Link to Family Tree to understand family relationships.
Today we have a postcard from 18-year old Erich Zerzawy, a POW in Eastern Siberia, to his siblings in Brüx, Bohemia. Although the year is illegible, it must be December of 1916, because later letters from Siberia were sent on Red Cross cards.
12 December 1916
My dear ones!
Although I haven’t gotten anything from you until now that brings me news of you, I do hope that everyone is fine at home. I hope Robert won’t leave home soon which is what one generally believes here. You or dear Papa have probably already sent me some money. If not, he will take care of it. Send packages well packed — smoking materials, small useful objects, books, etc. It’s best to send this as a Field Post package of 35dkg. It takes about 4 weeks. I hope now to hear from you soon, maybe for the New Years. Stay healthy,
Erich
In the July 14th post, we saw a letter from Erich before he was captured, so he has been a prisoner for less than six months. His father and his brother Paul is a soldier; his brother Robert was now 17 years old and eligible to be drafted into the military. Erich sounds lonely and forlorn as the holidays approach: he has not yet received letters or care packages from home. How happy he must have been when the first letters arrived!