February 3

One thing I’ve learned from reading all of Helene’s and Paul’s letters is that Eva’s and Harry’s communication style was a learned and familiar one. They were both (all!) clever and wonderful with words, even in a second language. They inevitably used humor and clever language to deflect attention, or to mask emotion or something they didn’t want to share. My mother used words and phrases I thought unique to her, only to discover them echoed in my grandmother’s writing.

This letter from Harry is a good example. It is very reminiscent of Helene’s war letters, where humor and word play mask information that conveys something to the reader.

I thought it was interesting to read the words printed at the top of the letter:

Print the complete address in plain block letters in the panel below, and your return address in the space provided. Use typewriter, dark ink, or pencil. Write plainly Very small writing is not suitable.

Censor’s stamp: Passed by Army Examiner

Like Helene’s letters from Vienna and Erich Zerzawy’s WWI letters, Harry’s letters had to pass through censors before being allowed to be sent and mail needed to be legible enough for the censors to bother. No wonder they learned to write and read between the lines.

February 3, 1944

Dear Eva,

I guess that you and everybody else have been wondering what has happened to me since you last heard from me. Well, I took a boat ride on the blue Pacific and landed somewhere in New Guinea a few days ago. The voyage wasn’t very comfortable as everyone aboard ship had a sardine-like existence, but it was worth the experience.

As soon as I saw the vegetation and the numerous coconut trees, I took a liking to this place. (After having been surrounded by the ocean for some time, any spot with a few trees on it would look good.)

When you write to me use V-Mail and ordinary airmail letters interchangeably so that I can determine which one of the two reaches me faster. Best regards to everyone.

Love,

Harry

Here is a photo of Harry (on the right) taken in New Guinea in 1944: