English Translation

40 -Uscha. Erwin J e s i o n e k Fieldmail number: 21867_A Osten, 20.10.1943 Dear comrades! Since I arrived at my heap again from vacation, today I have the first day of rest. I am immediately in the hospital for overhaul. I have scabs all over my body, a dipped knee, splinter injury on the small finger and a dislocated thumb. In a few days we will be back in action. As you can see from the enclosed birthday sign, the EK Ií has now beaten to my armored storm badges. I only miss the badge and the EC I, to which I will then start. I am now, without being able to do anything for it, a judge, like millions of others. I am proud to have participated in the most difficult fights at the very front and now wait for the call to the pührerschule after a complete pront operation. You could write to the personnel department of the RuS and ask when the next courses start and if they invite me to do so. The hardships and troubles of recent times were almost superhuman. For weeks in bunkers and ditches, during rain, frost and storm mostly in heavy artillery fires. Day and night trips in fanzer robbed the necessary sleep. On advanced B-site for days no warm food etc. The thoughts of beautiful girls and full glasses are postponed. Likewise political and world-spectacular problems due to lack of radio and magazines move into wide perne. We have our duty to do in our descent, everything else does not interest us. From our proud division a small fighting group with 3 infantry companies and some heavy weapons has become, which wanders from one bridge head to another. Eternally is spoken of relief, calm and "home to the kingdom". The "Heaven Kingdom" is probably closer to us. The fun fight has become bloody serious. The best Aamericades remained in foreign soil or are beaten kum cripples. Blissing and sometimes desperate, the small pile beats and shoots and fires. With plenty of chocolate, alcohol and winter clothing you can still see that the homeland takes care of us. We have not received any mail for 4 weeks as a result of the constant change of assignment to WH Corps. Now 7 sacks are said to be on the move. Our leaders are almost all gone, fallen or hopelessly wounded. WH-underleaders are company leaders of W-companies. DonetsGerman and Ukrainians are our ammunition protection at S.I.G. I am currently R I, that is the advanced observer who directs the shooting. I am sorry that I am not able to tell you any more about the hereafter. Although my humor does not go down, it waits for better times. The front in the east is held and if only the W does. The front is waiting urgently for a report of success against the terrorist attacks, far too much one meets indifferent or even discouraged Landser. All holidaymakers scold at eda's gemek- ker of the homeland, who forgets in her idioty completely that her actions must have an effect again, apart from that,