[Partial translation]

13 March 1939 [Mother]

Carl’s letter came on Saturday, we see that you are doing well. I don’t take your lament about getting heavy very seriously. Just be glad you are healthy and that food agrees with you and that you have enough. It is good that you can manage without cigarettes, because they only hurt your lungs. I have had the flu for four weeks and cannot shake it. I did not feel well, had some fever and a bad cough, spent almost two weeks in bed. Johanna would come home at noon and do compressions for me, the cough got better and I thought it was over. Two weeks ago it was warm and I was outside twice with Johanna. On Sunday once again it was very cold, we had air raid practice, I did not have to go to the cellar but the windows were supposed to be open in the house [because if a bomb fell in the general vicinity, the air pressure would break windows], so I got another cold.

Albert Fink also constantly has a problem with his throat, he is always coughing. Eight days ago the Fink family was in the Black Forest, they all enjoyed it, but the cough is still there. All those businesses are a heavy burden [on him]. Albert goes to Frankfurt every day in order to oversee the business. He keeps a close eye on the employees, but he does not have enough and it is hard to get more help. Paul Schmidt is not a good business man either, he is too committed to the party and now he does not want to go to church any more. Nor does he want to hear anything about the Old Testament and says openly, when the pastor gives Bible study, that he should be careful someone might turn him in. Paul now drinks and spends half the night at the pub with his cronies, one can imagine where that will end. Ever since Müller has died, one does not see much of his sons-in law in church, other than Wissner, there are so many other things going on, something else every Sunday. Herr Müller already suspected that business would take over all their time, he often admonished them. Frau Müller is very, very sick, and her end is in sight[...] the Jewish businesses have all now changed hands, they mostly went to party members. I think that the Jews who left first came off better than those who are wanting to leave now. The first group was allowed to take their merchandise with them.

We have a government that is so versatile that one is astonished. Everything that was before has to be totally changed. Just now they are dealing with the small businesses. Here 31 bakeries are being closed, all the tradespeople who don’t have several employees and all the small tailoring businesses have to close. The Third Reich does not tolerate businesses which do not pay taxes[...]every business is told how to do everything. Now they are not supposed to deliver rolls in the morning, in that way they hope to save wheat flour. This week there was an article in the paper about skim milk, they praised it so much, the end result will be that we in the city will only get skimmed milk[...] the children and young people have meetings all Sunday long and in this way they forget about church[...] now little Paul will soon be two, I wish him all the best and health in the new year of his life. I will send him a set of pajamas, they are quite big, he can grow into them.

Ever since I have been sick Father does the cleaning, making fire and shopping; in this way he has enough to do and cannot think of visiting you for the moment, but later, when we are all well, we will send him to you[...]many greetings, Mother.