Wartime Christmas

In the evening of December 24, I stayed to celebrate Christmas Eve in Herstroff in a camp that was set up for the occasion. The area has been evacuated, of course. We were transported in a truck and spent a nice evening because the officers and local volunteers were able to supply a celebration for us. All that was missing was “peace on earth.” Drinks, sweets, cigarettes and the rations of friends who couldn’t be there. Not bad for a wartime Christmas. And the future? Before we left Edling, we cleaned and straightened up the places we stayed. We maintained the “northerners’” reputation.

Tuesday, December 25. We left Edling in the evening and arrived at Téterchen in the morning on Wednesday the 26^th. The whole area had been evacuated. It was sad to see, and very cold, less than 15°. We had to stuff bags full of straw to keep our feet warm, on orders of the captain. “Let’s be like Puss-n-Boots,” he said. In a pinch, we could keep from freezing. It was less cold in shelters and the wine thawed out. With our balaclavas under our helmets we looked like medieval soldiers. Not too much to report. We are in “no man’s land.” Set up barbed wire. Fortify our shelter.