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English text

Dear Relatives,

We received your package. We thank you very much. Hopefully, you have received our letter of March 1.

It is still fairly cold here. We have had rain and snow for 4 days. I assume that is is getting warmer where you are. It has been a while since we have written about conditions in Germany, but now I would like to share a bit with you.

Conditions have improved over the past half year; improved despite the money situation. Since December 1923, we have had the Rentenmark as our currency. However, these Rentenmarks are quite scarce and hard to come by. Before, we had Millions, Billions, and Trillions; but one could not buy much with those since the wholesale merchants did not want to provide anything. Then inflation got progressively worse.

Since the introduction of the Rentenmark, even though there are more goods available, regular folks just don’t get many Rentenmarks, so it is really much worse than before.

A worker earns a weekly income of 10 to 12 marks. A low level civil servant 50 to 80 marks per month. Considering that 1 pound of meat is on average 80 to 100 cents, it is clear that most are earning too little. A suit that would have cost 30 to 40 marks before the war is 80 marks today. A pair of shoes could be had for 10 to 12 marks before 1914, today one pays double that. And so it is with everything. Little money and high taxes.

Now on to something else. Our Hans wants to come to you. I have made some inquiries at the American Consulate in Nürnberg regarding outgoing and incoming travel. I was told: it is currently completely impossible for one to emigrate to the United States of North America. However, should one proceed to emigrate there, he would be held at the debarkation point and immediately sent back to Germany. This immigration ban is not likely to be lifted before September. So my dear William, please be so kind as to inquire about the status and give us periodic updates.

With eager anticipation of hearing from you soon, I will close and remain your thankful cousin.

Johann Weinhardt and family

[Written in the margins:]

Is it not possible for you to visit us this summer? You would be genuinely welcome here.

Heartfelt wishes to you all from all of us. We sincerely hope that you are all very well.

Translated by John G. Weinhardt