ate love, I hug and kiss you. Your Hermann.”
The “birthday letter” to Edda has survived:
My darling, sweet child! My golden treasure!
Now’s the second time that your birthday has
come around and I can’t be there. And yet, my dar-
ling, today I’m especially close to you, and send you
my warmest and most heartfelt greetings.
I pray to Almighty God from the bottom of my
heart to look after you and help you. I can’t send you
any gift, but my boundless love and longing is all
around you and always shall be!
You know, my little sparrow, how fond I am of
you! You are always so sweet and tender. You’ll always
be our happiness and joy.
Mama has told me what a brave little helper you
are everywhere and how good you are being. I’m
proud of you.
I hope the weather’s fine so you can spend your
birthday outside in the wonderful forest. My little
sweetheart, once more all my warmest wishes for to-
day and always: fondest hugs and kisses from your
Papa.The letters from them, he wrote to Emmy a few days later, in
June , were the “only ray of sunshine in my solitude.” He
went on:
So the darling child’s birthday went off well after
all. I thought it was going to be almost impossible for
you to get hold of any present for Edda.
Just imagine: Ronny [probably his adjutant On-
darza] is in Hamburg but refusing to have anything
at all to do with me, even a written statement. He
hasn’t even replied to Stahmer. There’s gratitude!...
I am in better health again.... In the prison yard
three jasmine bushes are in blossom. You’ve realized