Wwii 102nd Infantry Division Letter, December 1944... German Ardennes Offensive For Sale

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This isvery interesting, and bitterly emotional,original WWIIletter, written inGermany on the 29th of December, 1944,by an Americancombat infantryman. This letter is very well written, and contains bitterly resentful content about people at home in the United Stateswho had been speaking and behaving as though the war were already won, whilemen continued to suffer and die atthe front.He was especially bitter toward the newspaper media, which he blamed for givingthe people at home a falsesense of optimism about progress in the war, and for failing to let people know how much hard work was still ahead, and how much suffering and hardship the soldiers would still have to endure before the warcould bewon. He states that he believed that more correspondents like Ernie Pyle were needed. This is an extraordinary letter.

*** The letter was written by Private First Class Paul A. Pfretzschner, who served inCannon Company, 406th Infantry Regiment. There is interesting biographical information available about Paul Pfretzschner, wholater became a prominent law professor.

Pfretzschner wrote this2 page letter onthe 29th of December,1944.He writes of the recent German offensive in the Ardennes, and thengoes on to express bitterness about the way the war was being reported and perceived at home:

"I wonder what is being said inthe home newspapersabout the present German offensive? 'Stars and Stripes' is the only source ofinformation we have on it's general progress, and our reports are always late. I sometimes laugh, bitterly though, at some ofthe newspapers back home who had the war won inthirty days, at the civilians who had V-Day celebrations planned, and at the noble self-sacrifice of the banks that were going to be closed on that day. If people could just realize what a slow, painful,and sometimes costly thing it is for just a squadto move fifty yards or take some little objective, they wouldn't plan theirvictory parties so soon.

I know a little of what it must mean to you to have your only son over here. I always know what is happening to me, while you don't, and it is what we do not know that we fear most. I can only reassure you by saying that I have implicit faith in the guidance and protection ofOur Lord. Trust in his goodness. There are millions like you, millions more in my position. And under no circumstances should any of us give credit to the ballyhoo of loudmouths who make the eagle scream in an effort to tell us such things as the nature of our patriotic duties.

We all know what suffering we have to undergo, and there are times when I become extremely tired by the ravings of some hypocrite who pretends to know, at so many cents per word. It's a terrible thing to watch an outfit move forward towards the front at full strength, and a few weeks later to watch the pitifully few remnants slog back along the same road. And the men know what is facing them when they go up! I wish sometimes that the dreamers of victory could see it, and that the self-appointed guardians of our national morals could see it. There might be some changes in the newspapers. There might even be a few more Ernie Pyles. And perhaps a few less Victory celebrations."

Anoutstanding letter.

There is still more. Earlier in the letter Pfretzschner explains that his unit was off the line for a rest, but that it was an uneasy rest, because with the current crisis at the front they never knew went theymight besent back ontothe line at a moment's notice:

"I am still O.K. anddoing well. We are still out of the line and enjoying our rest immensely, even though it is a rather jumpy one, for we never know from one minute to the next when we will have to move out."

An excellentoriginal WWIIletter, written in Germanyin December,1944, by a combat soldier in the 102nd Infantry pays shipping, $1.50 in Canada, $2.00 to the United States, $2.50 Overseas. Shipping costs maybe combined with my other sales ending in the same week, as far as package size and weight permit. Payment must be received within 5 calendar days of the end of the sale. The winning buyer must contact me within 2 days of the end of the sale. I accept Paypal only. Thank you.

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