I've now happily landed here in the barracks camp. I didn't think everything would happen so quickly. But I am glad that it has come to this. I don't think I'll go astray here again like I did during the last holidays. With all this hustle and bustle, there is no time for anything that is not part of the ministry. These days we have started baking and have been mending and cleaning the room. We've also done a bit of drill and tomorrow we'll be going out on the sand. Our sergeant is a decent guy and a Catholic. The people are good too, except for a few who I can only describe as pigs. Those, of course, are the ones everything goes after. I'll see if I can't get on the Führer's back. Today we had the day off from 4 o'clock and we were supposed to stay in the parlour. I went out and had a look at our camp. There's not much going on, thank God. Next Sunday I'm going to Darmstadt, if possible. / / 23.6 Today we exercised on the sand for the first time. My bones are like broken. Nevertheless, I am happy in my soul. My spiritual agenda is still going slowly. I only do morning prayer briefly, as circumstances do not allow it any other way. But I will try to say mass and take communion while the parlour service is being done in silence. That has to be easy, as everything has to be easy in the military. I say evening prayers as usual and pray the rosary. During the day it is difficult to do anything. If I want to do something there, I still need time, reflection and collection. You can do a lot if you want to. I also do grace, so far briefly and with my head uncovered. My particle ex. is causing a lot of worries. I had an act of trust in the Blessed Mother three times a day. I think it would be, if I took a mortification in sensuality, to confess my religion as freely as possible. One hears mockeries here and there. But thank God our corporal is Catholic and the most sensible person in the whole camp. But we'll talk about that later. But now I want to finish, otherwise I'll write 5 lines every day like Kubisch. All I have to say is that I'm doing quite well here, just as I wish. When things do not go as I wish, my heavenly Mother gives me comfaort and refreshment. Then I am probably also remembered in Schoenstatt.

Sending warm greetings for today then
Remains in faithful gratitude
Your Henkes / /
Enclosed is my agenda from the last holiday season.

Ihre werten Zeilen habe ich erhalten. Wie das wohltut und das aufmuntert in der Arbeit, die hier so schwer fällt. Euer Hochwürden sind gespannt auf meine Einsendung der geistl. Tagesordnung. Nun mit der Aufzeichnung ging es ganz gut; aber etwas lauer bin ich wohl geworden. Ich glaube wenigstens, daß ich mehr ja viel mehr hätte tun können, wenn ich mehr Wille gehabt hätte, der mich vorwärts treiben könnte. Da muß ich mich also noch üben. Gut wäre es auch, wenn Euer Hochw. mir eine / / Buße auferlegten für die Punkte, in denen ich schlecht gearbeitet habe. Ein großes Hindernis bei der Arbeit ist mir immer wieder die Sinnlichkeit. In der ersten Zeit glaubte ich mich hier ziemlich sicher; jetzt muß ich aber schon anders reden. Hier sind die Gefahren groß. Die Kameraden auf der Stube sind durchweg Schweine. Die Redensarten, wie die sie führen, hätte ich mir doch nicht träumen laßen je einmal hören zu müssen. Auch die Vorgesetzten sind nicht besser in dieser Hinsicht ausgenommen unser Korporalschaftsführer. Die anderen aber sind mit den Leutnants in meinen Augen nur Schweine. So was ist aber schon schlimm genug für / / einen jungen Rekruten. Es gibt aber noch mehr Gefahren. Die ärztlichen Untersuchungen, Baden u.s.w. ist in der Art und Weise wie’s hier geschieht doch nicht wohltuend für ein junges Herz. Mich regt das immer furchtbar auf während die Anderen darüber spotten und lachen. Ich wollte eigentlich mein Partikularexamen darüber machen, aber ich brachte nichts Rechtes zusammen. Ich habe mich aber bemüht möglichst abzutöten. Theaterbesuch, Kino und Kantinenbesuch habe ich möglichst unterlaßen. Das habe ich auch gleich gespürt. Wir waren einmal mit der Komp. im Kino, da wurde „Es werde Licht“ aufgeführt. Euer Hochw. kennen vielleicht das Stück. Es hat mich sehr aufgeregt. / /

Jetzt muß ich an’s Ende denken; denn ich habe noch viel zu schreiben. Kommt bald eine neue M.T.A? Ich habe nichts mehr zu lesen und kein Verzeichnis der FeldBibl. Nächsten Sonntag denke ich in Urlaub zu fahren. Die Zeit geht ja schnell herum und es ist ja auch ganz schön hier; aber man bekommt doch einmal Heimweh. In der Hoffnung bald etwas aus Schönstatt zu erhalten

verbleibt Euer Hochw.
ergebenst Richard Henkes

Deine Post habe ich erhalten. Meinen besten Dank. Ich wollte Dir schon immer schreiben; aber ich bin nicht dazu gekommen teils wegen dem strammen Dienst in letzter Zeit teils auch wegen etwas Nachlässigkeit. Du wirst mir schon verzeihen. Ich denke in nächster Zeit erlaubt die Zeit schon mehr.

