LAST LETTERS FROM NORMANDY, JULY-AUGUST 1944.

'An eye for an eye, that's how it works here.'

It is quite amazing what one can find in the office during a thorough tidying-up operation. The letter below, written in 1955, was originally addressed to Karl Waldemar Schütz, a former NSDAP member and Waffen-SS officer, who after the war became a far-right politician and publisher. From 1951 Schütz was editor of the Wiking-Ruf, a periodical for members of the Waffen-SS veteran’s organisation HIAG (Hilfsgemeinschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit der Angehörigen der ehemaligen Waffen-SS), He resigned from his post in 1955 because of his active involvement in the extreme-right DRP (Deutsche Reichspartei) ; the HIAG (outwardly) avoided contacts with right-wing extremist parties in effort to bolster its public image. I have no doubt that the three letters below were to be published in the Wiking-Ruf, yet I have acquired the letter as part of the estate of the man who wrote them. They were never sent, quite possibly because Schütz had resigned from his role as editor at about the time of writing. 

The letter contains transcripts of the last letters of SS-Sturmmann Richard Peters of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division who - according to his brother - was killed in August 1944 near Falaise. I am leaving them here as what they are: the last signs of a life and brief insights into the mind of a politically indoctrinated and radicalised young man, who was killed in service of a criminal regime. The letters are quite detailed, and I am sure the locations and engagements mentioned can be identified. I don’t have the time for that at the moment, but I am sure some of you will give it a try. I am looking forward to hearing from you. 

Wiesbaden, 22 July 1955

Dear Herr Schütz, as discussed, I am sending you the last three letters of my brother, the Sturmmann Richard Peters, from Normandy. He has been missing since August 1944. According to comrades, the 7th Company, Panzer Regiment 12, was near Falaise when my brother's Panther exploded after a direct hit. His body was never recovered. He may have been buried in a field grave. Should you consider publishing this, I can also contribute some photographs of my brother. 

***

France, 10 June 1944

Dear Reinhold, I am doing very well here and I hope this is also the case for you. Now Tommy is here and we are throwing him back into the sea. Three days ago we were up against Canadians at the village of A. and I was in the tank right at the front. It was no piece of cake, but the Canadians lack toughness in combat, they don't go in hard. But then they take it out on the prisoners. The day before yesterday we had to see with our own eyes what happens when you fall into their hands. We found six comrades, all shot in the neck. After the attack we repaid them in kind. An eye for an eye, that's how it works here. When it comes to the preservation of the people and the Reich, we can't be soft. My crew has already knocked out two tanks. More than 20 in total. We had only minor losses. Don't worry about me, we'll give those sissies a good beating. I don't know when I'll be able to write again. Yours sincerely, Richard

France, 10 August 1944

Dear Reinhold, I'm still fine, even though things are really going round here now. I want to tell you once again about my war experiences. A few days ago we had orders to secure the village of Gr. and went forward with three tanks and a company of grenadiers to draw off our Tigers, who were already in the village. When we arrived at the village, we met grenadiers who told us that Tommy was already back in the village! So we went forward and were met by fire from infantry weapons. Our grenadiers fell back, but we continued ahead, one behind the other, down the main road. Now Tommy started spitting artillery at us, the stuff came down all over the place and we had to go back again. All of a sudden the lead tank gets hit and has to withdraw. So there were only two of us left! No sign of our infantry. Then all of a sudden fire from all sides and ‘boom’, our turret is hit by a tank shell. You can't imagine how that sounds. But it didn't go through. So our commander lets us stop and return fire. Benno sends six rounds through the barrel and that's it for two Tommy Paks. All the time we are backing up in front of us to avoid being hit ourselves and firing at the Tommy tanks that are now coming from the right. And then boom! One of them doffs it’s hat and pops apart. We are hit 10 times ourselves, but none of us even has a scratch. Our crew has now already destroyed five tanks and 4 Paks! But now I have been recommended for the Iron Cross 2nd Class. I have to stop now. I wrote a long letter to mother yesterday.

Sieg and Heil and scabies for Tommy! Richard. 

14 August 1944

Dear Reinhold, I don't have time to write to Mother. These lines are only for you and you can decide for yourself on what to tell Mother. We are now in position on a high ground in the north of F. The decision must and will be made here in the next few days. Although we are constantly under fire here and are plastered from the air wherever we show ourselves, I am in good spirits. Tommy does not know how to fight, he has no nerves and cannot stand against us and our far-reaching guns. We just have to hold him off until reserves are brought in, then we will turn the tables and chase him back into the sea. No matter what the cost, we will not waver and we will not retreat. Take good care of our dear mother and see that no harm comes to her. It won't be long before you are a soldier yourself and then we will thrash Tommy together. Your brother, Richard.