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Today’s letter was written by Paul (on his 22nd birthday) to his brother Robert in Brüx, Bohemia.
Morgonda 2 October 1917
Dear Robert!
I have already begun to answer your letter that I received today, but since I will not be able to finish it today, I will only write about what could be relevant for our possible meeting. Of course, it is clear that I would be really glad to see you, even twice as glad. First of all, because I think that you will not regret it if you are able to get a position in Bucharest. Second, because the prospect of seeing each other will then be pretty likely. If we are lucky, and if you don’t mind taking the time.
If everything goes normally, we will stay here for another 4 weeks, possibly longer, i.e., pretty much all of October.
I will notify you of any change immediately.
As far as the railroads are concerned:
[Drawing of train lines]
In terms of the railway, as far as I know, after Bucharest there are three main lines:
1. Budapest-Temesvar -Eisernes Tor [Iron Gates Gorge] Craisva – Bucharest
2. Budapest-Arad -Alvinor-Hermannstadt [Sibiu]-Roten-turm-pass
3. From Hermannstadt to Kronstadt [Brasov] to PredealI hope that the rules for non-military travelers in war zone will allow you to go through Hermannstadt (you have to get the necessary documents as soon as possible). From Hermannstadt there is a train which runs on narrow train tracks. In four hours (once a day) to Agnetheln (Agnita). From there you reach Mergelen in two hours by foot. But there are many farm wagons. The other way: Szombatfalva - Klein Schenk – Gross Schenk is 6 hours.
[Map: Hermannstadt to Szombatfalva]
From Hermannstadt or Agnetheln you can try to get a telephone connection: The central command stationed in Morgonda station command headquarters is, I think, Nagy Sink (Gross Schenk). Ask there for the Sattler Rüdl (his work hours are 9-12 and 1:30-6) who is here in the station and can help you with all information.
Telegrams take at least 2 days from Vienna. Registered letters take a little less time than Fieldpost. My service and my position here allow me to come to meet you if necessary, e.g., in Agnetheln., or I could go as far as Hermannstadt so that we do not have to meet exactly in Morgonda. Our travel at the front does not go through Bucharest (see map), but rather Szombatfalva – Kronstadt -Ploesti - Focsani — or so we hope!
Everything else is in the other letter.
Your Paul
The map below shows most of the locations/train stations mentioned in the letter — you can see that Paul did a pretty good job of drawing a map. I couldn’t find all of the places, because Paul often used the German terms for Romanian place names. The “pin” shows Merghindeal, where Paul was stationed (called Morgona in the letter). Since it was not on a rail line, Robert would have to walk or hitch a ride with a passing farmer.
This is the only letter in which Paul drew a map, so I was very curious about its contents. Unlike his aunt Helene, Paul was not one for humor and small talk – his letters were only long enough to include all the information he found necessary – he is all business. Although Paul is looking forward to the prospect of seeing his brother, he is anything but effusive!
I do not know whether Robert ever made this trip. It was almost 800 miles from his home in Brüx.