Liebste Elke,

More on my commander, as per your request. He is a flat-lander, from Kiel but he does not look it. He is far too dark—he could almost be a Bavarian himself, though I will never say it to his face! His name is Dietrich—related to your brother's wife, perhaps? That would be almost too perfect. He has been here a long time if his medals are to be believed. I suppose he is handsome, but not half so handsome as you think I am. Rolf likes him well enough, but I think he can be rather cold. Perhaps it is simply because he is a northerner. That, too, bothers me. What will he think of me? Except for Feldwebel Schuster, a Swabian, there are not many south Germans in our company. Rolf mocks my accent in his good-natured way, but to me he and Herr Hauptmann are the ones who sound odd. Feldwebel Schuster has a nose for a newcomer's jitters—he cornered me soon after we arrived and told me that Hauptmann Dietrich only counts a man's merit and not the city where he was born, but what does he have to worry about? He is almost an officer! Hartmann has been here a long time, too, and doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks of him. He comes from Aachen—have you ever been, Elke? Mutti has said my Papa was from Koblenz. That is as near as the Wolff family will ever get, I suppose. Perhaps when I return on leave I will take you and Mutti there to see what Hartmann's home is like. Did the strudel scheme work? If it did not, tell Mutti my life is in the hands of a Saupreuß captain—ha! That should cheer her up.

In Liebe,

Treue Dieter


"Saubreuß" is a term lovingly used by Bavarians to describe. . .pretty much anyone who isn't a Bavarian. It translates directly to "Prussian swine" and more artfully into "Blasted North German".