Transcription
Passau, Germany
25 Nov. 1945
Dear Mom & Dad:
It's terribly hard to sit down and
try and write a letter. Everything is just
so dull. The winter is really here. We haven't
had any snow yet but, boy, is it cold!
And we have a fuel shortage. Our billets
are warm enough but boy is the office
cold. Our office is located in a monstrous
Sports Arena. The place has a seating
capacity of 15,000. All the windows were knocked
out by artillery fire. The wind blows through
there all day long and the army does
not think that the place is essential
enough to give us coke. The place burns
10 ton of coal a week. So, I sit in the
office all day watching my breath.
We have started to repair, somewhat,
this sports area. We have now got it in
working condition. We have installed two
basketball courts and a boxing ring. We also
have an indoor tennis court, two
badminton courts, an indoor track and a
gymnasium. The place was equipped with
showers, which we now have in working
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order. In short, the place would be ideal
for the fellows to have a good time, if
we could only get some heat. And heat
would be no good unless we got the
windows fixed. We tried to get glass and
it was impossible. Starting tomorrow we
are going to cover them will tar paper.
The fuel is another problem. The furnaces
like most of the furnaces in Germany
will burn nothing but coke. You see, during
the war, I.G. Farben got most of Germany's
coal. They converted it into coke and
used most of the by-products for war
materials. Therefore, there was nothing for
the Germans to burn for fuel except
coke. Furnaces that would burn nothing
but coke were produced. Now, I.G. Farben
is "kaput," and there is nothing to
burn but coal and we can't use it.
What a mess. That gives you some
idea of what kind of problems we
have over here.
I just made the statement that
I.G. Farben was "kaput." That isn't half
of it. As the Germans themselves say
"Alles ist kaput" This country will drive
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anyone who stays here long though crazy.
The cities are all in ruins. All the people
are poverty stricken. Anyone of them would
murder their own mother for a cigarette.
They’re grasping, scraping, thieving, conniving to
make life easier for themselves. It leaves
a cloud of depression over the whole
country and everyone in it. I’ll be glad to
get back were the sun shines again.
Incidentally, the way I figure it, I
should be on my way home in January.
They have already lowered the discharge
score for December at 55. I anticipate that
score for January will be lowered 50. If it is
it will get me out. I heard on the radio
last night that by January troops who
were declared eligible for discharge would
proceed directly home without kicking
around replacement centers. So, to put
it briefly, I expect to be home sometime
in February. But don't quote me. It
might ruin my luck. Well so long for now.
Your Loving Son.
Oby.
