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Today we have a card from Helene’s nephew 18-year old POW Erich Zerzawy in eastern Siberia addressed to his siblings in Brüx, Bohemia. Later letters from the POW camp were sent on Red Cross stationery, so this was probably sent in 1916. The card had to pass through the censor in Vienna before being passed on to its recipients.
Beresowka 30/XII
Dear Siblings, Dear Grandma!
I am healthy and, despite my circumstances, doing fine. Unfortunately, I still haven’t gotten any news from you. But I continue to hope that you are doing well at home. In the new year we will probably see each other. I hope that you will write to Paul, Helene, etc. because I am only allowed to write two cards a week.
Farewell. Don’t worry about me. 1000 kisses.
Your Erich
This is one of the earliest letters sent from Erich as a POW. We saw what may have been his first letter in the December 12th post. The only thing I know about him is through these short cards and letters. Reading between the few lines, he appears to have been a very mature, sensitive, and loving young man. He rarely complains, and usually tries to be upbeat, assuring his family that he is fine and asking them not to worry. Rather, he worries about them. What a generous soul and what a tragedy that his life was cut short.
Like his aunt Helene who would be imprisoned almost 30 years later during a different war, one of the many privations he suffered was the limited number of letters he was allowed to send and receive. For a family that valued connection and contact, this must have felt like yet another torment.