Open Works

Title

Letter from Ingolstadt, 1945 August 20

Creator

Robert D. Davis

Files

Creation Date

8-20-1945

Keywords

letter, correspondence, World War II, army, Germany

Subject

World War, 1939-1945; Letter writing; United States. Army

Description

Davis writes his parents about the possible increased duties of his detachment. He describes his newest living situation. It is a five minute walk from the office, a four room apartment shared with Sgt. Keller. He describes it as having "all the trimmings". Davis writes that since the "Runte Affair", the Oberburgermeister has been very friendly to him and has gradually adopted him into his house. Davis describes how Runte divorced his wife and married the girl he was living with. Seven weeks ago they went to Essen for the marriage. Davis writes that she is a pretty girl of 25, named Ursula.

Transcription:

20 August 1945

Ingolstadt, Germany

Dear Folks:

This morning I received 15 letters from you, Mother, and it was swell to have so many. They have been held up, due to this reorganization of the Military Government Division, and so the past six weeks period is no indication of regular mail service. Now that all the detachments have been redesignated, and new mail channels have been in operation for some time, there will be no difficulty.

O^ur detachment is now a “G” Team, which makes it of about twice to three times its old size. We should have fifteen Enlisted Men, and maybe nine Officers: at the present time we have twelve Enlisted Men and nine Officers, it is however, possible that future additions of attached units may bring our strength up to about thirty Enlisted Men. For example, we may get three or four men for from the Army Railroads, who will be attached to us for messing and operations, but who will not actually be a part of us, as far as promotions etc go. The Enlisted Men are now living in a very comfortable place, about five minutes walk from our office. Its a little tiresome having to walk instead of strolling downstairs for meals, but it is worth it, we have got such good quarters. We have “non com” quarters, on the first floor, where Sgt. Keller (first promoted to Sgt. yesterday, after three years as a T-5) and I live. It is a four room appartment, with a beautiful bath room, hot water and all the trimming. My room is very well furnished, with rug, east chairs, table and desk, a huge clothes closet, radio, bed table etc. It really is better than most Officers have in this army, but the Captain has always been am advocate of good living, which as Keller has pointed out, is one of his best qualities. We have elaborate “day rooms” where we may bring our dates and guests, and all dance etc. Oh, its a heavenly life.

Since my personal interest and investigation in the Runte affair, at the time of the mess we had a month ago, the Oberburgermeister has been for some unaccountable reason very friendly to me, and I mean friendly beyond the point of casual necessity. Gradually he has practically adopted us into his house, and in fact, when we went over

(OVER)

last night, he had marked an easy chair on the back with large white chalk letters, “Brady”. He explained that he knew that I always slouched over to the sofa, where I could maintain my comfort. There is a circle of five of us, who constitute life in Ingolstadt for Brady and I (Brady is another interpreter, and has been with Capt. Norins since last Sept.), and you must learn something of these three besides us. For to Brady and me, it is a big departure to be friendly to Germans. This has been our first experiment, and you must not forget our background as coming from the German Baitingest Detachment in the army. As I said, the friendship began when the “coup d’etat” was pulled off, during John’s visit. When the MP’s were running around kidnapping out city officials, there was a pressing need that we constantly check up and attend them. The result of the entire thing, was that Runte got out of town till it blew over, and took his fiancee out of town, until the divorce from his wife became legally final (which it has now done, resulting in his marriage to the girl whom, seven weeks ago we spirited off to Essen.) And on this Essen trip, I got very well acquainted with Runte, and the now Mrs. Runte. She is a very pretty looking girl of twenty-five years, very personable, and a good sense of humor. Her name is Ursula; we call her “die Ursch.” She leads a pretty lonely life here in town, as she isn’t permitted to go out much, but blossoms with great good spirits when she has her 4 men around her. The Runte’s have a maid, named Mitzi, who is solid, realistic Bavarian peasant. She has, for example, no objection to popping live crabs into boiling water, as prescribed.

Love,

Bob