TRANSLATION WITH TRANSLATOR'S COMMENTS
(PAGE 1)
[The letter was written on one sheet of paper but folded in half, so there are four pages altogether in two scans.]
Tuesday morning, June 23, 1942
Beloved Pola and Beloved Jacqueline!
I am writing a few words to you because I’m sure I can manage to include this letter into someone’s. [This sentence is a little unclear – perhaps the letter was to be put into someone else’s package and this is how it would leave the camp; is it possible that they couldn’t just send letters as such?] I will also send you a package tomorrow so you have a letter.
Darling! You will for sure receive my package today on Tuesday and you will have my long letter.
I know it won’t make you happy, even though it’s about everything, but I am glad I wrote you about everything.
Darling! You already know from my letter that this week there will be a convoy of 500 or 600 people, but it isn’t known yet where to. For sure I will be included this time and I’m certain that I will find myself in such a large number.
My Sweet One! So far I’ve found out that for sure there will be a convoy leaving on Thursday because they are to give everybody
Addition in capital letters: I AM INCLUDING 2 COUPONS FOR SHAVING SOAP. [This addition is unclear for a couple reasons. The verb should really be “wkładam”, not “władam” – władam does exist but means to rule over something, so it doesn’t fit the context. The coupons might refer to rationing tickets. I’m not sure why Leon would send shaving soap tickets to a woman – perhaps it was something she could exchange for something else she needed?]
(PAGE 2)
one blanket and the kitchen is preparing food for the road. So, our departure is certain and we will be leaving Pithiviers.
My Sweetest one! As you see, we have no control over it so please try not to cry and not to worry so much.
Believe me, my Dearest Pola, that I will try to write to you wherever I am and my sincere heart will always be with you. If you don’t receive a letter, try not to worry.
Be of good cheer, I will do my best to survive all this and I will return to you, my Beloved, to be together again.
It’s possible I will end up in Poland or here, it’s impossible for us to figure out where we are going. But wherever I am, I will try to let you know so you have some news from me.
(PAGE 3)
My Beloved and Sweet Pola!
As I write these words I know that you will cry, because you can see already that a greater distance will be between us. Believe me, my Sweet One, that I also miss you a lot and I would like to be together with you as soon as possible.
My Beloved! Please try not to worry and make arrangements in your life so you can look better and also for our darling Jacqueline, whom I almost don’t know and my heart is aching that I will be leaving for sure, and I won’t even be able to kiss you both.
Beloved! Know that when my heart aches for you, my courage is greater and I’m sure I will return for you, even though I will be in Poland!
There are rumors circulating that they are sending us to Poland and also that somewhere here to work. Not all rumors can be controlled. [This last sentence is a little strange – perhaps he meant that not all rumors can be verified or checked, even though it’s not exactly the meaning of the verb he used.]
[In general, it feels like this letter may have been written in a hurry. There a lot of little misspellings or phonetic spellings; also some words are crossed out and/or corrected. The grammar or word order in some sentences is unexpected, and even the choice of words. One example could be “make arrangements in your life so you can look better and also for our darling Jacqueline” – he may have meant something else than literal looking better even though that’s exactly what the sentence says; war times seem strange to worry about someone’s looks.
I am trying to keep the translation as close as possible to the original, so some of the sentences may seem a bit off.]
(PAGE 4)
Beloved! Today I am ready, yesterday I did the laundry and today I am preparing. The whole camp is preparing for the departure. I will try to let you know about me tomorrow again.
I am keeping some food for the road, I have a whole cake challa, biskot, oranges.
[Agnieszka figured out that “biskot” is a word borrowed from French “biscotte”, which refers to hard, dry biscuits. Leon spelled it here phonetically.]
It was good that I received them to have something to eat on the road.
[It’s not 100% certain from the sentence if these goods came in a package, but it would seem so.]
Beloved! If I don’t go, I will also let you know right away, but I don’t believe it, as they are saying again that 1000 people are to be leaving. Yesterday we received news that they also sent out 1000 people from Dransy.
[Dransy must be the phonetic spelling of Drancy – another camp, north of Paris]
I am going to end this letter and I send you lots of greetings and I kiss you a thousand times and our darling Jacqueline.
Your Leon, who is always thinking about you and you, my Beloved, do also think about me; understand that all this shall pass and we will be together.
Forever Yours,
Leon
[Literally, “Your eternal Leon”.]