Letter, George Stoff to Florence Stoff, Hamm, Germany, June 11, 1945
Item
- Description
- Letter, 4 Pages, Envelope
- Contributor
- Stoff Family
- Coverage
- Hamm, Germany
- Date
- 1945-06-11
- Format
- Identifier
- https://commons.keene.edu/s/KSCArchive/item/10898
- Language
- eng
- Rights
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
- Type
- Text
- Text
-
-157-
Hamm
11 June 1945
Florence, Sweetheart:
If you could only see how these German people greet the remnants of the return Germany army you would feel grateful that your only source of worry is the exact day when I too will come home. As German soldiers, who have been discharged by the American Army discharge center, arrive in town on foot, bicycle, or our Army truck they are immediately surrounded by the populace who inquire when, where, whither, which army, do you know so and so - and many other questions close to their heart. You see darling, Germany has no postal system since the allied armies invaded the home of the Master Race. Accordingly, mothers, wives, children, do not know whether or not their loved one is alive, dead or prisoner of war. They have no alternative but to wait, wait and wait, never knowing whether the morrow will bring their man, or in what condition. It is not that I am feeling sorry for these characters that I mention this, but dearest the realization that this is not going to happen to us makes me, and no doubt you, feel that the short wait, will be easy to overcome in preference to the losers unhappy lot. Time seems to drag at present, but have a good summer, and before we realize it the over age limit will be lowered to my level. Those letters you write are important, so keep it up even though you find it difficult to write.
Very little mail came thru to-day so of course I too received nary a letter. Since I am all caught up on my letter writing the only letter I'll write tonight will be to my own wonderful pin-up girl - you. There is little news to relate this evening but I'll try to keep your interest until you finish reading the letter.
The bundle I packed last night was mailed this morning to you care of my Pop. In the next letter I write him I'll tell him all about it and request that he keep it in safe keeping for you, until you pick it up in the car. To-night I had a wooden box made to ship you a Nazis officers poniard. It makes a handsome souvenir, also included in the box 3 German beer-place coasters, and a Nazi mother medal. From the best information I can gather these medals were presented to Mothers bearing many children for the Fuhrer. I have the same idea in mind but instead of giving you a medal and a war, I intend substituting love, peace and happiness. If all the packages I’ve sent you in the past 6 weeks arrive you will need a small warehouse. But please try to hold onto everything until I get home to make distribution as we decide.
After chow to night several of us walked to a beer-hall just opened by the army for soldiers. It’s an old place not unlike Max’s on 86th St: there's a four piece German band and frauline to wait on us. The beer is fair, but the music is too [ ] - like, and the Fraulines have the hate for us frozen on their expressions. However it's a place to go to, talk and sip cool beer. Cost is but 1 mark per schooner, no tip, and to-night I took the 3 coasters which I enclosed in to-nights package.
With the preparation of to-night’s bundle I have completed sending all the trophies and souvenirs I have other than a Belgian automatic pistol I have. Since it is not permitted to send concealable weapons thru the mail I’ll endeavor to bring it home with me. It has a broken spring in the trigger but is such a nice reminder of World War II. I hope I manage to get it home. Did you ever give my folks one of those transportation corps insignias?
I sent Pop a cable to-day for Father's Day and hope it arrived in time. In previous letters I requested you to attend to Father's Day, birthday and wedding anniversaries this month, so I hope you managed to get the letter in time. Let me know what you did -please- and thank you so much.
Hope you and Jim are having a perfectly lovely time - enjoying grand weather, having fun - and swinging in a hammock. Enclosed some more snaps and awaiting another roll from the developer. Probably get them next Monday or so. Hope you enjoyed all those I sent in the past 3 weeks.
All seems well with me, had creamed chicken for lunch and hot dogs for supper. Watching my diet to avoid putting on too much weight. This soft life, no worries, no bills, no nothing, reminds me of a work horse let out in pasture with nothing to do. But I'll be back in harness soon. Stay well, kiss Jim for me, and I'll kiss you in mind. My best to everyone,
as ever,
George - Provenance
- Keene State College
- Item sets
- Stoff 1945
- Media
6.pdf
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