11-04-1945 From High Mass to a 15,000-Seat Arena
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March 22, 2026 by LTJM1125

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letter_11-04-1945

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"Mein Freund hast deise photo gemacken bei der Oberhause von Passau am Donau (Yeh, and I wrote it myself." passau1 Standard German (corrected): “Mein Freund hat dieses Photo gemacht bei der Oberhaus in Passau an der Donau.” English translation: “My friend took this photo at the Oberhaus in Passau on the Danube.”
"A good picture of Passau, showing the Oberhause & the junction of the Inn & Danube river" passau2
"The Oberhause on a rainy day. It is a walled castle on the hill across the river from Passau. At one time it was Napoleons Hqs." passau3
passau4 "This view of Passau shows more clearly how it is located at the junction of the Inn & Danube Rivers. The Inn is on the left, the Danube on the right."
passau5 "The Danube and the hills beyond."
passau6 "I tried to get that boat sailing on the river. It didn't come out good."
"That same old Oberhause" passau7
passau8
passau9
passau11
passau10

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Title

11-04-1945 From High Mass to a 15,000-Seat Arena

Date

November 4, 1945

Location

Passau, Germany

Transcription

Passau, Germany
Nov. 4 1945

Dear Mother & Dad:

Well, I have finally got settled down
long enough to do a little writing. As I
told you, I have now moved to Passau. It
is a large city on the Danube River. It is
very old and very picturesque. There is a
large castle just across the river. It was
formerly the home of the Bishop of Passau. It
was once the Hq of Napoleon and lately Hitler
had it reserved as a summer home. He
never used it though. Now we are using it
as an enlisted men's rest enter. We have a
beautiful cathedral here. I went to solemn high
mass on Nov 1 at the cathedral. The bishop
of Passau said the mass. The cathedral has
12 altars not including the main altar.
While the solemn high mass was going on
low masses were taking place on all of
the other altars. They had a beautiful
choir and a monstrous organ. The organ is
said to be the largest in the world
and I can well believe it.
I have had a tremendous amount of
work to do since I arrived here. I have
a sports arena that will seat 15,000 people

2
that I am in charge of. I also have two
motion picture theaters and a post exchange
to keep an eye on. If you don't think that
is a day’s work try it sometime. I am
trying to get them to assign someone to
help me. So far, no dice.
I am still dissappointed about the mix-up
on the Swiss call. However, I dont know
what could be plainer than the two words
"call me." It had to be said in a few words
you know. The cable I sent cost $18.

I received a letter from John Sullivan
the other day. I also got one from my
buddy, Rendon. He is discharged now and
is home in Los Angeles. In regard to my
own redeployment, you know as much
about it as I do, perhaps more. All that
I know is what I read in the newspapers.
It all sums up to sometime between
Christmas and June of next year.

Well, that’s all for now. The packages
are coming so fast I can't count them.
However, I don't think you had
better send any more. I may not be here to
receive them.

Your Loving Son
"Oby"

Description

After relocating to Passau in early November 1945, he describes the city’s historic character along the Danube, including the former bishop’s castle—now used as an enlisted men’s rest center—and the grand cathedral with its multiple altars and enormous organ. He describes attending a solemn high mass on All Saints’ Day.

He also describes the heavy workload: overseeing a large 15,000-seat sports arena, two movie theaters, and a post exchange, with no assistance yet assigned. He expresses lingering disappointment about the failed Swiss phone connection and uncertainty about his redeployment timeline, which appears to range from Christmas to the following June.

Despite the workload and uncertainty, he notes receiving letters from friends and an overwhelming number of packages from home.

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