| A Letter for a Fallen Soldier!  
Fieldpostnumber 15422C In Ampleben, Number 6/OverSchoeningen/Brunswick Mrs.Emma Michaelis, Nee(Rose) My Dear Mrs. Michaelis! I have the tragic plight, of telling you, that your husband, My Under-Officer Gustav Michaelis, who was awarded the Medal of Valor, And the War Earned Iron Cross With Oak Cluster, a Heavily Decorated Soldier, was on the Morning of 11 January, 1944, during very heavy fighting, in the midst of the masses of the enemy, a True Hero of the Reich, who gave his finest unto the Fatherland, now is Fallen! As Group Commander of this Unit, they either had to fight against impossible odds or flee. All Hope Was Lost! As the good Soldier that he was, he led a mounted charge against the enemy to halt their Advance, and in the Heat of Battle, was shot in the head. The Wound was so Severe, that he died instantly. I am speaking as one who has known him by name and as a friend and as a Comrad in Arms. His Warm Friendship was Very Dear to me. The Company, on 10 January, 1944, making the decision to hold the Advance, fed extra grain to the Horses, brushed and groomed them, and polished the saddles and tack. The Soldiers polished their Boots and Belts, and Brushed and Cleaned their Uniforms. That Evening, they went to a Local "Establishment", and held a Party. They Drank a Toast, Danced and Sang Songs. All this while 7 Russian Divisions were converging against us. Rather than Surrender, they would all Ride Out Together in the Morning for the People, the Fatherland, and their Friends and Family. Holding the line, even for a few hours, to give Precious Moments for the Troops and Civilians behind them to get Home! It was Magnificent as they rode out in the Morning! I ordered the Band to Play! It was not a Hopeless Cause, as none of us would have made it Back Alive, or Worse would have been Bondsmen in our own Country! I am not understanding of this! In all honesty I do not have the Words, for One so Outstanding a Sacrifice, in the Service of One's Country. The Standoff, and Personal and Military Sacrifice, that he and his Company Achieved, Bewildered and Halted the Enemy, giving Time for those Camped Against Us In the West to Secure the Homeland, and for Us to Escape! It is with the Greatest of Admiration, and from the Bottom of my Heart, that I send this Greeting, and Hope that it will Uplift You, to know that he died with Honor, fighting mostly to Protect You and his Home. CL. BRECHT, Leutenant and Camp Commander Original Letter, Page 1 (In German) Original Letter, Back Page
Click "Gott Verlaub Mich Nicht" Click "Mein Schatz Reise Nicht" "Am Amfang War's Auf Erden" "11:00AM, 11 Januar, 1944, Die Ende" |
