Link to Family Tree to understand family relationships.
Today we have another postcard from Erich Zerzawy, brother of Paul and Robert, nephew of Helene. He has been a POW in Beresowka in eastern Siberia since at least January of 1917.
29/IV.17
My dear ones!
Up until now I have only received your mail from January. But I haven't even received all of that yet. It really ought to show up now. From the Haaterbahurat Roman [?] family I got a nice card from January 12th. I am very thankful to them but I am not in a position to fulfill their request to send them a card. Please give my regards to aunt Anna as well. I hope it is okay to continue to call her that. Please kiss her hand for me. So Robertl and Hans, you went to your induction physicals on February 15th. But I hope we will finish this soon without you.
A thousand kisses from your
ErichP.S. Pardon my handwriting but I have a slight injury on my right index finger.
Like for Helene trapped in Vienna 20 years later, mail is precious, slow to arrive, and censored. Erich is limited to how much and how often he can write letters, so he makes sure to put his family first. Despite his difficult situation, he continues to think of others and is hoping his younger brother Robert will be spared becoming a soldier.
I do not know who Aunt Anna was, but have a few photos of her. There are no Annas or Annes anywhere on the Zerzawy or Löwy family trees. However, Paul kept some old photos in an envelope labeled “Paul Zerzawy Photos, in envelope labeled "Paul, Robert, Anne, Julius, Mattl, Ida". Julius was Paul and Robert’s father, Ida their mother (and Helene’s sister), and Mattl was their stepmother (and Ida’s and Helene’s sister). Clearly Anne was as dear to him as these other close relatives.
Two of my favorite photos in the archive are of Anne, perhaps on her wedding day? In the photo where she is standing with the soldiers, I’m fairly certain Julius Zerzawy is standing directly behind her. These photos were taken in May of 1915.
