Unseen and Unheard

Letter of 9 December, 1944

Names have been changed to preserve the anonymity of the persons concerned.

Erika to Franz

p. 1-4

NB: [Erika does sign most of her letters to Franz with her name, but with a word I read as “Stück”. Literally translated it means “piece”. I guess it was some nickname between them, like she calls him “My little bear”. In the translation, I am using her real name and add “Stück” in brackets, because “Stück” is indeed a very unusual term, even for a nickname; the translator]

My dear little bear!

Unfortunately I did not receive any mail from you yesterday or today and since the postman will not come tomorrow, Sunday, I will have to wait until Monday.

Yesterday evening I stayed at Aunt Annie to take my things slowly but surely back home. Gradually, our home is becoming tidy again. We still can't be in the room because the rain keeps coming through the roof. If the weather is good next week then our roof should be repaired, and the worst will be fixed. It is bad for my mother when it rains, because she has to spend almost the whole day in the attic dragging water downstairs, otherwise our roof would have long been completely soaked and broken down.

This work is really bad for mother, you can imagine, with her rheumatic pains she has been suffering for years in her hands. I can't help her because I have to go to the shop in the morning and because most of the water collects overnight. When you come on vacation you can still see the traces left by the rainwater.

It is time for you to come because a year ago you were here on December 16th, and that is soon. I believe that this year it will not work out because you didn't write anything about it in your letters. It would be too much of a good thing if we could see each other again after two months. but I will not give up hope that you will come, maybe my Christmas wish will come true. And to travel to your mother is not possible because one needs “Vitamin B” [“B” for “Beziehungen”, connections; the translator] to obtain a permit for such trips. So we will only be granted the time you can be in Wiesbaden. Due to the difficult circumstances the next vacation will not be the way we have imagined but we will make it as nice as possible in the shortest possible time. The main thing is we are together again.

The “Tommies” [slang for the British soldiers; the translator] definitely don't want me to write a letter to you in peace and quiet. There was a full alarm again and I want to reach the shelter in good time. Today at noon I was at the cinema with Miss Matschinsky. Yes, that’s right! As I wrote to you before, the cinemas were completely closed, luckily only temporarily. But the times of the performances were changed, the first show begins in the morning at 11 a.m. and the last one ends at 5 p.m. I cannot understand who would go to the cinema at 11 a.m., because at that time most people are at work.

All the changes are because of the air raids. Since most people don't leave their house after 7 p.m., it is as quiet here as in time of peace at 11 p.m.. Soon the days will be longer again, then it will be different, and we won't need to hide anymore because the attacks during the day are not as bad as at night. At least one can see where one goes and I don't grope around like a blind person in the dark.

In any case, we are very happy that the cinemas are open again and we took the opportunity today and went to the ‘Walhalla’, there was the film “Der große Preis” [The Grand Prix] with Gustav Fröhlich. A great film, exciting right from the start. Unfortunately, the daily news had not arrived, because that is what interests me the most.

I am sad that I haven't received any mail from you today, because answering letters is much more fun! You can imagine the impatience when I am awaiting your letters with the hope to finally hear about when the turning point in the war is to be expected. Given the current situation, this question is of primary interest, and everything depends on it.

And now, my dear little bear, love and kisses from your Erika! [Stück]