1942 WWII German Feldpost Letter & Envelope – Luftwaffe Unit in Athens/Crete
An authentic piece of WWII postal history (Feldpost), consisting of the original envelope and a complete 4-page handwritten letter. Dated 11 June 1942, this correspondence was sent by a German Luftwaffe airman stationed in occupied Greece to a recipient in Braunschweig, Germany. The content provides a fascinating, candid firsthand account of life, conditions, and destruction in occupied Greece (Athens and Crete) during the summer of 1942.
Within the letter, he writes of:
- The Ruination of Crete: The writer describes arriving in Crete after a 14-day flight operation deployment, calling the landscape incredibly desolate. He explicitly notes that the town where they are stationed was heavily destroyed during its capture (referencing the Battle of Crete in May 1941) and details the "massive ridges of rubble and dust" that kick up terrible dust storms in the heat.
- Comparison to the "Wild West": In a fascinating cultural reference, the airman compares the ruined, boarded-up, filthy town to a "dilapidated gold-mining town out of an old Wild West movie."
- Daily Soldier Life: He complains about grueling service, extreme heat, and severe issues with pests/vermin inside their quarters. He mentions that their only luxury is visiting the beach on days off, but notes the existence of a local cinema, a soldiers' recreation home (Soldatenheim), and military field brothels (Feldlazarettbordelle).
- Home-front Gossip: The latter half of the letter shifts to lighter personal news, discussing a surprise engagement announcement of an acquaintance back home with an artillery soldier, mocking the situation, and sending regards to family.
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