Letters from the hands of Hitler's Youth

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Poem;

Der Führer rief.

(The Führer called)

Transcript:

Zur Einleitung eines Komp.-Kameradschaftsabends, als wir noch drüben in Finnland in Ruhe lagen und der Krieg keine Wunden geschlagen hatte.

Der Führer rief
Und Deutschlands Jugend folgte
Die Waffen in der Hand,
Im Glauben an den Sieg
Zum Kampf für’s Vaterland.
Das graue Heer marschiert,
Der Sonne, dem Sieg entgegen,
Und Kamerad, auch Du marschierst
In ein neues Leben.

Wo immer wir stehenim Feindesland,
Ob im Hohen Norden, oder der Wüste Land,
Dir Führer gilt unser einzig Gebot:
Wir mögen vergeh’n,
Wenn nur Deutschland steht.

Translation:

An introduction for the social evening among company comrades when were still peacefully stationed in Finland before the war started inflicting its wounds.

The Führer called
And Germany’s youth followed
With weapons in the hand,
Believing in victory
Ready for battle for the Fatherland.
The gray army is marching,
Towards the sun, towards victory,
And you, comrade, you also are marching
Into a new life.

Where-ever we are standing in enemy country,
Be it in the High North or in the desert,
For you, Führer, our only commandment is this:
We may vanquish,
As long as Germany remains.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Undated letter, but around this time based on "reply to March 23rd letter".


"Translation:
[date unknown/not shown]

Dear Jupp,

Yesterday I received your letter of March 23rd. Please accept my deepest thanks! I was delighted that particularly in this letter problems were addressed which have already occupied my mind for months.

The “innere Schweinehund” [hard to translate – from soldier language – something like “interior pig/dog”] is something which I learned to know at the very beginning of my life at the front. It was then when I was still messenger. How often did he tell me: take a rest, go in full cover, etc. But then the soldier broke through and I only felt then how glorious it is to fight for a victory over oneself! The boss called me to all these dangerous scouting trips at night. That’s when I became a soldier. For hours I erred around with the H.K.L., die not know any longer where I was, whether in the mine field or somewhere else, the night was pitch dark, the forest and swamps tricky. That’s when I clenched my teeth and executed every order, whether it was about finding grenades or something else. Then the long winter arrived, and we became what the soldier at the front calls “ [“stubborn/self-willed”]. The fight against nature was harder than against the enemy. How can I describe what we all had to endure? You already know that. Many times the nerves were close to give in. But we became hard, even very hard. We were delighted when the Russians arrived, we felt like getting saved, were able to shoot again, were allowed to fight, and to get rid of our hate. From that time on, the “innere Schweinehund” is like blown away, without further thought he had to make place to uncalculating self-sacrifice, hate against the enemy and no sparing feelings in battle. By now were are located in another segment. On a daily basis we are under fire. Keeping a fierce sense of humor, we let it happen to us. How much did my heart beat faster in the many hours of night battle, how often did we see eye to eye the enemy before us, only with the difference that we had adapted to the way of fighting as is necessary in the woods. Fighting in the woods is probably the worst of all battles during the war, but here every single person proves himself as the best. We are feverish that we can go to a battle again, that we will be able to avenge our dead comrades, then talking about the other chapter: The German woman during the war! Many of my comrades came back from Germany and were sadly beaten down: The German girl seems to have lowered herself in her morals during the war, etc. I protest with all my strength against it, and in most cases I succeed in convincing the comrades of the contrary. Jupp, that I cannot and will not believe, my whole inner value fights against it. My admiration for the German woman, the German mother, has no boundaries, that I could never understand it. My attitude is as follows: Never count experiences which you had with a single person as a general rule. Of course, the war also involves morality and nature demands its dues. How else could the German woman attain such achievements if she would be on a low moral level? No! Weak characters are always there and everywhere, but they fall off by themselves, and the healthy force of the people is victorious!