Für unseren Arbeitsplan habe ich bitter wenig getan. Nur / / meine Meinung habe ich diesbezüglich geäußert und zwar dahin, dass ich mich für ein allgemeines Arbeitsfeld entschieden habe. Jetzt heißt es nur was. Ich habe schon gedacht an „Ideale Auffassung des Militärlebens“ oder „Auffrischung unserer Marienliebe zum Schutze gegen die vielen sittlichen Gefahren des Militärlebens“. Letzteres gefällt mir noch am besten. Es ist eben doch schwer sittlich recht standzuhalten. So hätte ich mirs doch nicht vorgestellt wie ich’s schon erlebt habe hier. Die Unsittlichkeit ist sozusagen die tägliche Nahrung der Soldaten. Von morgens früh bis abends spät immer / / dieselbe Rede und derselbe Quatsch. Nun ja bei Euch wird’s nicht anders sein. In unserer Komp. sind meistens Siegerländer, die sind noch extra fresch und prahlen noch damit, wenn sie das und das, was ich nicht bezeihnen will, schon so und so oft getan haben. Ich habe bisher noch alle gehörig abgefertigt, wenn sie damit kommen. Gott sei Dank weiß keiner etwas von meinem Beruf. Denn sonst hätte ich umso mehr auszuhalten. Die Kerle haben ja alle nichts übrig für Religion etc. Man muß sich überhaupt sehr in acht nehmen. Wie steht es mit Eurer / / Ausbildung? Morgen schließen wir die 4. Übung. Wir haben überhaupt nur noch Grabenkampf und Gefechtsübung. Dazu ist unser Sand auch wie geschaffen. Wir sollen auch noch am Maschinengewehr und Minenwerfer ausgebildet werden. Ich glaube aber, dass wir vorher noch als Kanonenfutter versandt werden. Mensch ist man ja nicht mehr. Ich hoffe, dass es Dir gut geht. Wenn ich mal länger Urlaub habe komme ich auch nach Schönstatt.

Gruß an Alle besonders
Kaspar und Dich
Dein Mitsodale Richard
N.c.p.p. b.V.M.

My letters that I sent away from home on Sunday have probably arrived by now. It took me a lot of effort to write these few lines. But if it weren't for the homesickness! Last week I once again felt deeply how happy I was living under Your Reverence's guidance in the monastery. All the time we had strenuous service without a little time to refresh the spirit. On top of that, we had to deal with the badnesses and messes of our superiors and comrades. Unexpectedly, we had church on Thursday. A young chaplain from Darmstadt held a service in a barrack and preached a moving sermon. I immediately thought that it must be Sodality Day these days and that Your Reverence would hold the solemn speech in the small chapel in honour of our heavenly Protectress. But then I was so homesick for the dear mother of my youth that tears ran down my cheeks. Oh, it hurts so much in the heart to be so alone and to be tossed about aimlessly and without direction in the whirlpool of the bad world. - I always imagined everything to be so easy. Only now do I feel my mistakes; my carelessness and superficiality in self-education. But now that I feel it, it's too late. I can / / only rely on a higher power, on that of my mother. She will probably be the only help I have left. I really only have one wish and that is to take several days off and go on a thorough retreat - that would be so good for my poor soul. I have always held out well so far, but my soul has become so brittle and dry that no good resolution is carried out any more. I have not carried out my spiritual agenda since the last posting. I have often tried to do so, but the very brittleness and dryness of my spirit overthrew everything. The extremely / / strenuous service was also largely to blame. Unfortunately, I didn't think about my individual exams either. How could this have happened? Hopefully, I'll start working again now, as much as the service allows. I believe that close contact with my fellow Sodalists and good advice from Your Reverence will help me again. My heavenly Mother will do the rest. And so I have once again expressed myself well. Oh, how happy I am for that! If we could only speak to each other once? I will try everything to get a longer holiday.

