This is a letter that my grandfather received from his lieutenant in WWI. This lietenant obviously did not realize that my grandfather was a Jew.

Translation of what is written on this photo:

“War 1915 Belgium”

“Ancient warrior on guard. But image is not good. When do you think will be peace?”

This letter was among the things that my mother saved and was translated for me by Max Freilich, who is also like me, a resident of Greenville, SC and a member of the Temple of Israel. Mr Freilich left Austria when he was 14 on the Kindertransport to England.

Picture taken in Belgium

I received this (the following) letter from my lieutenant, Herr Kirchner, in August 1939. All Jewish Comrades (veterans) were banned after November 1939.

Associated comrades (of) former                                  Halle (Saale) August 1939
Infantry Regiments 360/361 Halle (Saale)
And environs

Dear Comrade!
On May 13, 1939 the founding of the association of former comrades of Infantry Regiments 360/361 of  Halle (Saale) and environs, headquartered in Halle was initiated. In addition there exist comradely associations in Eilenberg, Halberstadt and Magdeberg. – These four associations have been unified as one tradition-bound organization under the leadership of senior teacher and lieutenant comrade Herman Wilke of Halle Saale.

At the well attended initial meeting 60 comrades from Halle and environs joined the membership; an impressive start and hope for strong growth in numbers. We assumed that you dear comrade, still adhere to the traditional fealty to the praise of our glorious 360/361 war regiments and are therefore sending you this appeal. We request to send us your declaration of membership. Dues are RM 0.50 peer mo. Those comrades who are currently members in an other veterans- organization pay us only RM 0.20.- The N.S.K.O.V. does not qualify as a veterans organization. (N.S. stands for National Socialistisch (Nazi) I don’t know what the other letters stand for).mf

We are enclosing a questionnaire which we are asking you to precisely and clearly complete and soon to return to the undersigned.

In order to facilitate payment of dues particularly for those who are not local, payments can be made to Leipzig postal account No.65867. We are enclosing a payment card for your convenient use. We recommend payment be made several months in advance, which should be more efficient particularly for out of town members.

Membership meetings take place quarterly in Halle (Saale). The main event meeting will be held in the fall. For this meeting all veterans whose address we have will be invited, regardless whether or not they are members. Due to this reorganization we now have the opportunity to meet annually as before and into the future.

Now, dear comrade we hope that we have not appealed to you in vain and that you will join us. We should nurture our comradeship and uphold the tradition of our war regiments as long as we live. We wish honorably to preserve the war memorial to our fallen comrades in Eilenberg und Halberstadt. As we formerly served our fatherland in war, so will we continue to work in the soldiery spirit for our great German Reich and our leader Adolph Hitler.

With comradely greetings!
Heil Hitler