Zablotow, December 6, 1938
Dear Eva, thank you for your sweet postcard. Isn’t it so funny that I often thought of L.H. in the last few days? She just wrote. If you haven’t written her yet, please give her my regards. I just can’t wrap my head around writing her right now. By the way, what did she say in her letter?
You asked how much I earn; I can’t tell you yet because I get paid every 4 weeks. I assume that I get 1 Zloty per person per hour. I teach 2 hours per week, so 4 Zlotys per week. I will get my first payment in mid-December. I will use that to buy a pair of Russian boots that I urgently need here.
You ask whether I
want anything special right now. I have a number of things I would love to have (fountain pen is empty, I first need to have it refilled). I will tell you what I need. If it’s not possible, so be it. I can’t really judge that from here. Would you check to see if Joachim’s brown shoes are still there? They no longer fit him, but I could certainly use them. I would just need to wear woolen socks. I would be very happy if you could send me my writing paper with the monogram. Letter paper is very valuable here because people write often. We also need my manicure kit. Also Joachim’s writing paper, he just said. We would be very happy to have our two English dictionaries. Also English books that are still at home so I can keep studying here with J. Also, please send the laundry on the laundry shelves in my box and the thin socks. My toiletry items are still there from my last Bezach purchase. I urgently need my lotion, Punktseif, powder, possibly lipstick. I no longer have anything. Last but not least, my Camelia belt, and, if possible, sanitary napkins. You can’t get them here. I have no idea what I should do about this. My writing paper is in the desk in the right-hand drawer, also a bottle of Tosca. The toiletry items and the hair net are in the right-hand drawer under the sink.
I could really use the fountain pen. It was last by the sink in the large bedroom. Also one or more mechanical pencils. They are in my nightstand. I could still wear my old red dress here. The belt is in the right-hand drawer under the sink. If there are belts or other small items, please send them, too. Dear Eva, you will have to decide what you can send. And I thank you so much in advance. Did you send the letter to Helga? Does she take good care of your things? I have to clear the table now because we are going to have our meal.
Much love and kisses from your
Gisela
Side: blue leather belt Whether some of the laundry in the closed on the right side needs to be washed so it can be sent.
Bottom: What does Fritz write? And Suse? Love to all.
Top: If you sell wine privately, ask for 1.50 a bottle. They are woth a lot more, Papa had left the best ones behind.
Zablotow, December 6, 1938
Dear Evchen,
We received your dear letter with the list and the one from December 1, and by now, you will have received the second registered letter. Your letter gives us an idea about many things, I will add more at the end, Papa isn’t here again – (here he is), first of all(?) regarding the sale. And we only heard here that you can send items other than furniture and valuables. So it might be important to sell what can be sold. We leave it completely up to you to do this. Sell what you can sell. We are really no longer able to judge the situation from here. What a shame that you were not able to go see Mr. Miehlke. It is the same regarding pricing, P. believes that it might be advisable for you to ask Uncle Paul and Aunt Röschen to come upstairs and give you some advice on how much you could ask. The wardrobe in your room is a simple, painted wardrobe, the one in our bedroom is a polished wardrobe. The cabinet in the bathroom might also bring a few marks [currency]. Well, you know how much the easy chair cost. Sell it for half. Ask Mrs. Weidner to pay you 3 marks for the lamps, and give her the picture as a Christmas present.
The desk in your room is made from walnut, so it has some value, the D. in this study is almost new, you might want to ask 20 marks, everything else will not bring much. Also sell the radio, it cost hundred and 26 marks, you might want to ask 40 marks for it. The small items will sell, if only the dining room goes. We really can’t think of anyone who could give you advice on the asking price for it. What did Mr. Steiner say? If you’re interested, sell at any price, and like I said, anything at all(?). We really hope that the apartment will rent by January 1 so that you don’t have to worry about it anymore. In my next letter, I will tell you a few things about consolidating the attic and the basement. I can imagine how you are having to run around now, but with God’s help, this shall soon pass. Once you are with Fritz over there, you will need to recover from all the stress. This is my wish from the bottom of my heart. –
I received a postcard from Messerschmidts yesterday. Please thank them and give them my regards. –
Dear Evchen, the packages haven’t arrived yet, they take about 14 days. We expect a notification any day and can’t wait. If you can, please keep sending our belongings, possibly a bag of bedding. Kurt B. will help you.
Right side: much love and kisses from your loving Mutti
Left side: Maybe some undershirts. We will pay him off soon.
Looks like the continuation of another letter
work at a dentist’s office as a dental assistant and could then take an exam in the US to become a dentist. Der Eva, if possible, would you send me my ski hat right away, it is likely in my box or on the sewing machine. I really need it since it will start freezing here in two to three weeks. If you haven’t yet sent me my new and my blue neckties, please do so. And for us, our brushes please and various sheer curtains. My wallets, writing cases, the latter in the bottom shelf in the right-hand cubby in the bookcase; then the silver mechanical pencils, the four-color pen, business cards in my box. In my laundry chest, my athletic shorts, the grey shorts; get rid of my dress pants, but send the belt. Then, in the bench, my athletic shoes, cleats, and ankle guards and the badge on my sports jacket.
Also, my school bag and the shopping nets inside. If you see someone from my group, especially Heinz M. or Edgar Schächter, please give them my regards; tell them that I wrote a letter to Charlie. Also, please give my regards to the Löwensteins and all of the Messersch[midts].
Love to you as well and kisses
from your
Joachim