For today, then, with best regards, remains
Your Richard

I have been gazing into the moon for some time now and contemplating the stillness of nature. The past, with its lovely and gruesome images, rises before us in the evening light, and a grey mist drifts through the valley, threatening the dark future. It is understandable that I am now at a turning point, comparing past and future, looking back to see what the coming days may bring. In my development I have understood as deeply as I do right now and if I had my parents here right now, I would question them everything down to the greyest past, because I want to know where am I strong! The purely theoretical difficulties have been pushed back for the moment, probably in view of the coming / / work, but they will certainly come again, perhaps very strongly, they will come when I bump into reality for the first time. I wish it would come soon, at least as soon as I still have the mental flexibility to research. Day by day I notice that the questions that have occupied me up to now have not been solved. Sometimes when I Sometimes, when I give myself completely to the work of grace, the thought suddenly comes to me: "You are making nonsense, where do you have the guarantee for the correctness of your actions" and the thought remains fixed for a while. It is not just temptation. But I want to wait, wait and listen to God's voice. I have actually brooded all my life so far, always looking for a balance between ideal and life and - never found it. It will probably be the same in the future, the most difficult and dangerous hours will be when my expectations deceive me for the first time. I have already tried to form a concept of the priesthood where disappointment, if not excluded, is nevertheless more remote. My strongest side is the willing sacrifice of love. out of love. I want to become a sacrificial priest in the main, a bearer of the cross for others. I must refine this devotion so that it does not become a sacrifice to the creaturely. I must draw it away from the beautiful face to the noticeable need and only want to extend my love to contempt and oblivion. So far I have not written down any retreat resolutions, nor do I do so because it is too difficult for me. I haven't made many resolutions yet either, because I don't want much, but I would like to summarise the main point. The lectures that have been given so far are very good, but I would like to say that the whole is missing and I have to see for myself. I enjoy the retreats because I hear a lot of things that are really very useful, because Fr Lukas is very psychologically minded and has a lot of experience.

I don't know what will come, but with the violence of passion that I possess, I am / / convinced that I can achieve a lot if I don't go astray with it. A greater difficulty is that sometimes my outward behaviour does not correspond to my inner thoughts and feelings. As gentle as I am inwardly, sometimes my behaviour is really rough. So I have to drag myself, so that I don't ruin the pastoral care for myself. At first it won't be so bad, because it will only happen when I am better known. Hopefully God will send me many people with great need, then my heart will remain tender and sympathetic. Then I will also most certainly have something for my feelings, which so strongly call for a release. It is all still so unclear to me, because I do not know what may come. Reverends pray and bless my life and work, and our heavenly Mother will protect me, her child of pain.

Reverend ! Today at noon I anticipated a little sleep, so now I can write again. But I don't want it to be too long, at least I want to give Sandmännchen the opportunity to do his duty. Utinam fiat! But sometimes I could put the subjunctive Singerfeld? Alas. There was talk today in one lecture each of meekness, humility, zeal for the soul. That's all well and good and very, very necessary for the priest; but what resolution should one make. There would be an enormous amount. Everything I have heard so far, and it has been very solid, has actually brought me to the decision to revive my P.I2 more. If I strive and work here, then I have everything, then I can't fall apart. Surely my P.I. would then have to become even more, much more the norm of life. It has been very strange to me lately. When I harmonise my self-sanctification with my apostolate in this way, then a very certain basic mood comes about. I have the thought that I cannot sanctify myself (experience!!) God must / / do, His grace; I must listen to His voice, feel His working. In the work on others: I can do nothing, God works with his grace, I can only be a soul sacrifice for others, a cross bearer, a lightning conductor of God's wrath; when I have done other people's penance, then the way is free for God's grace. I used to want to do everything alone, but now I see that I can do nothing, Now I see that I can do nothing, but there is one thing I can sacrifice for others.

Do I also make a fiasco in this? Today I only pray: Mother work, create in the souls, Saviour give grace and sanctify the people. Could I adjust my P.I. better to this thought? In this sense, it should be my most effective resolution, and the day when my P.I. is not the norm and life will probably mean this ater3 for my development. I intend to make my priestly ordination as a renewal of my consecration to the Blessed Mother. If she takes me as an instrument, and she does, then I want to be happy even in temptation, cross and suffering. The Mother gives it as a blessing.

Reverend, bless me too. Thank you very much.
6th June 25 Greetings and blessings Yours, P. R. Henkes P.S.M.

