Transcription of Document FFDoc-0713.pdf

Thurs 29 Jun 44

Dear Mother & Dad:

Didn't get that letter off over the week end - & no mail here all week except from Helen Aiken. - I've thank-you notes from both Ronny & Betty.

Today is our PM off & I'd thought to go in for shoes. But we had lecture 1:30 - 2:30 & I go on messenger duty from 5-10. So will do it tomorrow afternoon. Told you we worked nites, didn't I?

Absolutely no news here. Nancy never did get to N.Y. (or did I say that - can't remember) but went west with West & must be on the high Pacific now. Case is next & hasn't much time left. She has a 244 invitation, too, & likes her beer. I hope she at least gets to call you up. Cause N.Y. should mean Europe & she's so anxious for England as her brother is in Ireland, if you get what I mean.

Had little news for Joe but wrote him Sunday & asked him about furloughing with him for a few days. Still haven't answered Fan's latest simply because there's not a thing to say at present. I hope he's in Jersey until I can get home again. Incidentally, was wondering if you could have Sherman down some week-end to meet him - she never did, you know. And it looks as tho he & Joe won't get together unless another miracle happens & Joe gets a furlough or a station near home. Just wrote a long-delayed letter to Mary S. & suggested she get over some week-end Fan is home. I hope you appreciate my efforts to keep up your morale & your expenses.

Do you enjoy Ernie Pyle - I like him & figured you don't get him in the news or Eagle - so I cut him out whenever I think of it. Pop- I thought you might enjoy that article by the correspondent who spoke to us that time. In addition to the things mentioned in this report he spoke 1. of the unusual internal strength of Germany, They are on a war footing such as we have never imagined. Every available man, woman & child is working - the women work with the Army as we do, but without uniforms; all men are engaged either in the military, or in defense, almost regardless of age. Youth 16 & up, report to the factories daily, after school hours.

2. of their ingenuity, tirelessness & stick-to-it-ness. He was in Gestapo camp 13 months. On one of their exercise walks, he says they witnessed a terrific bombardment, by Allied planes, of a railroad line. And despite the fact that the line was cut in 10 separate places, it was repaired & in use by night-fall!! Let our planes wipe out a factory & it's re-established in 6 months. They also have in Germany what he calls shadow factories - ones wihich have been established for years but never used. Let us bomb a plant off the map & the Germans immediately take whatever may be left of its gear & personnel, move it to the shadow plant, & continue production.

3. Germany, contrary to rumor, is not starving. Both its military & its civilians are well fed, at the expense of the rest of Europe.

4. While the older, War I generation, may be weary of the H regime, we must for years contend with the youth, who is absolutely & positively steeped in Nazism. Boys over 16 are in the party, in uniform, in training if not of army age. Youth under 16 (7-16) are actually organized. They are not even leading normal child-life. When school is out, & on Sundays, they march off into the fields to play at war - the boys to simulate battle, bivouacing, etc, & the girls to cook, play nurse, etc. This he saw. Besides, the German youth has a deep hatred of everything American, or Allied, I guess. While they were never mistreated in Nazi Camp, [Ralph] Heinzen. says the kids never failed to barrage them with hateful remarks & showers of rocks when they were out exercising.

It is his opinion that Hitler lost the war back at Stalingrad when he assumed command & withdrew his men. Says it was a masterpiece of withdrawing action but that Germany started on the down-grade then. Moreover, she can never regain the necessary aircraft production to cope with us. Moreover while she still has a huge army to take the field against us, she is sadly depleted of manpower. They are calling for volunteers - & such volunteers could only be under 16 or over 64 since all others are already under arms. The flower of her youth is probably annihilated. From studies they made (in camp) of newspaper reports of deaths, they figure that the Army group age 25-29 is practically wiped out.

All gruesome, but hopeful. And still it will be a long war - this Xmas won't see us at home either.

We're fighting against all of Nazism, to hold all we've got. And here's this piece on our evident failure to be beneficial in Italy - losing peace, before we've won - it all seems like a vicious cycle & you wonder when & where the hell it will all end. I can honestly & shamedly admit I'm afraid of our post-war world.

Pop, it's kinda natural to miss your family as a whole & to wish you could see them every so often. But lately, it's bee you in particular who has kept popping into my thoughts. I'd just love a good long bull session with you - into the wee-wee hours. So how about a wee note from you - saying what you're doing, what you're thinking, what gives with the part of Brooklyn you see. And incidentally, tell me - are we Demmys or Republicans this year. I hate to think of Roosey again, but how can Dewey measure up at a time like this?

Just one more thing & then to bed. I don't know of any way Ronny can call me directly. We have an office phone (Ext 466) but it's restricted to post calls & there's no way you can call outside on it - so I don't see how she can get in on it. If she's still insisting on trying, I work every morning from 8-11:30 AM but I can't guarantee what afternoons or evenings I'd be there 'cause our schedule keeps changing. If that fails there's no reason she can't say ahead of time when she'll call - I'll stay in & call back same as last time. Make it soon, I should love to talk to y'awl.

Oh yes - what happened on that hospital deal, Mom. Did you apply? Confidentially, we were told today to consider as many otherwise unqualified girls as possible for hospital duty. - they need 27,000 an appalling number & not to be repeated. Have always opposed your working, but that's one thing I wouldn't resent your doing - tho I know it would be wearying & gruesome.

My very last word - remember me to everyone - Katz, Kampf, Keezars, Kirwan - and I shall be glad to come home & raise "Barbara" Katz. Make Gertie behave herself. I shan't raise too big an elbow-bender - but I don't want a teetotaller either - just a happy medium.

And now

Good-night & Love, Dot

I like mail - Ed still in the dumps - only worse. I gave up long ago - sensible spinster that I am!