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, 9th May 1915
[*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
[*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
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