TRANSLATION WITH TRANSLATOR'S COMMENTS
(PAGE 1)
Wednesday morning at 11, June 24, 1942
Beloved Pola and Beloved Jacqueline!
I have already sent you a small package through the mail today so you have a letter. I still want to write you a few words. I am all prepared to leave and I want to write a few last words to you.
My Beloved and Sweet Pola!
Please do not worry and take good care of our Jacqueline, like you have done so far.
I will also do my best to stay healthy and come back to you, because I love you and our darling and delightful Jacqueline. I really can’t write because they keep calling us to assemblies all the time, they can’t figure out the 1000 people.
My Beloved! I am all prepared but I’m only thinking about you, when you know that they already know in Paris that we are leaving [Grammar a little unclear in this sentence, maybe he meant “when YOU already know in Paris”.] So, Pola, try to control yourself because you know what situation we live in nowadays, but we only live with the hope that it won’t be long before we are together again.
I am sure, my Beloved, that you will understand me, that you will be of good cheer in regards to me, that I will come to you healthy and we will live together in better conditions. No matter what, may they leave you in your apartments in Paris, and we will return to you. [He uses the plural we, you and your here – as if writing on behalf of his friends as well and to more people than just Pola.]
It is possible that I may still be in Poland and see our parents. But, my dear, my way is to come back to you, Beloved.
So try to make some arrangements so you can work a little and feed yourself and our delightful Jacqueline.
I will end my letter now, stay healthy and also our little daughter, I am sure that I will come back to you and find you in good health.
(PAGE 2)
My Sweetest One! I will say good-bye to you now, stay healthy and try to be strong in the spirit so you can survive all this and the day will come when we will again stroll together in Parisian boulevards, with our delightful Jacqueline. I am kissing your photo now, and also the photo of our lovely Jacqueline.
I am kissing you a thousand times, kiss Jacqueline a few times especially from me.
I am sure you will understand and you will do your best to stay healthy with our darling.
If you don’t see a letter, know that I am not able to write. Maybe I will still write a Polish letter today and at the last moment they are supposed to give us envelopes for last French letters.
So, stay healthy and strong, and take care of our darling, like you’ve done so far, so she is healthy, and I will come back to you, and that’s for sure.
Give my regards to my acquaintances: Gitele [gee-teh-leh] with Michel and Icek [ee-tseck], the Szmul [schmool] family, Kremska with her son, I may see Chaim, Fajga [fi-gah], Jozef [you-zeff] with children, Mrs. Siemiatyczka [sheh-meah-titch-kah], all my acquaintances.
Your Leon, who loves you and is sure that he will come to you and will find you in good health at the same place.
I’m holding your hand and Jacqueline’s.
Leon