“To Mrs. Hertha Pietsch
Mucheln, Plön district
Holstein, Germany
11 December 1944
My dear mommy!
Today your daddy is sending you all best wishes. My only desire is to find you in the best of health. Dear Hertha, please write me soon and send a few pictures. Did you receive my picture that I sent you from France back then? I'm fine, you don't need to worry. Sadly you'll have to celebrate Christmas alone this year. Dear Hertha, please don't be sad. I'll be back with you eventually. How much I'd like to see our boy, he must have grown a lot by the time his father returns home. But the most important thing is that I'll see all of you healthy again. Many greetings and kisses, your daddy.”
Regarding the camp-
250 prisoners captured in North Africa were the first held here. Men captured in Italy and France in 1943-44 increased the total to 620 prisoners by January 1945.
German POWS lived in tents with wooden floors, up to five men in each. Their mess hall was a large frame barracks. They worked 8-10 hours a day, harvesting peanuts or peaches, cutting pulpwood or lumber, planting trees, or working in a fertilizer factory. POWs were paid 80 cents a day in credit at the camp store. When not working prisoners often played soccer, put on plays and concerts, and took night classes.
