12 February 1917
My dear ones!
I still don’t have any news about how long it is going to be! Don’t worry about me. I hope I don’t have to worry about you. Please say hello to all of the relatives. They should get busy and write; I am not allowed to. Please send me, in field post packages, tobacco, paper, cigarettes, cigars, and a pair of suspenders.
A thousand kisses from your devoted Erich
The earliest letter I have from Erich was in July of 1916 when he was a soldier. All of the other 29 cards were sent from Siberia when he was a POW.
As with the rest of the family, Erich writes in a bright tone, probably to get past the censors and to allay the fears of his family. But he makes clear how much the letters and care packages are necessary to his comfort.
I don’t have a photo of Erich from that time, but found an article on Russian POWs as well as a photo of prisoners in Berezowka from the Bain Collection located in the Library of Congress:
From the Library of Congress Bain Collection