Transcription of the letter from Paul to the Lefmann family on 6 September 1916:

“Neufchâtel, 6. IX. 1916

Dear Papa!

You do not write to me as often as Mother does—you cannot—but whenever I receive a letter from you, I am always very glad. Your letter today was interesting to me in that you once again expressed your political creed. ‘Germany will win,’ you say. If someone had told me that a year ago, I would have believed it without question. I think you trust our dear Germany a little too much, and I do not wish you that the great hope you place in Germany should become the greatest disappointment of your life. Germany has accomplished great things, enormously great things—but, to use the very same words as Uncle August in his letter to me today—against a heap of dung one cannot prevail. Dung in the truest sense of the word. A dirtier politics than that which our enemies are presently pursuing does not exist. We are by no means at the end yet, and things will become much nastier. Germany must be destroyed—that is England’s motto. And if it does not succeed with the means it has employed up to now, it will incite the whole world against us. There are still enough neutral states, but in time England will already instill in them the necessary hatred of Germany.

You think our military situation is still very favorable. I do not at all. For months we have had no successes of decisive significance. On the contrary, we have had to retreat both in the East and in the West. Moreover, we have had heavy losses. You are, in this respect, happier than I am, since you still believe in a future for Germany; I have given up all hope. The war will, if Germany does not give in, still last a very long time. We are examined twice a year, and the hour will yet strike when I too march into the trenches.

Uncle August is at present in a far from enviable position. Of the cruelties of war he has so far learned nothing. Until now he has only had to accept the ordinary inconveniences that war brings with it. It can still become ten times worse. I always ask myself this: is it necessary that mankind let itself be slaughtered for a cause whose outcome is entirely doubtful? It is easily said that everyone must do his duty, even if it costs his life. But how much misery has the war already brought into many a family! Do the sacrifices that people bring correspond to the successes?

Today we again received a new address. It is no longer Army Corps Kühne, but now: Corps Sieger.

For today I will close. With many, very warm greetings to you, dear Papa.

Your Paul.”