Conversation with Pop, August 2020:
"There are no letters or photographs or documents, or anything material for that matter, left from the Berlin house in Lichterfelde (Holbeinstrasse 14). The house was firebombed with the phosphorus fire bombs that burn everything to the ground and there is no way to put the fire out. The building was a three story building. We lived on the third floor. Other people lived on the first and second floors. In the basement was a laundry room and a servants' quarters. My grandfather built the house around 1900.
Based on the dates of these two letters, the December 1942 one written from Lichterfelde and the February 1943 one written from Schoenemark, the building could have been fire bombed in January 1943. It could have been later in that year, because I was away at school. But in any case by 1944 it was gone.
After the Berlin house burned down, Mother stayed in Schoenemark with her cousin Else Fechtner, on some family property owned by Martin Wacker. The Wackers were a wealthy family who were gold mark millionaires before the war. Martin Wacker, his sister Else Fechtner and my mother were cousins and very close as children. Hans Wacker was a close friend in age to me, he was Martin's son. The Wackers owned a building near us in Berlin, and they also owned a gentleman's farm in Schoenemark. Hans and I played many times together there.
Schoenemark bei Gransee is east of Berlin. If is famous due to a monument to Queen Louise from the 1700's. It is also famous for being where Marlene Dietrich was from. "
Schoenemark, February 9, 1943
My dearest Gustel,
You will certainly scold me because I now write so little. I don't know why either, I'm actually very good and solid. Only too lazy and tired in the evenings to write. Then the regular doctor's walk was a bit strained me, and I told Erna that after more than 3 weeks of treatment I had enough of it every day an
d didn't want to come again. It took a lot of time and I'm actually so excited that it is no longer necessary.
I've thought of something else about that. My right big toe hurts when I walk and I hobble right (the cheeky Irmel laughs at me too!). At first I thought I had clenched my toe without noticing. But it is only splayfoot acting up again. I have now ordered new insoles. But funny, once you start to see the doctor, you can't get away. And you notice that you get older when such small complaints come.
Sometimes I feel like I'm not sure how to sit or lie down. Well, we will still manage the last 3 months. If I write 3 months now, it still feels like a very long time, but time will pass faster than I might like. Only if you, my Gustl, can come again, it would be practical soon, because otherwise you won't have much from me. I would be very happy if it were possible and I could have you here again for a few days. During the brief visit in January I only got a taste for it.
Hopefully you will get this shipment well delivered. Adlers had offered it to me because Rosel was supposed to make a stop in Berlin. The jam is Kati Z.'s birthday present. The collars are almost all "without", those with fabric are no longer available. You can certainly use them in winter. That’s why I’m not at the dress register yet. I am skeptical about the hair tonic, but there is no longer anything really good in it and you will probably have to turn it off and take tap water. Hopefully it's the right sock holder, but one of them breaks a bit. He probably got the package from Erich on occasion. The price is always 45 pfennigs for 2 pieces. Hopefully it is okay with you that you still get so much of it.
Erich (Kromat) is self-absorbed and has only short working vacation for the time being. It is only written on from Heimat. Actually incomprehensible, because he could work elsewhere as well. If they were to move into Heimat at the same time, then there would be a lot more need, but it will probably keep pressing.
Westpahl, now finally with 1 star, slim and youthful like a lieutenant, was with me and started trying to see if we could support the basement. In the West he has seen often enough that his life was only saved because the houses were able to cope with the great pressure there. What do you think about that, should we also take part? With Spaetl? Haven't I talked about how far he's going to admit anything.
Next week all women from the house (except me) have to go to a fire extinguishing course. Irmel also participates voluntarily.
We still have pretty good food to eat. However, vegetables are starting to be less abundant. You shouldn't pay such high prices for eggs for us, they'll get cheaper by spring.
Earlier, Ernst Werner called me from Munich. He comes to us on Thursday evening and just wanted to know if we want to take him in.
February 10, 1943 I got that far last night. So this morning I was delighted by your card from 6th, which announced the shipment with the vinegar. The gentleman called earlier and wants to send me the package tomorrow. I'm supposed to give him 2 marks and 40 cigarettes and travel expenses through the messenger. I'm really excited about the show, "Freue mich". Irmel wants to confiscate the wine for her confirmation right away, because I shouldn't drink anything now.
12 noon: the letter from 5 has just arrived. Today is a particularly fruitful day. It's nice that I can write to you right away. I'm a little worried that Rosel will come through unscathed. Civilians are being checked. With the size of the package, you will certainly count on better content, although there are only a few requested things. And no one has baked a real cake for you either, just a couple Christmas cupcakes.
After a few colder days, the weather here is warm again, but often windy and rainy, but on the whole too nice for the time being. There will be setbacks ...
Stalingrad is of course very busy for all of us. It's terrible and we are spoiled because we haven't had such a big setback in this war. It was just thought impossible that this could happen. But the Russian seems to be beating us with our own tactics, that's bad. We're going back to that all the time. All the hard-won terrain that we were so proud to own. You have to hope for spring, it was always our most successful season.
One hears of the enormous numbers of prisoners that the Russians are said to have made there. Also high generals with their staff. My nice Frau Koch is so unhappy, her lone brother is with Oberstadt. Adju with a divisional staff. The general is imprisoned with the 1a along with a number of officers , she was told here by a higher authority.
Now she really hopes that he is not there. They will probably never get news from Russian captivity, they are not attached to the Red Cross. Kruemmel's younger brother and brother-in-law are also there. They haven't had any news for a long time, while Frau Koch received a letter from the beginning of January. The oldest Adler boy told us that there are 2 young apprentices on his course who were brought out to the course on January 10th by plane from Stalingrad. One has to be amazed, also at the high number of wounded rescued, which, however, has to be spread over many months. But it is nice that they are saved.
Regarding the work regulations, one doesn't really know yet. Subject to the police and is temporarily affected, Fraulien Schuster told me earlier. Mr ? has finished the course and quickly drove to Schoenfeld again for 3 days.
There is still no instruction from above that the store has to close because we are not retail. But I could still guess. Also that they call the police. Regarding Liesel and Grete, they came to visit, but wanted Mk 7 from me. I was so happy about our conversation.
It is fine that the trip is at least approved by W. this time . If something comes in between, you just have to put up with it, it wouldn't be the first time. But you can look forward to it and that's so nice. Don't worry about your birthday, come as soon as you can. And I look forward to every day that you can be here, no matter when.
The textile prices are very expensive. You don't have to spend so much on baby hoods and jackets. Hoods I can get from Frau ? and jackets can be bought on the baby card. Knitting wool is about 4-5 times the price from us, only here there is usually no real wool left. When it comes to baby things, 100-200g is enough. If I could get them in light blue or white, it would be very nice. In rose I got 100 g here. And, if you have 100 g. you could get really red wool, it's so good for decoration and to use in scraps.
Buy socks for me, if they are not so overpriced. I'm not that scarce of them. Of course, children always need socks. Dietie needs such 18-20 without length. For sweaters you would have to indicate 2 years older. But not too cheap.
Now I have to close, this letter has to go, so hopefully you'll get the letter soon.
1000 greetings and kisses from your Lotte
Below photos: 1)Snapshot of 1937 Phone Directory with Gustav's business (Bauke und Rosenau) and the Berlin house address (the house that was firebombed).
2) copy of Marriage certificate from Schoenemark registry. Pop's birth certificate has not yet been found, but some registries are starting to come on line, so maybe someday he will exist!
