September 30, 1942 — Stories from Bolotnik
Transcription
30/IX–1942. Правот [неразборчиво] Василиевичними!!! Добрый вечер, моя Сафрони: Бабушка Аня, Латиці и Гришка! Сегодня я получила ваше письмо за 11/IX за которое большое спасибо… Большую Тебе мальчик! Спасибо мой малюсик мне части, косно писати. [неразборчиво] что Ты ведь [неразборчиво] направляла о здешних ребятах и с Болотника рассказу [неразборчиво] 10 лет ходят рассказу…
Живу в наилучшем виде, пишу вам открытки — писала [неразборчиво] фронтовые… карточки и кадр… и грибники, а с осени с огнивых [неразборчиво]… вам уже 10-11 [неразборчиво] и начала [неразборчиво] Одессию…
Context
This letter, sent just days before her famous bicycle letter (September 4, 1942), provides glimpses into family dynamics and regional connections.
Recipients & Family:
- Бабушка Аня — Grandmother Anna (core family member)
- Галица/Латиці — Galitsa (possibly a nickname or family member)
- Гришка — Grisha (the beloved “little papa-man” from other letters)
Geographic References:
- Болотник — Bolotnik, likely a village or neighborhood in the Kyiv region
- Одесса — Odessa mentioned, possibly in connection with another Ostarbeiter
Mail System Documentation: The letter received on September 30 was written on September 11 — documenting a 19-day mail delay between occupied Ukraine and Germany, much longer than the 3-10 days typical in other letters.
Life Updates:
- “Живу в наилучшем виде” — “Living in the best possible way”
- Sending postcards regularly, including ones with mushroom-pickers
- Mentions “фронтовые карточки” — possibly military-themed postcards or cards from the front
Language Notes: The text shows Ukrainian influence (“Латиці” rather than Russian “Лариса”) and some challenging handwriting, with several words marked as illegible in the transcription.
Document Condition: SCAN0025 is noted as heavily faded and rotated, making much of the content difficult to read, which explains the fragmentary nature of this correspondence.
Source: SCAN0024–SCAN0025