1943 (13 Aug) Third Reich, Germany, Folded Letter from a Civilian Forced Laborer from Wanne-Eickel to a Friend in Fishborn Germany

Germany / WWII Occupations (1939-1945)

The documents represent a rare, preserved piece of postal history documenting the lives of two young Eastern European women—referred to under the Nazi regime as "Ostarbeiter" (civilian forced laborers)—who were deported from Soviet territories to Nazi Germany to perform forced labor during World War II.
The envelope is shaped as a distinctive, diamond-shaped folded letter ("Spitzbrief"), a common format used during wartime to save paper and resources.

The front features a red 12-pfennig German Reich stamp bearing the portrait of Adolf Hitler. It was postmarked in Wanne-Eickel on August 13, 1943.
The letter was addressed to Tatiana Gromova. She was living in rural Hesse at Obergasse 1, Frischborn (near Lauterbach), subletting or stationed under the care of a local craftsman named Habermehl ("bei Handw. Habermehl").
The sender is identified as Lydia Kowalewskaja (affectionately called Lida in the text). Her registered address was Hermann-Göring-Straße 55 in the industrial town of Wanne-Eickel (located in the Ruhr region, Westphalia).

The Letter content Lida’s Reality
Lida writes to her loved ones (Ekaterina Semenovna, Tanichka, and Kolechka). The text provides a poignant, raw glimpse into the survival strategies and emotional toll of forced labor. Lida mentions she has been in Germany for 1 year and 3 months, dating her forced deportation back to approximately May 1942. She notes she has reluctantly accepted her fate.
Acts of Small Rebellion: Lida describes wearing a forced labor ID number on her clothing ("рабочую №"). To escape the suffocating atmosphere of the camp on weekends, she describes taking off the numbered badge, climbing over the camp fence, and slipping through a window to go for walks while intentionally evading the camp guards ("вахта"). To preserve her humanity, she admits to leaving work an hour early during the morning shift or hiding in the bathrooms for 20 to 30 minutes just to "live a little" on her own terms.

Provenance: Ex Werbizky.

Состояние: Used.

Postal History

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Rare Stamps and Postal History of The World

Auction 58

October 12 - 26, 2026

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