Letter No. 22.

Dear Heinz

Alice was glad to have some news from you reading the V mail letter to us of Sept. 22nd, as she did'nt get any since you left France. This of yesterday and today we received your airmail letter of Sept. 30 with a report about what you have been told of the German brutalities and a reminiscence of the happy weeks we have spent at the Belgian seaside places we have spent 16 or 17 years ago. Identical thoughts have occupied my mind too reading your entering into Belgium. Yesterday I sent off the Christmas parcel, following that sent off a week ago and next week mother will let you have a third which will contain the Pumpernickel you have asked for. We shall add a Dauer Salami sausage all people are sending to soldiers[1] I was reluctant to do, but I hope it will arrive in good condition. But do not eat it, if you are in any doubt. It is a pity, parcel are not allowed to exceed 5 lbs. each time I had to take out some things. The contents of yesterday's parcel: 1/2 lb. continental bonbons, 1 tin frankfurter, 1 tin liver paste, 1 ham paste, one glass of cheese, dried apricots, and 2 noodle soups, and chocolate and a tin of Portuguese sardines, some tobacco.

Alice and we get regularly the allotments. From our friends in London we received a letter these days who happily have escaped and got over the air raids of the last months, but one whose house has been hit, but has come off uninjured and is living now in our former flat. An article in the paper about the construction of the robots recalled to my mind the suggestion I have made to the English War Minister about 1940 to use liquid air as recoiling (jet propelling) power, to give planes additional speed. Jet propelling and liquid air is utilised by the Germans in their robots. The realisation of my ideas if technically elaborated would have give the still missed speed by which the German planes are sald to be superior. Then, I got from the British War Ministry an acknowledgement of receipt thanking and saying that the ideas expressed are already known.

After October 15th we are not allowed to send any Christmas parcels, but sending others afterwards depends on showing a letter expressing your wish to get sent things. With best regards in love

[Signature] Your father

[Handwritten] Dear Heinz! I was glad to get today your letter and I hope that you are alright. Alice was yesterday with us and I must say that I really love her. We are well and glad to be here.

Lots of love your mother

Notes:

1. OK, I had to look this up, and amazingly a whole article on "Send a Salami to Your Boy in the Army" from Table Magazine. [Also, Googling "Dauer Salami" I find just evidence on German sites, I am guessing that it is especially durable for travel.]