A letter from Oskar Emil Straube to his brother in the USA

My dear Americans,

In contrast to nearby, opposite Verdun, we are still alive — and have even increased our number of children by one again this year.

We have nothing to complain about; all six of us are doing well. That we of course have no money is self-evident in these times — but who can expect anything so ordinary as that? Much worse, however, is the shortage of time, which shows itself in the ever decreasing number — as you may have noticed — of our letters. But that does not prevent us from hoping for improvement in the coming year.

We thank you hereby for your Christmas card from last year and wish you a very happy Christmas this year as well, and for 1956 a very happy New Year. We also warmly congratulate you in advance on all birthdays in 1955 and hope that in 1956 we may once again manage to send our greetings in good time.

Since we hear from you about as often as you hear from us, we hope and wait to receive another letter from you — as of course the reverse might also be the case.

And so for today, all the best wishes and warmest greetings,

Your 6 Bremer friends,
Oskar