1943 (15 Nov) Third Reich, Germany, Censored Complete Letter from Buchenwald Concentration Camp to Prague, Censorship Postmark, More Details in Description

This is a complete censored wartime letter and its envelope sent by a political prisoner from the Weimar-Buchenwald concentration camp in November 1943.

The Sender was Ladislaus (Ladislav) Havel, prisoner number 16753, stationed at Block 17. His early registration number indicates he was deported in 1939, shortly after the Nazi occupation of the Czech lands. He is categorized as a "Schutzhäftling" (political prisoner).
The recipient was his wife, Lidka Havel, living in Prague-Smíchov, which was part of the German-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

The envelope and letter feature a purple stamp from "Postprüfer 7" (Mail Censor 7) and a red 12-pfennig Adolf Hitler stamp, illustrating the strict surveillance system imposed on inmate correspondence.

The letter was dated November 7, 1943 and is written in German so that it could be censored. Ladislaus sends warm greetings to his wife Lidka, their child, and his parents. He acknowledges receiving her letter from October 13 and expresses great joy that they are all healthy, adding that he is also healthy, thank God (He always had to state that he was fit and well, because otherwise the letter would not have passed through the strict censorship). He confirms the safe receipt of two packages from home. He expresses great gratitude for a warm vest and asks her to send a pair of socks and gloves in the next package to prepare for the winter. He explains that the 5-week delay in his response is due to a strict camp rule allowing prisoners to write only once a month.

There is no death record for prisoner 16753 in Buchenwald's main registries. Since he was a long-term political prisoner who had access to mail and winter clothing packages, his chances of survival were higher. He likely remained at the main camp until its liberation in April 1945.

Provenance: Ex Werbizky.