I thought some of you might find this interesting. The following letter was written by Uffz. Eugen Sodenkamp while serving with the 13 Kompanie, 517th Infanterie Regiment, 295th Infanterie Division. Uffz. Sodenkamp was listed as missing in the City of Stalingrad on January 1, 1943. The following letter was written by him on 22 December 1942.
I have several hundred letters that this soldier sent to his wife and this is the last one in the group. It's a very touching letter written by a man caught up in a terrible situation. Does anyone else have any Stalingrad letters they could post?
Jason
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Russia, 12/22/42
My dear Irmchen,
Darling, here's a nice little greeting from your husband in Stalingrad. I'm in the best of health and very happy indeed to be able still to write this letter to you. Up till now winter has been merciful, the cold is quite bearable. The lowest temperature we've had so far is -15 degrees [centigrade], but at the moment it's only a few degrees which is easy to take. Other than that there is not much new to report from here. Even though I don't get mail as often as usual, I do know you are writing diligently, but the problems with the delivery of the mail have to do with ongoing military actions so the mail has to take a backseat, but sooner or later this inconvenience will be over and the mail will come as usual. As of now, I have not received your letter with the enclosed photo of you, I''m really anxious to get it and aching to see your lovely face again. Well, my little Dittchen [pet name: Dittchen is the East Prussian dialect word for a 10 Pfennig coin; perhaps 'my little precious' is a good equivalent], what are you doing these days? I hope and pray that above all you are in good shape considering your present condition. I know, my Love, it's not so easy in these circumstances, but Irmchen, soon your troubles will be over and you can hold another little cry-thing in your arms. Irmgard, I wonder whether it will be a boy or a girl. Irmgard, when you receive this letter and answer it you might consider writing me what the child's name should be. I rely entirely on you. Little wife, I know you'll choose the right one. Yes, my Love, all day long my thoughts circle around you and the new child. No doubt it will be something outstanding, the two of us can make a pretty good show to the world, and it will have to look like us after all, right? When your time comes, my Love, please go into a hospital, there you'll have better care than at home, and you won't have to cowtow to anyone. Well, my Love, this is all for the moment that comes to mind. Do take good care of yourself so no harm comes to you and the child.
A thousand greetings and kisses from your eternally loving
Eugen
Original letter (Page 1)
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I have several hundred letters that this soldier sent to his wife and this is the last one in the group. It's a very touching letter written by a man caught up in a terrible situation. Does anyone else have any Stalingrad letters they could post?
Jason
__________________________________________________ __
Russia, 12/22/42
My dear Irmchen,
Darling, here's a nice little greeting from your husband in Stalingrad. I'm in the best of health and very happy indeed to be able still to write this letter to you. Up till now winter has been merciful, the cold is quite bearable. The lowest temperature we've had so far is -15 degrees [centigrade], but at the moment it's only a few degrees which is easy to take. Other than that there is not much new to report from here. Even though I don't get mail as often as usual, I do know you are writing diligently, but the problems with the delivery of the mail have to do with ongoing military actions so the mail has to take a backseat, but sooner or later this inconvenience will be over and the mail will come as usual. As of now, I have not received your letter with the enclosed photo of you, I''m really anxious to get it and aching to see your lovely face again. Well, my little Dittchen [pet name: Dittchen is the East Prussian dialect word for a 10 Pfennig coin; perhaps 'my little precious' is a good equivalent], what are you doing these days? I hope and pray that above all you are in good shape considering your present condition. I know, my Love, it's not so easy in these circumstances, but Irmchen, soon your troubles will be over and you can hold another little cry-thing in your arms. Irmgard, I wonder whether it will be a boy or a girl. Irmgard, when you receive this letter and answer it you might consider writing me what the child's name should be. I rely entirely on you. Little wife, I know you'll choose the right one. Yes, my Love, all day long my thoughts circle around you and the new child. No doubt it will be something outstanding, the two of us can make a pretty good show to the world, and it will have to look like us after all, right? When your time comes, my Love, please go into a hospital, there you'll have better care than at home, and you won't have to cowtow to anyone. Well, my Love, this is all for the moment that comes to mind. Do take good care of yourself so no harm comes to you and the child.
A thousand greetings and kisses from your eternally loving
Eugen
Original letter (Page 1)
(page 2)
(Page 3)
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