Letters From Germany
Köhler cousins (page 10)
1949 - 1951
Letters sent by Elfriede Köhler to August Maas in Walnut Grove, MN. Elfreide was the daughter-in-law of Carl Friedrich August Köhler, a brother of Emilie ( Köhler) Maas. Her husband, Fritz, was August Maas' cousin.
See page one for additional information about these letters.
[The accession numbers (A/N) are for reference and cataloging purposes.]
A/N - KOH022 [Translation by Siegfried Krause]
Israelsdorf
13 Feb (probably 1949)Dear Maas family!
Once again it is several weeks ago since I sent my letter, that we got your dear package with the beautiful things and hope that the letter arrived to you by now. Already I am fretting that I didn't send it as airmail, and then your dear ones would have gotten the information sooner.
Today, however, I want to send a picture of our Günter, who would like to present himself, in his beautiful suit from you. He is so proud and happily about this, as you can imagine. Also the other things fit well, as well as do the shoes, which he colored dark himself.
(click on photo to enlarge)
Yes, we are so unspeakably grateful to you all dear ones for the great help in our need. Unfortunately, Günter has been unemployed since the 15th of December already, all the effort is futile. Hopefully, however, everything will recover more in the spring. He frequently is very sad about this, and would like to earn money. There is unemployment all over here in Schleswig-Holstein, however, particularly here around Lübeck. In other provinces it is somewhat better, but no housing is available; therefore, everyone must remain where they are. We still have some consolation that we will get a somewhat bigger room in the near future here. And there we can move around more ourselves.
Unfortunately, there is still no sign of life from Fritz, our daddy, it always depresses us very much. Also, in the Russian zone conditions are hopeless. Many who are not able to endure it over there come here illegally over the border. Or some vanish without a trace. However, I cannot write everything. Whether we see our home again (in Hinterpommern), is quite debatable. Also the last Germans, who are still in Hinterpommern, are brought together in internment camps, where they will remain is debatable. Unfortunately, we can see our beautiful house only in a picture on the wall, which I got for Christmas from the husband of our oldest daughter, who painted it.
This winter was very pleasant here. This year, we have not yet had any snow, and it’s not too cold. Otherwise, someone would have had very many ailments, because no one possesses a featherbed, only covers. Otherwise, we are still healthy, thank God, also my children, and I also hope the same of all you dear ones.
And heartfelt greetings in constant gratitude.
Your Elfriede and Günther Köhler
A/N - KOH020 [Translation by Siegfried Krause]
[It is assumed that this is the picture she enclosed since it was separated from the letter when found. Click to enlarge]
Elfriede Köhler
Lübeck-SiemsTravemünder-Landstraße 148
Dear Aunt and Uncle Maas and relatives!
I didn't let you hear anything from us for a long time again. However, I hope that my thank you letter for your beautiful package to us arrived. -- First, I would like to wish you a happy Pentecost that will be in the next days, above all healthy holidays. However, I doubt, whether this letter will still arrive to you at the right time. -- Secondly, I would like to inform you loved ones that we moved into another room on the 23rd of April, three streetcar-stops further. It happened so suddenly that other families in the makeshift-home moved away, and we also now must out. Employees will move into our old apartment . I am not very sorry that I am here, only the people are strangers again. Otherwise, I live more beautifully, a high stairway, a beautifully spacious room, with sun and a wonderful view. It is a settlement-house, a beautifully groomed garden surround the house. I shall enclose a little picture, right beside me is the mother of the landlady here.
Otherwise, thank God, we are healthy, also my children. (It is) what I also hope for you loved ones. Günter has gone out today on Sunday afternoon, it is such splendid weather. He is especially proud of his beautiful black suit and it fits him so beautifully. Only it lies heavily on his heart and looks quite bad that he can find no employment. He so gladly would like to earn money. He has been unemployed already since the 15th of December. It is quite terrible here in Schleswig-Holstein. He was with an English unit as an Autoschlosser (auto mechanic or locksmith), but it was dissolved and 1,200 people were unemployed. --
About 14 days ago, our second daughter came unexpectedly for one day with us, that was a joy. She had come along with her boss with the car to Lübeck. Otherwise, she can visit us only once each year on vacation. The eldest married daughter also is far away from us. She has had a little girl, Ingrid, on the 18th of May and is so happy, that everyone is healthy. - -
Only Fritz, our good daddy, causes so many worries for us since he doesn't contact us from Russia. The rumor going around that we might yet see our dear homeland would be wonderful. In Paris, it is currently being negotiated about Germany. Hopefully, they will become joined by the Russians. In Berlin, there is probably again a lot happening. The blockade has ended; now the railway worker strike and everything otherwise happens there. I think, you also get to know about everything.