Don't be angry with me if I write confidentially for once; I'm in a position where one doesn't ask for anything more in this respect, and besides, you've always looked after me so motherly that I may allow myself the confidingness. You have surely heard that I have been in protective custody for 7 weeks now. I am expecting a decision every day and it can be for the better or for the worse. If I am to continue on the path that others have gone before me, then you should at least know about the things that are still with you. If something should happen to me, then everything is at your disposal. I have no obligations to anyone. Use up all the laundry and books as you wish.

You will be interested to know how I am doing. Until today I am in solitary confinement, which is very hard on the nerves, but nevertheless I am mentally and physically healthy. Apart from twice a week, I can go to Holy Communion every day, and that is a great comfort to me, and for a few days now I have been allowed to go to work at least in another hall where I can talk. But it still remains a way of the cross. At the beginning I prayed for my freedom, now I've made up my mind, and if I have to go to the camp, I'll say Deo gratias just as I did when I was arrested. After all, I must be able to practise what I preached to others in retreats. Until today, the Lord God has visibly protected me; that is why I am not afraid of the future. God will continue to give me his grace. My files are awaiting a decision in Berlin. I have done what I could, and outside they have also made every effort to find me, but today you don't know where you stand. You are at the mercy of people, and so the only thing that still makes sense is to radically hand yourself over to God. For all those who were once entrusted to me, it will not be pointless for me to go the way for them. It is timely that we priests today follow the Saviour to Gethsemane and perhaps also to Golgotha. You will pray for me too, I know that. So I am no longer afraid. I only wish for a decision soon, because waiting makes me so tired. - As you see, I have also found a way out. But don't try to give me any news, it's too dangerous, and you mustn't say anything about the letter to anyone but your sister, not even to our people! But you may send my regards to Miss Diel, I know that she prays a lot.

If you hear that I am coming to the camp, then grant me one more wish. You know that I lived in a tense relationship with Father Hagel. On my behalf, ask him to forgive me for this, but above all that I have already spoken out about it to others. The guilt that is on my part I do not want to take with me. I have long since forgiven him, and I would have liked to tell him so myself, but I am a person for whom this is very difficult. That is pride, and he should forgive me for that too. I don't think I have anything to make up for with others. But I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the good things I have experienced from you. You have been a mother to me at many a time and you have earned much from the Lord God. He will know how to repay you. Now don't worry about me; when I am released, I will write to you, otherwise you will learn my fate in another way. In prayer we always stay together. When I give the blessing to my people in the evening, you are included. I want to tell you that I am not here because I have perhaps been too sharp, but I have really become a victim of my profession. Otherwise all this would be unbearable. The day after tomorrow, on the 26th, is my birthday, so think especially of me. Just pray that God will continue to give me strength. I wish you and your sister all the best. Continue to be good to every priest, as you have been to me.

My blessings and warm greetings Yours, R. H.

On the way to Salzburg I try to give another message. Tomorrow, the 10th, I arrive. This time I honestly say thank God. The journey itself was not so bad, because I won the people, as I did in Ratibor, but the two days in Breslau were terrible. That remains unforgettable. Such conditions are a disgrace. The other stations were better. In Breslau I also met a gentleman from near Kosel and one from Krakow. So there were three of us. Since one of them also had something with him, we had enough food until today. Tomorrow we will be there. We were encouraged everywhere on the way and met some people who had already been to Dachau. It's supposed to be good there. But you have to stay in quarantine for a while and then you probably won't have any contact. Everything is taken from us, because we get clothes and linen from there. So it is of little value that I sent so much. I was only allowed to take food myself. Everything else was sent. It was a good thing, too, because if we had had to carry things during the transport, the journey would have been even worse. You'd tell Paula to number the parcels and put a note with the contents. And when Fritz sends me cigars, never a lot at once. I don't want it to be completely honest. Tell Fritz to send something to smoke to two addresses. I have written and I have been able to obtain great relief for myself and my colleagues. He should not be angry about it. Tell him, too, that I pray he will ever be spared such a transport. Now I am anxious about everything that is to come, but it will go well and I have the will and hope to come home again. You can find out who is with me from the Kosel area. He is 63 years old and I am afraid for him. My health is fine. I am also cheerful. The letter goes as in R. Now I wish you all the best. Give my best regards to all my acquaintances and especially to Aunt Paula and Fritz. I don't know yet when I will be allowed to write for the first time. But it will go to Aunt P.

Thank you very much and best regards. God bless you
Richard

So far I have waited in vain for a letter from you. Perhaps it's because I received a letter from Breslau and therefore yours didn't go through. That would be a great pity, for you know with what longing I am waiting for news. Please have Klara write to Frln. Gutsfeld, Breslau, Nowastr. 12, that she should not write to me, but that she may send as many parcels as she likes. The other people may also send me parcels and the community can show what I was worth to them. You just have to make sure that not 2 or 3 come together. Fr. Alois got me a good piece of bread from Kösenitz these days. He sends his best regards to you and Dr. Virchov. Send me my sunglasses in the next parcel. Do we have much fruit this year? Last week I had quite a cold and had my nose dilated again, as it was there before. It's pretty much over. If Klara still has the dextrose from Bernstadt, I'd be grateful to her for it. You have to write "Urgent" on the parcels. It'll cost you but it's worth it. If you have no more money, then go ahead and withdraw it. That's the best way to use the money. Also get me the address of my brother Otto, or let him write to me himself, because I'm always allowed to answer him. He'll be shocked when he hears that I'm here and he's been at the front for years.

You want to know how it works. I am quite content. The Lord God has led me this way and will not leave me. It may be a hard school of education that the Lord God takes you to, but it is God's school and it is always good. Humanly, some things are hard and difficult, but I have often enough spoken of the path of sacrifice and will probably have the courage to carry out what I have told others. Perhaps you still remember the last lectures in the chapel. I did not exaggerate, but said everything much too mildly. Now be so good and write to me soon. I have sometimes been homesick for you. Give my regards to those who know me and to all who ask for me. I hope that I can once again make up for all that I have experienced dear to me. Every evening you are included in my blessing and since today every morning in Holy Communion.

I wish you all the best and God's blessings in your work.

Best regards especially to Dr. Virch.
Yours Richard.

What about Fritz Messner? Best regards to him.
I thought a lot about Mother on her name day.

Dear Aunt Paula! There is also a way, but it is dangerous, because there are heavy penalties on it, but I will try once whether the lines reach you. So that I know about it, write me his greeting next time on the parcel section. I will then describe life here in more detail. You can imagine that in these days one has more longing for a home where one feels good. Also for work, where one can once again live one's professional life. So here it becomes very hard (sic), if not as hard as it used to be. At the moment we have a lot of work, but that will be better the very next week. The work won't be so bad either, it's just that one wants to do something according to one's profession. What's hardest is being so close to each other in living and sleeping. And there are always more. It was already hard for me to stay in my flat at home and you know how I was constantly on the move, and now all you have is the camp road, which is about 600 metres long and on which up to 15,000 people move in their free time, depending on the time, and everywhere you are surrounded by electrically charged barbed wire. In addition, there is a post every 50 metres. You never forget that you are a convict. You don't forget you don't forget it through your dress. You get used to wearing the striped men's uniform and here you don't even stand out. I've been like this in the city of Dachau and in Munich. People are more for us than against us, you always notice that when you deal with civilians. If they can, they give us all kinds of things. In the camp you can get a lot of things, we say by organising. Bread and tobacco are the means of payment. You mustn't get caught, though. But in time you become refined (sic). Nevertheless, the whole thing remains a difficult life of sacrifice. It is the most terrible thing to deprive people of their freedom for no reason.

(here the letter breaks off! Ed. note)

Since you receive little news from me, I would like to write in a forbidden way. way. It is difficult to find a way through guards and electrically charged barbed wire. to find a way. But in the end you are torn like a fox. You must not talk to other people about this and only tell mother and the siblings (sic) siblings (sic). I am writing to you so that the same name does not appear. Mother will worry a lot about me, but she should not do that. Physically physically I am well, I can almost say very well, for the colds, sniffles that the cold colds and sniffles that the cold seasons bring with them. Besides (sic) my community my community takes very good care of me, so that I have no need. You have all sent me sent me something. I was happy about it, because it was a sign for me, that you want to be connected with me. Anna must have saved it for herself, because I know how she needs it. She should not send me anything more, otherwise I would I would reproach myself. She should not fear that I would love her less because of it. How it's hard to describe how I feel here. It is and remains a life of sacrifice. It's hard to always be under duress, hard to always be guarded, hard to live in close living in close quarters, the unfamiliar work, the separation from loved ones and work. from loved ones and professional work. I will not deny that I am often homesick and that my thoughts and my thoughts are often with you and with my parish. But on the other hand I must confess that everything is a great grace. We feel that we are under the under the visible protection of God, and even if we walk the way of the cross, the the Saviour goes with us. Otherwise it would not be bearable. I also have the firm conviction that this is only a preparation for new tasks in freedom. Only God knows when and how that will come. I therefore do it I do it here as I did before outside, that I abandon myself to the good Lord. That is always the best way. If you want to write to me once, then you must hide the letter in the package so that it is not visible at first glance. But do not mention of this. Mother especially warm greetings. I think that for her all this will not not only a sorrow, but also a great mercy. She should always tell herself that

