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Letter from Quorn Prisoner of War Camp, Christmas 1945
Quorn POW camp was based in the grounds of Quorn House and the entrance was on Wood Lane, where Northage Close is today. The site had been occupied earlier in the war by the American 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Below is a translation of a letter card sent from Quorn camp by German prisoner Wilhelm Lusse to his family near Dortmund in West Germany. This card is particularly poignant as it was written the day before Christmas eve and Wilhelm must have been missing his home.
Thanks to Rachel McQuail (from Rawlins) and Steffi Marshall for translating this card for the museum, with a little extra addition by Marion Hartmann, whose grandfather was a prisoner at Quorn.
To Familie Wilhelm Lusse, Rollingsen/Westfalen, Uber Werl 1 Kreis Soest
23rd December 1945
Dear loved ones at home!
When this letter reaches you the old year will be over. I do hope you had a nice Christmas and got into the New Year in good health. In my thoughts I will be with you and think about how it used to be. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. This Christmas will not be as bad as the last one for us. We have organised a Christmas tree and equipped everything nicely. A POW man can manage everything out of nothing, everything ready. And then we will celebrate Christmas as good as we can. Mum I wish you a very Happy Birthday. If you would be here I would give you a pound of coffee beans. Yes, that would be nice. Maybe I bring it with me at a later date.
Now I wish you all the best and remain healthy. Yours Willy.
Pay attention to my address.
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