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Today we have a letter from soldier Paul Zerzawy to his brother Robert in Brüx, Bohemia written in 1918. Pages of this letter got mixed up with pages from the letter we saw on September 16 and 29.  

3 October 1918

Dear Robert! Your letter from the 26th has left me very depressed, even more because I am not in the position to help you from here with your unpleasant circumstances, and even my advice will not be very helpful to you. As far as the food situation is concerned, I cannot help you other than by sending home as much flour as I can whenever possible. Maybe also the much more important fat. In very small quantities. When you have received enough for your needs, try to trade some of the flour for other food items. So far, I have sent you 19 boxes of flour and 3 boxes of wheat. Significantly more than 150 kg, and again I have about 70 kg wheat in my house now and another 50kg ordered, which hopefully I will have somebody grind. On the 30th, boxes d and e containing beautiful flour were sent to Käthe’s address.

As far as the money question is concerned, you have to speak with Papa. I need my money to purchase wheat. I have already used up my October salary up to 170 Lei [Romanian currency], and those I need for occasional purchases throughout the month, yes, it is not even enough for that.

Here, among the officers there are some who engage in the opportunistic business of sending flour. They send out flour to merchants for private people and they charge 15-25kr for each kg of flour. In this manner, you can earn thousands. I have never considered such action, except to help out family members. I have too many scruples for that and I think it unworthy of an officer. Yes, even of any decent human being. When I think about the sad money worries in our family, I often vacillate if I should not make this sacrifice to my self-respect. It would be a small matter to earn a few thousand kronen. The conditions: some capital of about 800-2000 kr, some connections, and some skill. Would I have those? The biggest risk would not be the possible loss of a number of boxes, but that the situation here is not stable enough, and I might suddenly have to leave, etc.

For now, it is not possible for me to think about such things. We just have to make do without it. If you spend money carefully and if you use my flour in the right way.

In your next letter (which by the way you have to respond to my worries from my last letter), please give me information about the officers association. (Br. Kohlen Bgb Ges)

Do not give up in the midst of all these difficulties; always there is a solution to every problem. Everything or much depends now on your courage and willpower.

I have already welcomed your decision to look for a position, even when you first mentioned it. I would be very pleased. I advise you urgently to look for a position in Vienna (through Helene) with her help.

As long as I’m here in Romania and as long as I can send things home, you shall not be lacking bread, peas, beans – I can supply you with these things. Also, I can supply you with cigarettes, but in moderation because of your health.

Now regarding your enrollment, this is my advice: As long as you have not completely abandoned your law studies, you should definitely enroll, even if you are deployed, and also at home study hard. If you go to Prague after the beginning of the semester, or if you go just before they start, you can with skillful motivation if there’s extreme need, telling the truth you can try to enroll with Rektor Magnificus and you can try personally to enroll. Possibly you can get an attestation by the doctor that you have returned belatedly from your summer break due to health reasons.

By the way, I estimate the costs even for a round trip are not so very high. If under the condition that Aunt Luisa will put you up for a few days.* I will repay the favor with flour. If it is really necessary in the worst case, I will contribute up to 100kr, maybe even more. But I want to make a condition that you will limit yourself to whatever is necessary when you spend money and stay there. On the other hand, for now you have to borrow the money, just as I would have to ask my comrades right now because at the moment, I have nothing liquid.

This is my advice. The decision is not mine to make.

Also, the thought of giving up the household and the apartment – if our situation is really that bad, I can only say that it would be right. Even though my heart is heavy thinking we will lose our home – on this issue, Papa has the last word.

What will happen with Grandmother, you have to ask Helena and Uncle Max. Should it be necessary to do this, then it would be best if Papa tries to get some leave for family reasons. If necessary, me too.

What do you hear from Papa? Again, he has not written to me in the last 10 days. How is his hand?

Please also write to Erich, always telling him my greetings and whatever is worth knowing.

I thank you for my birthday wishes, also dear Grandmother and Käthl and I will write to them separately.

I also thank Grandmother for the letter dated the 20th which arrived only today. I have sent out two unnumbered boxes, one with bread flour and one with corn flour. I already wrote about this to you in a card. Also, the first box has arrived with the bags, nails, and Papa’s bathing suit. Many thanks. Do not send any more of these kinds of boxes. They are not sturdy enough. Better to send mine back empty.

Please send me my winter clothing, but only: sweater **, snow hood, mittens (2 pairs), and especially, socks (can be summer socks, mine are totally torn up) in the manner which I have last described to you, possibly with iron around the box.

Greetings and kisses,
Your Paul

*In 2-3 days you should be able to get all the signatures you need to verify course completion
**the green one

We learn a tremendous amount in this letter – that Robert is doubting his law studies, that money is so tight that the family will likely lose their home and another family member will need to take in their grandmother, that flour is an invaluable resource to pay for favors from others when money is unavailable. Paul has just turned 23 years old and feels the weight of responsibility for his entire family while their father too is a soldier and unable to help. Paul is the wise elder to his 19-year old brother, who after recovering from an illness (perhaps influenza?) is deciding between going back to school in Prague; finding a job, perhaps in Vienna; while at home in Brüx he is trying to keep the impoverished household afloat as they figure out where they might live, what food they can find, and what will happen to their grandmother. Huge decisions and responsibilities for such young men. In the midst of this, Paul realizes that winter is coming and that he is ill-prepared.