Now I wish you all the best. Hopefully we will see each other again soon. Until then you may receive news in a roundabout way. Best wishes to you all (sic)
Your thankful R.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent and I want to write something to you. When these lines arrive, Christmas may already be over, but that doesn't matter, because you know how I think of you. Mother, my heartfelt Christmas wishes to you and all your brothers and sisters and relatives, above all that peace may finally come and that we may meet again. It is gradually taking too long and the dangers are not diminishing, but we do not want to lose faith in God. We are being put to the test, but God knows why He does it. The news about you is rather sparse, which can't be helped. Aunt Paula won't hear much and won't have much time to write. And the penalties for writing in black are very high, so it's better to keep quiet. But that doesn't make the longing and homesickness go away. Paula has taken good care of me so far and hopefully she will have the opportunity to do so as long as it is necessary. Otherwise things would go badly. You can't live on water soup after all. Thank God I can't complain and it's touching how my community takes care of me.

Some things have changed here, too, and conditions have changed in our favour in many respects. One can dare to do something and the work is human. When harassment does occur, one notices that it is more out of desperation, because everything is connected to the political situation.

We have had many beautiful celebrations recently. Today we even had the ordination of a priest. Can you imagine that? On Boxing Day we will have our first Mass, but the priest will not be at the altar very often, he is seriously ill with lung disease, and it is very doubtful whether his parents will see him as a priest. At Christmas we will hold our first Pontifical Mass. The vestments and everything that goes with them are made here, and no bishop has ever had such a cheap outfit. It is clear that we are attached to it, because it is the (sic!) that always lifts us up spiritually. In the narrowness, in the inhuman living conditions, it is the only comfort and the only source of strength, otherwise we would despair. But this is how the good Lord helps us again and again. And he will probably also help us to a good end.

Now do me another favour. In the meantime, (the) chaplain has come here from Salt. When you meet your chaplain, tell him and he should be so good as to see to it that his congregation does not abandon him. If they send something, let them send it to him directly and not in a roundabout way through his parents, then it will take too long. He has 135 127 block like me. But in writing act with caution. So don't tell anyone else. And he will know how to do it. Until then, I'll feed him.

Now I wish you all the best. It is already late in the evening. Give my best regards to the relatives. I always think of you and if we pray together, everything will be all right.

Goodbye, your brother Richard.

These days I received a letter from Aunt Paula, who also sent me a message about you. In the meantime, her postcode has been blocked and I can no longer reply. According to the latest reports, it is not yet occupied, but it is in the immediate frontline area. Ratibor 12 km, Rybnik 20 km, Isleß 25 km, Ostrand 15 km, Troggau 17 km. I don't know if Paula is still there. In any case, I am very worried. If you can somehow stay in touch with her, I would be grateful. If I don't hear from you soon, I'll have to change my address, then I'll write to you in future.

I sent you a message the other day through Horbach. I hope it works. A lot has changed here in the meantime. An epidemic has broken out on the camp side where I work. (sic) has broken out and in order to prevent it from spreading further, we have been completely isolated. So I am separated from the others and can only communicate with them in a roundabout way. One of them plays Tarsizius (sic) every few days, so I am not completely abandoned. Otherwise things are pretty bad here. People die en masse because they are completely starved. They are then only skeletons. It's a horrible picture. I have been vaccinated against typhoid fever and I hope that God will protect me. Physically, I'm doing quite well. And then you hope it won't be so long. When Horbach goes back, you can give him a parcel. I can't expect anything more from Strandorf. Otto is happily back in Germany. I hope his wound isn't too bad. If Günther ever passes by here, he should visit me. As a soldier, he is allowed to. Even if Otto or anyone else comes near. We are well informed we are well informed, so we don't live completely on the moon. However, one worries about how this will turn out one day. There is nothing we can do, we can only rely on the Lord God. Everything has gone well so far, so the end will also be good.

Say hello to everyone at home, especially mother. Tell her not to worry. I think of you every day.

If you (sic) have connection with Paula, many greetings to her.

Best wishes to all of you
Your Richard