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From Hella in Crimmitschau. Everyone around her is studying hard as Hella catches up with her post. Although she hasn’t written in a while she has often thought of him. She is very busy as she is on kitchen duty. She is pleased that she has lost a lot of weight. They have lots of schoolwork. She is only concentrating on the subjects she wants to. At the moment it is German. They are still not allowed to go out much, but Hella often escapes. In answer to his question there is no airport in Crimmitschau but there are in Zwickau and Werdau. The letter is continued next morning. Hella is still unclear about the details of Günther’s plane. She doesn’t feel that she can approach her sachsen comrades as he suggested, as they are avoiding her. She has been nine weeks here and only once to the cinema. However, she does not feel much like going. She closes by saying that it has nearly been a whole year since they met. With envelope.

From Hella in Charlottenburg, Berlin. Hella’s parents’ house was affected by the fighting. On phoning home, she found her parents distraught and so came home. It was a very difficult journey. She found the bedroom burnt out and all the windows smashed. There is no water. In comparison to those around them, though, the damage is light and they can still live in the house. She describes some of the destruction in Berlin and the woeful look of its people. Hella sometimes feels ashamed of the peaceful life she has in Crimmitschau. With envelope.

From Hella in Crimmitschau. She is enjoying being back, especially as the leaders of the camp have left and it is snowy. She was sad not to find a letter from Günther waiting for her. It has been three months since they have seen each other, so she is sending him some pictures of herself. Others have told her that she now looks much thinner than she was in the pictures. But she cannot believe this as the others are getting fatter. No-one is allowed to go to Berlin for Christmas so Hella does not know where she will be, but she will get holidays. They had a celebration last night and called it the ‘Mountain festival’. Because of the presence of the teachers the atmosphere was a bit strained. She finished his chocolate in Berlin. With envelope.

From Hella in Crimmitschau. She has not had post from Günther or her parents. She hopes that the correspondence between herself and Günther will not slowly become one-sided. As it is the second Sunday in Advent they are hoping to have a little celebration in the evening. In the afternoon she hopes to go for a walk to the next village where there is supposed to be good cake. The camp leaders are still not back and the girls are happy for the freedom this brings. In present circumstances it takes about 24 hours to travel from Berlin to Crimmitschau. An unknown female admirer is making Hella’s bed for her, cleaning her shoes etc. She cannot find out who it is. With envelope.

From Hella to Karl Gessner [‘Onkel Karl’, her mother’s life companion]. It is three days since her return from Berlin. Bill and Hella speak about Onkel Karl a lot as he must be finding it hard to get used to being alone. In the meantime they hope he has heard from Hanni. Bill and Hella love him, both for his sakes and for her mother’s, and hope that he gets better soon. She talks about her mother’s death and is glad that Bill not only understands her love for her mother, but shares it too.

From Hella to Karl Gessner. She describes a house she has newly moved into and all the hard work it will take to make it comfortable. Bill is finding his new job as quartermaster very boring. They would both prefer to return to Germany but must make the best out of their situation. She sends greetings to Walkers and Frau Masuck and signs off with love.

Letter from her brother Eric [O’Brien], Polo Pony Farm, 2 Chander Road, Dehra Dun, [India] relating to his financial affairs and his plans to find employment in China.

Letter from her brother John (Jack) O’Brien, Boru House, [Limerick] wishing her a happy birthday. He is pleased to let Mary know that he is to have a half holiday in her honour.

First part of a letter from her brother Stephen O’Mara, written on a train journey from Chicago to Washington, describing a series of talks given by him, Harry Boland, and Father O’Flanagan in various American cities regarding the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Lacking last page(s).

Letter from her brother Tom O’Brien during military service, giving vivid accounts of his training at Woolwich, his journey to and life in India, his travels across the country, his meeting with the Maharajah of Bharatpur, and the keenness of Indian Royalty on horses.