Fritz Limbach - letters from the front - 1915: 74

Douvrin, 25 August 1915

[Wednesday]

Dear family,

I received mother’s letter of the 18th, and father’s letter of the same day with the photographs; furthermore parcels nr 278, 79, 80, 81, 82, and a parcel from Helene [his sister] from Dingeskirchen im Sauerland [*1]

Many thanks for everything, expecially the photographs.[2]

Today I’ll send you filmroll nr 3, with these exposures:

Nr 1/11 groups and persons at the Prellbock, nr 6 with the French machinegun at the Prellbock.

Nr 12 just unknown Grandées, taken in front of our quarters in Douvrin.

They’re all timed exposures, hopefully wíth heads this time. I hope a new roll of film is on its way to me already. I don’t think you can send me enough film, when you see the number of men who’ve already come to me and réally like to be photographed.

Don’t you have any questions about the photographs? I really miss that, if you ask questions I finally have something to write about. It’s getting a little boring for you, I think, when the only thing I write is : “Tommy is quiet.” And for the rest nothing much happens here.

To the three questions from mother’s letter: Karl Steigleder díd get the Puffertkuchen. I remember vividly how we shared them. They tasted great. It will have been 2 or 3 days before [before Karl was killed], I don’t quite know exactly anymore.

The poor and sad looking man on photograph nr 19 is in reality neither poor nor sad. He is our esteemed Company’s barber from Solingen, who, a fact unknown to most, receives the most parcels of anyone at the Prellbock. The other two guys on that photograph are members of the M.G.K. (Mordgesellenklub) [*3], but véry friendly guys nonetheless.

The little bag we’re all carrying contains a mask to protect us against English gas-attacks. They contain, if that interests you, cotton wool soaked in Sodium-Diosulphate.

So, I wait for more questions about the photographs. For example: you don’t really know what that tin with a handle actually is, do you? I have one hanging from my Gamaschen on one of the pictures.

They’re presents for the English, not containing marmelade but something of a different composition, which I’m sure they will also like very much.

Today we had our Kompanies Inspektion. It was just brilliant. Our commander General von François, who got so well-known because of his role in the battles in the Carpathian Mountains, the Divisional Commanders and all other high animals were there.[*4]

We staged a mock battle, and the troops, which had been trained in peace-time, could not have done better. Only the somewhat too boisterous attack was repelled. It was really tough, I mean we sweated like I don’t know what. But all was perfect.

Our Leutnant [*5] received the Iron Cross 1^st Class, the first and youngest Lieutenant in the whole Regiment to receive that honour. I was so happy for him. He truly deserved it. He cried tears of joy.

I’m very happy to have such a Company Commander, one you can rely on in all circumstances.

Don’t know what else to write. I heard people in Germany sing “Im Osten kämpft das deutsche Heer, im Westen kämpft die Feurwehr” [*6]. I implore you to be véry strictly against that, it really is injust towards us.

Please try to get Wilhelm Philipps’s address. Several of my letters were returned to me.

Many warm greetings your Fritz

[*1] Dingeskirchen is not a real place, it means “what-was-the-name-again” or “Thingy-church”. Something like that.

[*2] The photographs his father sent must have been the second batch of copies for his mates.

[*3] M.G.K.: Machinen Gewehr Kompanie , Machine gun company

“Mordgesellenklub”: Hitsquad (of the mafia e.g.)

[*4]

General Hermann von François :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_von_Fran%C3%A7ois

Commander of the 13^th Division : Generalleutnant Kurt von dem Borne

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_von_dem_Borne

Commander of the 14^th Division : Generalmajor Constantin von Altrock https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantin_von_Altrock