Mail Correspondence with Soldiers at War (“Feldpostbriefe”): The last letter from German soldier Karl-Heinz Trogisch to his wife from Stalingrad, December 1942 (Published on 22/12/2025)
(source: Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, Letzte Lebenszeichen – Briefe aus dem Krieg, p. 202 ff. [translation from German language]):
“In the field, 26/12/1942
My dear, good Altichen!
First, I want to thank you for your lovely letter, which I received a few days ago. It is an older letter, but still a sign of your love and life. I will reply to it later. For now, I want to write a little about the holidays. Dear girl, I hope you spent these days with the children in good health and spirits. Even though I couldn’t be with you, that shouldn’t have prevented you from celebrating a merry Christmas. The most important thing is our children, to whom you should show a cheerful heart despite these difficult and serious times. I’m sure you had visitors or even went to visit someone yourself. Well, you will write to me about how everything went and what happened. Yes, Christmas is now over, and this is the first one I have not been able to spend at home. I will always remember this Christmas because we celebrated it under very special circumstances. There is no point in beating around the bush, because you would only have many questions.
I’d rather write it down right away, it’s not all that bad. Well, we’ve been surrounded for over four weeks and are now holding the front line we’ve reached until other troops force the encirclement to open up again from behind. Of course, ammunition and fuel for tanks and vehicles are brought in by air first, followed by other supplies, food, mail, etc. Of course, the food is not great and mail rarely arrives, but that’s just the way it is and we have to make do without mail and with little food. It’s okay, because we have to. The main thing is that the front line is being held, and it is being held. In any case, we are not letting our heads hang low, because our Führer knows our situation and has promised us relief. That is enough. Now we just have to hold out.
So on Christmas Eve, everything that usually goes with it was missing, especially the mail from home. But it will all arrive later, and then we’ll celebrate twice as much. Christmas Eve was quiet and solemn. I’ve been healthy again since this week, and even though I’m still limping a bit and have a bandage on, I’m doing fine. A comrade drives my car, as I’m not quite back on deck yet, which I’m actually quite happy about, because that way I don’t have to drive at all. I’ve taken over another car, but I’m not driving it. Anyway, I’ve also moved into a Panjebude [Russian farmhouse] with the unit (adjutant) I now belong to. We celebrated Christmas Eve here too. Everyone celebrated in small groups, depending on where they lived.
In our place, there’s now a piano – something I’ve never seen in Russia – and it’s actually really good. So, of course, I play it. The general and other officers were there for the celebration. Everything was serious and solemn. My boss, who had heard me play, asked me to play, and so I did. Suddenly, it was Christmas for me. My thoughts were with you and the children, and I played the old song “Silent Night” for you and us. I was with you despite the great separation. Perhaps you felt it, and I believe that I also encountered your thoughts, because I felt your presence. My playing moved everyone, and I believe it contributed to the fact that no one will forget this Christmas party. The general just silently shook my hand. That was our Christmas. Of course, there were no presents, but that doesn’t matter. Hopefully, there will be a letter soon. The packages from home won’t arrive for a long time, only when everything is clear again. But don’t be sad about it, the joy will be all the greater afterwards.
Please don’t worry about me, everything will be fine, we’ve been through worse. The holidays passed by with duty and work, because bunkers are very necessary and work also keeps your mind occupied. It’s very cold now. Yesterday and today, it was over 30 degrees [below zero]. If only the wind weren’t so strong, but you can endure that too. Yes, Altichen, I could tell you so much, but in a letter everything sounds worse than it is, and you shouldn’t worry unnecessarily. Later, I’ll tell you everything that can happen in war. I wrote to Mom, but this letter won’t have arrived yet, so please tell her that I thought of her and wrote to her, as well as to Sigrid, who wrote to me so often. – Yes, there’s no more room to reply to your letter, but I’ll write again soon. –
In a few days, this year will come to an end. May the new year bring us the fulfillment of our wishes. I wish you, my dearest, all the best, happiness, and blessings for the new year, especially good health, of course. May the children, in their innocence, have good luck and blessings. Good health is also necessary for happiness. We will also await the new year in a serious mood. May it bring us victory and success. So, my dear wife, do not be afraid. If your age ever gets you into a tight spot, it will come back again. I am firmly convinced of that. Enclosed are a few stamps, because you must have them, otherwise I will wait a very long time for mail. Above all, I want to know how you are doing health-wise; that is so important to me, so please write to me often. – I will end my letter for today. Once again, I wish you and the children all the best, happiness, and blessings for the new year. My thoughts are always with you and will accompany you into the new year. Many kisses from Daddy to the children, and to you, my dearest girl, my warmest regards and long, hot kisses from your old man, who loves you more than anything, is very, very anxious, grateful, and faithful.”
Karl-Heinz Trogisch, born on 20/04/1909, in Tilsit, East Prussia, has been missing since 1943.
(Head picture: Snow-covered trees in the Allgäu region near Füssen/Germany,
February 2016)
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