Sunday, February 22, 2009


I found some Christmas cards in the letters that Mom had saved. The two had been sent the beginning of December 1941 to their parents in Germany. Mom had written to her family and Dad to his. The censors had returned them in April and May of 1942 as undeliverable. The note from the censors said they could send messages of not more than 25 words through the Red Cross. I thought it interesting that Mom had kept them all these years. The messages seem to speak of the longing to see them and be able to at least send a Christmas gift to them. It appears that they knew that Henry and Peter were not at home but Dad had some question about his brother Max.


The front had a poem that is loosely translated:

I cannot reach to shake your hand because I am so far away

And would so like to be able to return for Christmas,

So I must be satisfied with greeting and good wishes today.

A very happy Christmas time, a new year full of joy.


On the back of one Mom had written:

Dear Parnts and sister,

Now it is certainly time to send you, dear parents, Christmas greeting and hope that it reaches you. I would have sent a small gift, but it no longer permitted. Hopefully, my dear ones are still well. I think so often about you. Did you receive my last letter from September 1, a card from our vacation and birthday card for Pappa? Again Merry Christmas--Maria


On the back of the other Dad had written:

Chicago, 3 December 1941

My dear ones!

We are coming up again on the holidays and I will let you hear from me. Hopefully, from what we can understand, you are all well. I am close to buying a house in an area near Chicago. Hopefully I will have luck with this and settle the mortgage in the same way that Father did. We would have liked to have sent a package for Christmas, but this is no longer possible. We send greetings to all for Christmas and a Happy New Year. (How is Max?) Karl, Maria and children


There were several letters they got from Germany during 1941, but no other letters received until a German Red Cross note 1 September 1943. It was from mom's father, Peter Stoffel in Gelsenkirchen. This would have been written before Peter and Henry were prisoners of war. It said:

My Loved Ones

We are still all well, brother Heini and Peter also. Sister Elisabeth is at home not married. Many greetings, Your parents.


The next letters that were in Mom's collection were only 2 from 1945. Both of which were checked by the censors and most of the rest from 1946 were also checked by censors. I will try to get some of these translated as time goes on.
Betty