Pen,
I know I tend to exaggerate, but dear God I think the end is nigh . I expect the news may have already reached you, Hitler is now chancellor Germany. As you know, I have never been totally opposed to Hitler, I daresay this country needs a strong leader, but I’m worried Pennie, the last war has already left this family shaken. If I’m honest, the promise of bread and work is not enough for me. My family is eating, I’m employed. I’d like to know where these jobs are going to come from; I’d like to know who exactly will be paying for the bread. Pen, you know my line of work, I’m clever enough to know that something is wrong here. Down in Hamburg, there are parties on the streets, so I’ve heard. And the ‘Nazis’ have organised a Parade in Berlin to celebrate. Last picture I saw of Hindenburg he looked sick as a pig. But it’s all too unconvincing. I know how politics work, there’s Hindenburg appointing Hitler chancellor, Goering, his puppet as president of the Reichstag. They’re like rot these people, once they’re in, they’ll be hell to get rid off. Then again Pennie, my family isn’t starving, I cant really complain.

But have these people forgotten the last war? What was it I said when I last wrote to you? Give a man too much power, and a deputy, and you have another war on your hands, as if Germany hasn’t enough to deal with, we’ve got the Allies, Britain in front, France and America behind, and a treaty of cowardice looming above us. The man has some nerve, Mien Kamf? MEIN KAMPF?! Pennie it’s the people on the streets that are really struggling. I’m not sure where this may lead, but I’ve heard the man talk, he wont stop at chancellor. Rupertshien at work says Hitler’s the best thing to happen to this country []. Poor man. They’ve been promising a way out for years; it’s just that Hitler’s so believable. I’m by no means saying I’m about to go left, they’re just as bad. We’ve had the socialists canvassing for vote around our house as well. Agathe is very taken in by the Nazis, even though she’s uneducated, and a woman, I would have expected better of her. I’m the head of this house anyway, and there is no way we’re surrendering to the Nazis, communists or any other ridiculous party. He can wave his banner, he can sing his songs and shake his fist until it drops off, this isn’t democracy, we, the German people have had not say in this, his rise to power has been frighteningly quick. Everyone seems to have forgotten, he’s just some washed up artist, a tramp, an utter vagabond.

I await your reply with baited breath, and have enclosed my usual cheque to help you with the family, I’ve added an extra 50marks, as business is going well.

Look forward to hearing from you Pennie, Agathe and the children are doing fine, but tonight I shall sleep not so much curious, but worried as to what tomorrow may bring.

As usual please let me know in your next letter, if this envelope has been tampered with, as a Doctor, and man of the church I have heard may whispers about interceptions, its like they say: ‘Kritiker von Hitler sind Kritiker vom Staat’- critics of Hitler are critics if the state.

Kindest regards to the you and the family.
Sigi

Im a ceneter party voter, a good balance, thats what I believe in, I’m old enough to remember the last war, and what extreme politics can cause. I take my religion very seriously. Me, my wife and our children pray evey day, and visited the Vatican, when Benedict XV died, God rest his soul. I think it is important for me to carry on my faith to my children,

I married agathe when I was 20 years old, back then we lived in München, so we got married in st Peters, it was a beautifull service, and my Great Aunt Hiedi came down all the way from Hamburg. that’s us there in the picture bellow: