Original text

English text

Hamburg Ohlsdorf, 4th August 1919.
My dear good aunt.
Since you have been so preferred by our Creator up to now in view of your long earthly career, I don’t want to give up hope that you are still there today. So assuming this, after a long time I am addressing you in the old fashioned way a few lines. You will know that our dear fatherland has to go through a bad period for a long, very long time and in the most pressing way. All people, regardless of which side they were on, who would have to give up their lives in the prime of life, and the many invalids are deeply to be lamented. Those who caused this calamity cannot punished severely enough. The German people are more or less undernourished due to the long absence of foreign food. A great many perished as a result. Not enough that we can expect high taxes, every well-to-do man has to give up a considerable part of his wealth. The future is not good for us at first. And now to my wife and me. She has lost terribly and cannot even come to herself yet. I've lost weight too, but I'm still the same otherwise. As a man and breadwinner, you mustn't let fate get you down, so you have to set a good example for each individual in the family. Don't complain, go ahead and improve that is the watchword now. If one of your sons or you could send us ham, bacon, some flour from one side along with the bill, we would be very grateful. In the expectation that I will be able to tell you better soon, I hope to hear from you very soon, aunt, and remain your loyal nephew with warm regards
Gustav Grupe and wife.