The time is awfully troubled. I already am quite contented if I sit in my own little room and see and hear nothing about all the misery and poverty in the camps here. The transit camp, Pöggendorf, is not far away from us here in the forest, the people emotionally already are completely behaved, cowering in their place and so shy.
Now my loved ones, everything good to you, with quite cordial greetings,
Your always grateful, Elfriede Köhler and children.
Note: I'm not sure why she addressed this letter to her Aunt and Uncle. Her previous letters were addressed to the "Maas family" and her April 1948 letter indicated that she knew August was a cousin of her husband. The letter is dated May 29 but the year wasn't stated. However, the letter was definitely written in the year 1949, because Elfriede mentioned the end of the Berlin blockade, which was on the 12th of May 1949. Also, she mentions it is Sunday and in 1949, May 29 was Sunday.
A/N - KOH0 - Christmas card note [translation by Siegfried Krause]
Lübeck-Siems
16 Dec 1949Dear Maas family!
For the dear Christmas celebration and New Year, we would like to wish you all glad and healthy holidays and everything good. Once again a year is passed, and we don't know anything about Fritz, our Daddy. Now many repatriated prisoners of war came home from Russia. Our Günter always is so proud of his beautiful suit and things, also we all are too. Our second daughter now has come closer to us, to Hamburg, and takes care of an older lady. The eldest daughter with family is in Sch…len in Westphalia, rather far away from us. Did you receive our last letter to you yet?
To you loved ones deepest greetings,
your Elfriede and Günter Köhler
A/N - KOH005. [translation by Siegfried Krause]
5th of January (1951)
My dear relatives Maas!
Today, on the 5th of January, I got information that I should pick up a CARE package from Lübeck. This was a delight and the night before I almost could not sleep. And all the contents, which were beautiful in there, were received well. Also everything that one can think of oneself was so beautifully packed in cans, so that I was overjoyed. How can I thank you for your love. It came some days late, probably because the address was not complete; however, it found its way here OK. I would like to thank you loved ones however from my whole heart. Since I surely can’t do at all something similar. I get only a pension of 60 marks per month; I need 20 marks for rent and other expenses, from the 40 marks I must live, buy fuel. I cannot think of clothing at all. And the prices are so high and rise from day to day. How will it only become. To be sure I hear that in America, it is also no longer like it was previously, and follows all closely. Also the war in Korea. Are your relatives also already there? I must more frequently think of you loved ones, because also father Köhler (August), earlier often told us about you. And we heard recently so little from us (probably meant "from you")
Now I live already 1 ½ years here in Lübeck-Siems. I gladly would have written once more frequently, but it was embarrassing for me. Do not take it badly, please, that we only thank you, we are always indebted to you. Unfortunately, I still can’t tell you yet that I heard something from Fritz. And already again a deep darkness lies over the whole world. Want to ask God to bring and keep peace in the new year, it brings so much heart sorrow. Günter is also far away in Westphalia since May, he couldn't find any employment here. Hildegard and Günther were both with me at Christmas, so that I was not quite abandoned. Hildegard is 23 years, and is busy in a household in Hamburg and Günter is 21 years.
We are all so proud of your things, that you sent us once. I would like to ask you, to write some lines, if not in German, then in English. We would be happy. I can get friends to translate it here. I would like to properly greet you all heartily and remain in constant gratitude,
your Elfriede and children.
My Adr. is: Elfriede Köhler
in Lübeck-Siems
Travemünde-Landstrasse 148
British zone
Note: The handwriting in this letter is in modern script, unlike the Gothic script of Elfriede's other letters. It is also different than Günter's handwriting. Could it be possible that it was written by Hildegard since she was visiting her mother at Christmas time? The letter is dated January 5 but the year wasn't stated. Based on Günter's age and the reference to the war in Korea, it most likely was 1951.