I have endless confidence in the people at home. Every hour I am ready to give my life for them. Some day a bright morning will come, over the graves of the many dead a new Twilight of the Gods will roll and shine. Does it play a role if I myself am among those dead men? No! How much does the single person count when something godly is involved? When I saw my dead comrades and the peace in their white faces, I knew: Once they will rise again and be part of our people, just like they are now marching with us, they will live in us forever.

Jupp: With a sacred belief in victory, we are ready for the next storm. You at home can rely on us: We will win!

Hail to the Führer!

Your Hermann"

[Sebastian Bianchi]

July 7, 1943
Dear Jupp,

Today the first lines from “behind.” I arrived here safely. The service is extremely severe, day and night. To my delight, met Schneider from School 7, a comrade from School 6, who had already left the school earlier as well as one from School 8 in a younger class.

Just as I was gone, the Russians attacked with strong artillery in my region. I swore like a Turk when I heard that. I hope I will get to go up to the front very soon, here it is too boring, in addition that they Russian have confronted our troops at Bjelorod (sp?).

Dear Jupp! If available I would also like for you to send me excerpts about German history and the “History of the N.S.D.A.P.”

As soon as I have more time available, I will write to you in detail.

Best greetings to your wife and the two boys as well as the whole school.
Heil Hitler!
Sincerely yours, Hermann

[Sebastian Bianchi]

And now, the conclution of the story;

"
Bad Tölz, September 19, 1943

Dear Jupp,

Last Sunday I was not able to write to you the letter I had promised. Also during the week, I have not found the time for it due to the strenuous service, so that I only get around to it today. I wanted to tell you about the main events during the last three months as they concerned me personally.

With great regret, my service at the front came to an end on June 8th and I was ordered to attend a prep-course for the Junker School. I wrote to you from…?…… It took quite a lot of strenuous work to come up to the military knowledge of old Unteroffiziere [sergeants]. A few weeks later I had worked myself up to it. In sports and general knowledge I was one of the best. My thanks for it go to the A.H.S. and especially to you! With that, my boss could send me without further ado on special leave on July 30th to get some alcohol in Loraine for the graduation evening. Since this deal did not work out due to export restrictions, I drove again to Metz on August 7th, went about my task differently and took care of my order. Unfortunately I could not get home this time, but mother and father were here with me until the 13th. On the 14th I got back to…..?….. Now I have to insert something very important. On August 2nd, as a real coincidence I met our…….and…..from School 4 in Metz. You can imagine what a joy this meeting was! On the 10th I was sitting in a café and suddenly saw Karl Walk stand in front of me. We spent the evening together and talked. Karl told me the details about the hero’s deaths of Willi and Karl Kaiser.

On the 15th I was promoted to SS-Unterscharführer and on the 18th I got my leave. In this connection, I was terribly unlucky because I arrived at home and had to go to bed with more than 40°C. fever. I would have liked to drive to……?…., but until Thursday the sickness held me prisoner and the following Tuesday I had to leave again. My mother insisted that she was going to call a doctor, but I put my foot down and refused, because I did not want to arrive one minute too late. The chances are unique for me and I only know too well that I will get to the front again only after the school. Otherwise I would have most probably become a trainer in a G-Dept. and would still be there next Christmas. This way I have at least the hope that I will get to face the enemy again by next spring. Jupp, I am very mad that I cannot be there, particularly at a time when again horrendous decisions are made and when units of the Waffen-SS are in Italy. It would be for me the ultimate to be up front myself. The clearing of the situation in Italy could be foreseen and does not surpirse me. Those.…pigs! But the just penalty has come down on them, and as Dr. Göbbels said so well,….”history will be the judge for these traitors!” I am convinced that in this moment our people have become stronger.

The Junker School in its architecture, its location and generous spaces reminds me a lot of Sonthofen. When I drove here and saw the beautiful world of mountains, feelings of sacredness came over me. Unfortunately the amount of work does not leave time to make a tour. Since the 6th, when I was promoted to SS-Junker, the demands increase constantly. But you know: an Adolf Hitler student fights himself through all resistance! The sports are fabulous: athletics, boxing, swimming, motor sports, and then horseback riding!

How are you, Jupp, your family, the comrades? I am looking forward to your reply.

All the best to your wife and the two boys! Best greetings to you and all comrades at the school!

Heil Hitler!

Sincerely yours,

Hermann

[Sebastian Bianchi]

"Bad Tölz, February 23, 1944

Dear Jupp,

I enjoyed your bulletin of February 20th which I received the day before yesterday. Many thanks for it! After my previous letter to you may not have reached their destination, I hope that at least this one arrives. _ First of all, I must beg you to excuse my sloppy handwriting and possibly some mistakes. On Monday I had a very regretful sport accident and it could have cost me my eyesight. Contusions on both eyes, particularly severe on the right one and also a….?….on that eye with possible interior bleeding. The result is that for the time being I cannot see at all with the right eye and see everything in a haze with the left. On a daily basis I wish myself a good recovery and hope that there will be no permanent damage. – Just a few comments regarding the time I spent here, a very hard time of training. After I had already been promoted to SS-Junker on September 6, 1943, I was well prepared for the interim examination at the end of November and was rated as the best among the Junkers. Particularly good results were achieved in tactcis, troop service and world philosophy. On December 10th I was promoted to Standarten-Junker. The time to the finals which were held February 14th – 18th, were filled with intensive learning and also delightful recreation, skiing. I passed the final examination without problems, and with pleasing improvements in each subject; and now I am waiting for my promotion…..

[the word “promotion” in German did not even appear completely on page 1, there may be a page missing]

Where I will go is still unknown. I have not yet completely given up my hope to immediately get to the front in the capacity of a unit leader. I nearly lost my mind during the past week not to be able to be out there in these difficult days. This time I would like to be part of the Panzer Gran. I had it up to here with position war, would also like to see some movement in the store.

I am in frequent letter contact with Jürgen Müller. He is growing gray hear regarding his bad luck with his assignments. I was deeply touched by the news about Heiner and Heinz Schenkel (sp?). Let’s hope that Heiner did not fall in Russian hands while he was still alive. The death of our dearest comrades must always be our duty to only know our responsibility, the engagement of our life. One day we will stage the last, great victorious attack into the heart of Russia over their graves and they are marching along with us as reminders. Whoever today only thinks about the “I”, does not deserve t live in the most awesome epoch of German history. Also the courageous steadfastness of our people fills me with never-ending pride. With this cover from the back we will be able to drive the devil out of hell!

Unfortunately my left eye does not permit me to write much more. I will try to make up for it next week. Besides the already described damages and a brain concussion I am completely the same old guy. Nobody can take my sense of humor from me, according to the old slogan: “Keep your head up, even if the throat is dirty!” Should I not be able to write from here before I am being transferred, I will write immediately from my troop assignment.

Best greetings to all comrades. Best wishes to your wife and the boys!

Hail and Victory!

Sincerely yours,
Hermann

[Sebastian Bianchi]

This letter is a copy of the letter from Oberbannführer Madert to the Rhein family.

"Obersasbach, November 1, 1944



Family
Heinrich R h e i n
Finkenbach/Pfalz

For some time we have received no news from Hermann and also remained without reply to your address in Haraldshofen.

On a regular basis we are sending out a bulletin by field post which contains all the news about the school and the field-gray comrades. The former students are always very happy about this bulletin. Therefore, we kindly request that you send us the address of Hermann as soon as possible.

Best greetings with

Heil Hitler!
The principal of the Schule “Westmark”

Initials in ink: “M”
(Madert)
Oberbannführer"

[Sebastian Bianchi]

And the reply to the family.


"Finkenbach, November 7, 1944
(in pencil added: Kr. Rockenhausen/Westmark,
received November 14, 1944)


Dear Mr. Madert,

Your second letter, subject: field post address has arrived here. Please excuse that I have let you wait for a reply. Unfortunately, I cannot give you an address for Hermann any longer. Already on July 5th he died a heroic death in Finland. We were told that he bled to death due to his severe injury without having regained consciousness. However, from himself we received a short letter which he wrote on the fourth day of his injury, he had already been for four days in a hole in the jungle, severely injured, a shot through the upper thigh and he was waiting to get picked up. But he could not be picked up.

A few days before our resettlement from Lorraine, this hard news reached us. On September 4th, we arrived in Finkenbach and for a long time we were without news from my husband who is fighting in Holland.

Kindly send greetings to Hermann’s comrades and I wish them a better soldier’s lot.

To you, Mr. Madert and your dear family,
all the best and kind regards.

Heil Hitler!

Elisabeth Rhein"

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Adolf Hitler-Schule “Westmark”
School Administration
Obersasbach, November 16, 1944

Dear Family R h e i n !

Your news about the heroic death of H e r m a n n has deeply affected all of us. The long silence of our unforgettable comrade has worried us for a long time. What we did not want to assume has become reality.

Hermann, who due to his constant readiness for action, his good character and his outstanding achievements was liked and respected by the teachers and his comrades, he who bore so much hope, is now gone from us. Even if he was young in age, he already was very mature in his feelings, experienced in battle and set a good example for life. His letters and poems which he sent to us from Karelien, his first station, will help to leave keep his spirit alive just like the remembrance of his achievements and his sense of humor.

Hermann continues to live in us. May his spirit continue to newly revive our youth! Added to all the sad things you had to endure during the last few months, this news came to you like a Hiob’s message and yet, you will not sink all the way in your mourning. His life and deeds entitle you to look proudly to the one from whom we all expect so much, who has never disappointed us so far, who you may call son and brother.

Look for the spring of strength in our togetherness which has fused us together and which helps us get over this unspeakable sorrow.

In the name of all teachers and their families, all comrades and particularly the families of the comrades who have entered Valhalla before Hermann, we express to you our deeply felt condolences.

We would be grateful to you if you could let us have a picture of Hermann as a soldier and a copy of the notification by his Regiment.

I will forward to you the letters which were sent to Hermann by field post.

In spirit I am shaking your hand and send you my best greetings.

Heil Hitler!
Yours sincerely,
(signed) “M”

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Hermann Rheinn

November 25th, 1924 - September 5th, 1944

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Thanks to Denis I know a little more detail now, he was KIA on 05/07/44 as a SS-Ustuf. in Ssennesero (north of Kiestinki). He was born on 26/11/24 in Finkenbach. His grave place is unknown.

I left the letters without comment throughout so you can read the story in their own words.

As I read them again, I wonder what Hermann thought about while wounded in the jungle for four days. What was his final act? Did he remain defiant and idealistic to the very end, or did he break down? Did his end come at the hands of the Russians, refusing to surrender as he had stated in his letters?

Think of the mother, now as head of the family, receiving a letter like that from a son. She was moving her family in all likelihood to get away from the advancing allies right in the middle of all of this. I wonder if her husband made it; there is still research to be done here.

He was almost the perfect Nazi, to borrow a line from another threat. The party indoctrination in this cased worked like a charm. With the idealism that comes from the letters you get the feeling that it was indeed victory or death for young Hermann, and death it was.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

I took this thread for a ride in the Documents Forum, but might as well present it here as well.

[JaimeH]

Kind of had the feeling this was how it would end. By his death date we know he died fighting the Russians and not the Finns who switched sides in late Sept.

Good read though! Try to imagine Hermann living in post war Germany had he survived. He would most definately had to go thru de-nazification. I believe his unit fought and surrendered to the Americans after leaving Finland.

[Sebastian Bianchi]

Kind of had the feeling this was how it would end. By his death date we know he died fighting the Russians and not the Finns who switched sides in late Sept.

Good read though! Try to imagine Hermann living in post war Germany had he survived. He would most definately had to go thru de-nazification. I believe his unit fought and surrendered to the Americans after leaving Finland.

Jaime, I got the feeling that it was victory or death. I don't know how you overcome a lifetime of doctrine, possible, but very difficult.

This story has been on the site for a while, but I bet a lot of you have not seen it,

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/woun...es/wilhelm.htm

Another short soldier's story.

[TxGauleiter]

I just stumbled across this thread for the 1st time and thought it might be worth reviving for those who may not have ever seen it.