Translation by the Romanian Gendarmerie
Moghilau, 14/XII 1941
The Teacher Prosser
Dear Senior Teacher,
I wrote to you through Mr. L[arionescu] a few days ago, but in the mean time Mr. Tw[ers] arrived [here] and he will be going home again tomorrow so I write again to be on the safe side. I ask you, der headteacher, again to contact Mr. Bindewald, so that she goes to Cernauti or Iasi immediately to intervene with Mr. K. The documents are with Mrs. Bindewald. Please cover all the costs. Please discuss everything with Mrs. Bindewald. We will show our gratitude for your troubles especially. Our situation here is becoming more unbearable by the day and we will die if you do not rescue us at the last moment. We have changed so much that you, dear Senior Teacher will not recognise us. We beg you to send us 2 certificates, one in Rumanian and one in German that state our ethnic origin as German and have German ideas etc., and that you as German Gauleiter ask the authorities to help us in eithe case. These certificates could at some stage be most helpful for us towards the german or rumanian authorities. These certificates must have the printed heading [..]German Gauleiter Radauti[“] and a stamp, at least one of the two. In case you do not have either, we ask you to acquire them at our cost. It may me of advantage that both
certificates be signed by the Parohiat. Please send these two certificates through Mr. Tw[ers] or another trustworthy person. Forgive our boldness, but our need is indescribable and we turn to you, senior teacher, like a father. The merciful God will reward you and Mrs. Bindewald for helping honourable and very unhappy people, who are in greatest need. It is a matter of life and death. We are literally starving, because we have no more money and food is not been had. We would be happy about dry bread and potatoes but not even those are to be had, not even for money. Please do not speak to anyone about this except Mrs. Bindewald. As far as we know the governor’s resolution has to be sent to Bucuresti to the council of ministers, I hope it won’t take too lang and we won’t die in the meantime. Please send us 50.000 Lei , but in notes with the young peasant woman on it, no other notes will be changed here. We are both reserve officers, my brother was voluntary legionary in 1918 and at the end staff lieutenant. I was second lieutenant in the world war , I was at th erussian front for 2 years in a german infantry regiment and own next to an austrian honoring two german. In this war I served as a doctor as second lieutenant from June to July 1941 and leader of stretcher carrier group at the bessarabian front. I beg to emphasise that we come from the southern Bukowina, the part that was not occupied by the R[ussians]. I beg you again to help us promptly, do not spare trouble or expense. I am convinced your efforts are as your deceased son’s name, who I honoured deeply and who would have tried everything for me if he were alive. I hope that we will have the opportunity to thank you in person and that I can return the favour some day. I and my family send our kindest regards. Your grateful Dr. Oskar Schwind.
Handkisses to the honoured lady. Attached a letter from my brother to Mrs. Bindewald.
My current address: Moghilau, strada Adolf Hitler 19. Please if necessary go to Bucaresti to speed up the solution of [our problem]. Dear Madam. I am making use of the opportunity to send a few lines from us. My family and me are in the deepest need and poverty and beg you to rescue us at the last minute. We are on a certain and very painful path to death. You would not be able to recognise us as we are so thin. I beg you, dear Madam, to do evrything possible together with Mr. Prosser and to travel to Cernauti or Iasi so you can personally spee up the solutio nof our affairs with Mr. K. The teacher Mr. Prosser will carry the costs. We will be forever in your depth. Save 5 innocent human lives. The documents are with you, but not all of them. Mr. senior teacher Prosser will inform you about everything necessary, no matter what nature. Save us, beloved madam at the last moment, otherwise it will be too late. With the kindest regards from your eternally grateful Phöbus Schwind Moghilau (Transnistria), str. Adolf Hitler 19