[On Back of Envelope Return Address]

Frau Marie Gesang Förtha No. 50
?? Eisenach Thuringia
Germany
R. Z. [Russian Zone]
[stamped:] Thuringen
Russische Zona
Deutschland

[On Front of Envelope Address]

Fam[ily]
Charles Cornelius
Bellevue
Jackson County Iowa
R.R. 4
U.S.A.
[Postage stamp and most of postmark are missing]

[Transcript of the letter, mostly following a translation by Paul C. G. Lutz. I have added paragraph breaks for clarity; there are none in the original letter. I have also inserted occasional notes in brackets like this one, for example to deal with problematic translations or transcriptions. There are essentially two letters combined because, no longer able to write legibly, Marie dictates her text to daughter-in-law Ella Gesang, and Ella adds personal messages of her own at the end.]

						Förtha 
						7 Sept. 1947
My dear Niece, Bertha, Husband & Children:

With great joy we received your letter on Tuesday, the 31st of July and at the same time also the package. How overjoyed we were with the things we cannot describe to you. We all thank you from the heart for them. 

In Germany it is now very miserable trying to live, for all things are lacking, so we rejoice when things are sent from which we can make things that are a necessity. So again our hearty thanks for those things. What they are we will recount individually later. 

The way you write you are well and we happy about that. Here life leaves much to be desired. 

Would you like to know how things are with my children? Yes, I had six children. Edward and Berthold are no more. Berthold died [ist gefallen, was killed in action] in World War I and Edward died [ist verdollen, was lost contact with?] in America. Christian is still living and has eight children, (one of whom was killed in this war). Then my daughter Marie - that picture you have received was made in the last year of the war, 1944. Her oldest daughter is married since November1946 and has one daughter 1/2 year old. She is named Marie Orsey (after her husband). Next comes Fritz, of whom you are already knowledgeable. He is still not home but we hope he will be soon. He writes that he is to be released, which I do not really believe, for things often turn out differently than planned and hoped. It will be four years since he left home. Then there is Otto who himself wrote to you from Bremen. He also has a house, as do all my children. Otto is a master tailor as is also his wife. Now they also have a little boy. That completes the list of my children. 

Yes, my dear niece, here we call grandchildren Enkel-kinder and great grandchildren Urenkel. Of both I have quite a number, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. With the exception of two they all live in Förtha.

It is sad about your brother Christian’s son being so utterly helpless. As you write, dear niece, you also are suffering from rheumatic pains. That seems to be our arch failure. Marie and Fritz also often suffer therefrom, and so you too have this arch failure, but I hope it does not create too great pains for you. You must see to it that you always keep warm. That is important with such an illness. 

Now please accept my heartfelt thanks for the photographs. Now I have all my relatives from across the sea living with me and all is well. The two 12 year-olds look more like 16 to 17 years old, especially Rosalia who already looks like a young lady. But you dear Bertha do not look like a 58 year-old rather more like one 40 years old. It is a shame that we cannot now have such a picture made. No photographer comes out of Eisenach, and Fritz had a nice camera which was taken from him when the Americans conquered our village. Until now we have not been able to buy another because there is none available. We will send you other individual pictures which we happen to have.

Today I am sending you a picture of me, Ella. I had it made not long ago because Fritz wanted to have one. I also send one of Erich, my son, who received that one suit for which he again says thanks. It fits perfectly. His brother Kurt had to refrain from taking the other because Christian received the other. He also had a great need for it. Of course it was not easy for Kurt because his heart was very attached to it, but divided joy is always doubled joy. Kurt is married since Christmas of 1946 and also has a daughter 1/2 year of age. 

Christian has two daughters married. The one has two children, the elder seven years old and the younger nine months. 

So now I guess I have given you the necessary information. 

And now something about Aunt Marie herself. She is often very tottery and one hasa worry that things might go quick with her, a thought we do not like to entertain. Fritz would like to see his dear mother once more and she has one more wish, to see her son real soon. 

I will send you Fritz’s address. Perhaps you will write to him once. He would be happy to hear from you. 

PP 
Fritz Gesang 
Prisoner No. B235952
P.W. Hospital 232
Wordwick Park 
Blockley Clos
Great Britain

So now I will close for today, wishing you everything good and thanking you again heartily for those things. If only we could once repay you. Your dear Aunt greets you all fervently. 

Aunt Marie & her children & grandchildren 
& great-grandchildren 

Also hearty greetings from Ella and children 

Please write again soon!