Item 5 - Letter from Hans Bratengeier to Hella Scholz

From Hans [in Wels?]. Hans thanks Hella for her parcel and hopes her frozen finger is better now. He received her letter of 24 December today and it pleased him as it shows that they both want to be with each other. He was glad his surprise for Hella worked. He decided to do it while he was in a funk hole. A few days before Christmas they were relieved and travelled 30 kilometres behind their position to a wooden barrack where they prepared to celebrate Christmas and got a change of clothes. He recalls a time in Paris before the war when he suspected he had a flea. He bathed three times a day and changed his clothes. Now he has lots of fleas. As they celebrated Christmas it felt as though they were one big family. It was especially nice as he got news from Hella and nine letters from home, the first mail in eight weeks. They had been campaigning for their own post number and four weeks ago they discovered that their number had been assigned to another unit. However, the post may come late, but at least it comes! He signs of wishing Hella and her dearest all the best for 1945. For a possible related item, see P14/3/4/3.