perfectly, even better than my old ones. Now I have something nice on my feet again. Before anything they’re nice and high, ankle-height. That’s always the problem with army-shoes: they’re too low and don’t quite fit well at the top. So the shoes are perfect. I won’t be wearing my boots anymore now. You won’t believe how hot your feet get in them.

The 4 days of rest are now over thankfully. This time they weren’t of much use to us. Every day they had programmed shooting exercises, marching etc  for us, we hardly had time to get any rest. The only highlight was: we’ve been swimming yesterday morning. And I can tell you: that was a blast!

Unfortunately I have to note that I had unlearned a lot. We’ve established a place to swim not far from here. The next time we’ll go to an even nicer one. By the way: it was the first time in the 5 months as a soldier that I had an opportunity to swim. [*1]

Here on this section of the front it’s quiet again. When anyone tells you otherwise you should not believe that. Everything I write you is always the truth. I know e.g. that there’s a story doing the rounds in Barmen, about a backpack which was completely destroyed by a piece of shrapnel. I’ve already heard it over the telephone too. That story is a fabrication from A to Z, so that you know.

I don’t understand why this certain young man is writing home such fairytales. Maybe it’s because then he’ll get sent more from home? I’m writing you this to make sure you don’t worry unnecessarily, and maybe think that what I’m writing is not the truth.

I think you can guess who that young man was. He is the one who participated in the Lorettoschlacht some time ago. [See Fritz’s letter # 49 of 3^rd June 1915]

Then yesterday I received a letter from Hans [Heynsche]. He advised me that Leutnant Stennes had written to him. What do you make of that letter from Leutnant Souchay? I myself would be thoroughly ashamed to send such a piece of junk, especially to people I don’t know.

Then – I totally forgot – I received a parcel from Aunt Lise. Please thank her from me.

With many warm greetings   your Fritz

[*1]  A Badeanstalt of the 13^th Division, location unknown.

The original letter: 

55 - Douvrin, 20 June 1915

55 D[ouvrin], 20 June 1915

[Sunday]

Dear family,

Since I last wrote you I have received mother’s letters of the 13^th and the 14^th with the photographs and Walter Benzenberg’s letter. Furthermore some parcels arrived. I don’t know the numbers anymore, I always forget to note them down, and then when I write to you I’v already discarded the cartons. I believe though that all the latest numbers were there. Many thanks for everything.

Then I received a further two parcels from A. Weyerbuschs (Please thank them for me!).

I really find that contraption for purification of water total nonsense. First of all the water tasts horrible (you have to add a lot of sugar), and then I think it’s impossible that this apparatus really purifies the water. That apart from the fact we have clean drinkingwater in the trenches.

Please send me lemon- or blackcurrant juice, which I already received. Please also send me now and then some Puffertkuchen mit Kraut. Make me some nice ones with a lot of raisins, I só long after them. I wanted to write that to you earlier, but I forgot every time. So please get yourself baking.

And mother wants to send the young man, who “accidentally” took my Gamaschen, some parcels too? [See letter nr 48 and flwng] Now that would really be the limit. He gets enough from home himself. By the way he got wounded the day before yesterday.

I was very happy with the photographs of the soldiers in the coldstore. I did think however you would send me a couple of photographs of you, that August had made? Or didn’t they turn out?  [August is his sister Else’s fiancé] .

We don’t get thirsty here much. Every morning we’re supplied with a Feldflasche full (about 1 liter) of coffee, chocolatemilk or tea. Which is in itself sufficient. Apart from that there’s always plenty of dsrinkingwater available.

It’ts not so warm anymore. I even wear my coat most nights. The way Hedwig Scharwächter drew you the trenches is exactly like it is here. E.g. our Leutnant has such a beautiful dugout too: bombproof, planks nailed against the wall over which fabric has been stretched, the seams finished with polished strips of wood, white floor, the top parts of the wall painted red, bottom parts painted grey, a beautiful campbed, table and easychair. Everything requisitioned from a luxury car which was left behind at the station. You can imagine life is good there.

The sappers are building us a new dugout too. For the rest it’s just like that [as Hedwig had drawn] in our trenches: we also have watertanks, garbage cans, and bins for dry bread etc. We even have a canteen now in the trenches. We’re not allowed to go there from the Prellbock, but someone goes there every day to get something for everyone. I always treat myself to, when it’s available, a bottle of Rhenser Sprüdel [= carbonated mineralwater], which tastes perfect with the juice you always send me.

At the moment we’re enjoying our 4 day rest. And this time we really deserved it. We had an awful lot of work because of the attack the English, of which you can read in the Daily Communiqué of General HQ of the 16^th . [*2]

Apparently the English wanted to attack here too, but agreed against that after they got thrashed to the right of us. So we only had the artillery-bombardment preceding the attack, that is: not our Kompanie as we were in the reserve-trenches at the time.

I can tell you the Prellbock was a beautiful sight when we arrived on the 17^th. Not one sandbag on top of the other. Luckily we still had a part with which the artillery couldn’t do much, that part was still perfectly in order. The rest was a mishmash of sandbags, duckboards, poles etc. You just cannot imagine it. But everything has now been cleared in some degree, and put back together even more secure and tighter than before.

In the 4 days we were up there the English tried twice more to attack to the right of us. The first time they reached midway between the English and German trenches, but then got só hit by our machinegun fire that no-one made it back. The second time they were bombarded by our artillery the moment they got out of their trenches, and they quickly aborted that attack.

They say that during a new attack the English soldiers refused to come out of their trenches, and in the end the English artillery started bombarding their ówn trenches. But that didn’t do the trick either, the English could not bring themselves to attack again. I think they were lucky: if they had attacked us it would have ended véry badly for them.

But enough for today. I hope to write you again soon (Tomorrow or the day after).

Hopefully I can now put my plan to work.

With many warm greetings

Your  Fritz

[*1]  Puffertkuchen apparently are a regional thing, a sort of little pancakes with raisins

http://alte-rezepte.blogspot.nl/2013/09/puffert-hefekuchen-1888.html

[*2] 

http://www.stahlgewitter.com/15_06_16.htm

Großes Hauptquartier, 16. Juni.
Westlicher Kriegsschauplatz:
Wieder einmal veranlaßt durch die russischen Niederlagen, griffen Franzosen und Engländer gestern an vielen Stellen der Westfront mit starken Kräften an.
Den Engländern gelang es bei Ypern, unsere Stellung nördlich des Teiches von Bellewaarde etwas zurückzudrücken. Es wird dort noch gekämpft. Dagegen sind zwei Angriffe von vier englischen Divisionen zwischen der Straße Estaires-La Bassée und dem Kanal von La Bassée vollkommen zusammengebrochen. Unsere tapferen westfälischen Regimenter und dort eingelassene Teile der Garde wiesen den Ansturm nach erbitterten Nahkämpfen restlos ab. Der Feind hatte schwere Verluste; er ließ mehrere Maschinengewehre und einen Minenwerfer in unserer Hand. An die Stellungen der mit größter Zähigkeit sich behauptenden Badener bei der Lorettohöhe wagte sich der Feind nach seinen Niederlagen am 13. und 14. nicht wieder heran.

The Vlissingsche Courant, a newspaper in neutral The Netherlands, also mentioned the English defeats in an article on 19th June 1915 :

"Western wartheatre, [ .... ] . The English suffered new defeats north-west of the La Bassée-canal. Their attacking forces were annihilated. Only a few escaped. [ .... ].

[*3]

for a description of The Second Action of Givenchy, 15-16 June 1915 , see:

http://www.1914-1918.net/bat12.htm

the original letter: