Interesting Penpal Letter with Birthday Gift

[checkit]

I got a small stack of interesting PenPal Letters from a young girl in Linz, Austria to a girl in Perry, Iowa. One letter includes a birthday gift.

Interesting to see such an item, named to a girl, and also one who writes of marching in the torchlight parade to celebrate the Anschluss.

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[adlerfan53]

Would love to read those letters. Out of all my armbands ( I have many) this would rank highly among my favorites. Puts a person right in the time period. Looks like she mailed it last week.

[checkit]

BTW - Guinevere Barth went on to marry a soldier in the 78th Infantry "Lightning" Division. Her dad was in the Yankee Division in WW1. The penpal relationship seems to have cooled after the mailing of the armband, and then picked up again after the war. I'll bet the Barth family was stunned by some of the letters "Did you hear Hitler's last speech on the radio?". No - I don't think anyone in Iowa did.

[ErichS]

Now thats cool!

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[feldpost 58]

Hi,

I have read this thread with interest, this is what history is all about!
Reading letters from people who experienced the events of 20th Century history is a greater insight into history than a TV documentary.
Thanks for posting!

Best wishes,

John.

[adlerfan53]

Awesome. Thanks for posting the actual letter. The innocence and awe through a child's eyes at the happenings in Germany puts a person right there. This letter shows how the common people saw Germany at the height of power. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Doug Kenwright]

It is interesting to note the similarities to today's events in Crimea, with those the young girl experienced in 1938, especially the call from the masses and the (controlled?) press clamouring for a quick resolution to the proposed annexation of Austria by vote, to take place within three days of the visit.