Mail Correspondence with Soldiers at War (“Feldpostbriefe”): Letter from the parents to their son Joachim Rühland, German soldier in Belarus, January 1944 (Published on 09/06/2022, latest revision on 16/03/2026)
I. The First Battle of Vitebsk in December 1943
In 1943, the initiative on the Eastern Front increasingly shifted to the Soviet forces, who immediately capitalized on their strategic successes; the German forces were increasingly forced onto the defensive. In mid-December 1943, the first Battle of Vitebsk took place, in which German troops initially faced a 1:3 numerical disadvantage, which grew to approximately 1:10 by the end of the month. On 13/12/, Soviet troops launched an attack, broke through the German front near Nevel, and subsequently expanded this breach. Due to a lack of German reserves, this breach could not be closed; several German units were surrounded, and their soldiers had to fight their way through the Russian lines in close combat. This was followed by the bloodiest fighting, which reached its climax at Christmas 1943.
II . Feldpostbrief from Gertrud and Wilhelm Rühland to their son Joachim
The 18-year-old German soldier Joachim Rühland also fought in this battle. Letters addressed to him from his parents, dated January 7, 1944, vividly document their helplessness in the face of their son’s uncertain fate, as well as the prevailing mood in Germany at the time.
His mother wrote to him (source: Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, Letzte Lebenszeichen – Briefe aus dem Krieg, p. 164 f. [all citations translated from German language]):
“My dear Jochen!
Now we are still without mail from you, your last letter was from 13/12/. But we strongly hope that you are still well, at least in health, because otherwise you will probably have nothing to laugh about. Every day Witebsk is still mentioned in the Wehrmacht report, and we know what heavy fighting is raging there. You poor boy, you are always where it is worst. How often have I thought in these weeks, if only one could look whether he is still healthy. Have you at least received our mail? I sent almost all the letters by airmail because I thought they would get through sooner. (…) Now I will finish for today, Dad can go on a little longer, (…). So stay healthy and hopefully we will get mail from you soon. With many warm greetings and kisses I am your
mommy”
His father added (ibid., p. 166 ff.):
“My dear boy!
The fierce fighting in your section has been raging for almost four weeks now – and according to the reports of the OKW [Wehrmacht High Command] it continues with unabated ferocity. In this area alone, according to the reports so far, about 500 tanks may have been destroyed. This is the largest number of all combat sections and clearly shows the intentions of our enemy. However, as we all confidently believe, they will be defeated by the toughness and will of our brave boys. I have so often emphasized how much I would like to stand in your ranks and fight, and especially now when the going gets tough. I still believe, where the physical forces can no longer work, there my calm would create a balance and can be of use to you. However, with my 55 years these are dreams that will not find any realization. And so I have to be modest and do my duty here at home. But in my thoughts, boy, I am often very often with you and call out to you to ‘persevere’. How often this happens at night, when I wake up, and I always think that you should notice this and draw new strength from it. We miss your dear mail very much, but we know that you hardly get any rest, and if you do, then you need sleep above all, and that absolutely comes first. But we will be happy when the situation there calms down a bit and the mail traffic runs regularly again. Until then, we keep you in our prayers and hope that you will survive the present fighting safe and sound. (…)The days are now getting longer again, at first not yet noticeable, and you will see that one day the spring sun will shine again and then the hardest things will be forgotten. So keep your courage and resist your skin. (…)
Wishing you all the best, I send you my warmest greetings today.
Your father”
Joachim Rühland’s parents did not know that their son had already been killed in action at the time they wrote their letters; they had not yet received the notification of his death. Their letter came back on 02/02/1944, marked “ Gefallen für Groß-Deutschland. Zurück.” (“Fallen for Greater Germany. Return.”).
III. Fallen notice to parents, dated 25/12/1943
In the notification of death dated 25/12/1943, the death of their son was described to them as follows (ibid., p. 168 ff.):
“Dear Mr Rühland!
Today I have the sad duty to inform you of the painful news that your dear son, our good comrade, rider Joachim Rühland, died on 14/12/1943 in the heavy defensive battles south of Newel, in the performance of his soldierly duty, faithful to his oath of allegiance to the flag for Führer and Fatherland.
Shot in the head, your son died immediately without suffering. He was buried the same day in Kroshkina, about 20 km north of Gorodok.
I express my warmest sympathy to you, at the same time on behalf of his comrades, to whom he was always a loyal and good comrade. With him we have lost one of our best. For you the death of your dear son means an unspeakably heavy lot. May the certainty that your son gave his life for the greatness and existence of the German people and Reich be a comfort to you in the heavy sorrow that has affected you.
I greet you with the feeling of sincere sympathy
signed, on behalf, Schaaf
Lieutenant and squadron leader”
IV. Biographical data Joachim Rühland
Joachim Rühland, born on 25/01/1925 in Braunschweig, was killed on 14/12/1943 near Newel. He was buried at Kroschkina/Belarus.
(Head picture: Envelope of the parents‘ letter to their son with return note
[source: Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, Letzte Lebenszeichen – Briefe aus dem Krieg, p. 169])
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