In Part Four, I described how Afrika Korps Obergefrieter, Hans Walden, had written to Hildegard Bronnold about suffering in a sandstorm, retreating back through Libya into Tunisia, and his hopes for Christmas 1942.
In late January and early February 1943, the Panzerarmee Afrika had retreated from Libya into Tunisia to join up with the Heeresegruppe Afrika as they were caught in a pincer between the British 8th Army in the east and the British 1st Army and American II Corps in the west.
© John Tull 2024, Going Postal
In his letter of the 7th of February 1943 from Tunisia, he was replying to a letter he had received from Hildegard who appears to have been concerned about a lack of letters from Hans: “Don’t be angry Madame, – but you are actually right in your letter of 21.1.43 about fatigue – i.e. don’t go that way, because it’s not so much fatigue as lack of opportunity. Wise lady, more specifically my parents are also no longer satisfied with the number of my letters. I want to try to improve myself. This letter should be a laudable beginning.”
He then recounts about being strafed, “Well I am now in another sand again. The first day – it was on 23.1 – did not start well at all. Actually I had a lot of luck in misfortune. Surprised by a strong low-flying attack, I got about 8 metres away from the car and, because it was whistling so hideously, I had to hit the ground completely flat. My car was shot by X, hit and went up in flames. Not the slightest thing happened to me. I think I had already given up on myself. But my guardian angel was faithful to me. Now the downside of the story was that everything, what I had, was burned. Coffee, soap, everything I had saved up for a possible leave, in my entire time in Africa was lost. Also the pictures of yours. I stood there with what I had on my body. But I don’t wonder about these things – because my own luck was too great.” He appears to have self-censored by not saying whose aircraft had attacked him but given his earlier references to “Tommy”, I suspect it was an American fighter and perhaps Hans may have thought that Hildegard would not be aware of American forces entering the war zone in Operation Torch.
He continued, “I’m still healthy and I don’t complain about anything else. As far as leave – my small sacrifice pales in comparison to those of Stalingrad. I want to be satisfied – only the thoughts of working in the coming time to get back to the fighting level that we achieved – will dominate us. Rain is followed by sunshine – both here and in the East – and the Führer guarantees that after the grey days, clear sunlight is coming again. And you have to hold on to these thoughts at home! It will then become clear what tremendous strength the German people possess. But now I’ll start politicising with you, dear Mrs Hilde. How kind of you to cross your fingers for me – but above all for writing to me so diligently. You seem for a woman to possess rare, good qualities.”
He finishes with “Do you know what comes first in the Arab household? Probably not – so: 1. his son, 2. his horse, 3. his camel and then far from it – his wife. Good that you’re European?”
He added a postscript, “If possible, please let me know the address of H. Kiesse’s. I think it was one with P.” He had referred to “H. Kiesse” in his letter of 31 May 1942 as being “lucky enough to be allowed to go on leave” so perhaps either he had not returned or had been posted back to Germany.
© John Tull 2024, Going Postal
In his next letter of the 16th of March 1943, it was Hans’ turn to complain about lack of correspondence, “I have not heard from you for a long time. Have you not received my post? That would be a shame. How are you still doing? Everything withstood well? What about the move? Do you really want to turn your back on our Rhine? Or perhaps you already have? Hopefully I will soon receive an answer to all these questions! Everything is still all okay with me. A few days ago I was in Tunis. Once again I have taken in European impressions of the big city. It is a magnificent city. Even the journey there – I drove 550 km in one day, was an experience of mine!”
“On 7th I went to the theatre myself on the very first evening. A huge thing, very nice, probably French but excellent cast. There were many, many charming Frenchisms. After my long time as a hermit, I felt quite funny about all the regrets. I wish you had the opportunity to see that. On the way back I stayed overnight with an Arab. Actually without lice and fleas. I was also treated to food and drinks. But the only thing that was quite excellent was the tea – like liqueur – we don’t have anything like that. But I’m quite in a hurry. So – please write to me soon. Until then greetings.”
The theatre Hans visited may have been the Art Nouveau style “Théâtre Municipal de Tunis” which originally opened in 1902 as the “Casino Municipal de Tunis” before being rebuilt in 1911. It was restored in 2017 and as of this month (November 2024) is currently showing 12 plays created by various Tunisian theatre clubs of prisons and correctional centres and acted in by 100 prisoners.
© John Tull 2024, Going Postal
With this letter, Hans had also included a postcard showing “Le Pavillion de Belvédère” in Tunis. Built in an Arab-Andalusian style in 1901, it is set in Belvédère Park, the largest park in Tunis, and still extant today although it has been a Tunisian Army officers club since 1989 and is not open to the public.
Despite in mid-February 1943, the Heeresegruppe Afrika winning the Battles of Sidi Bou Zid and the Kasserine Pass in Tunisa, between March and May, successive US/British operations pushed the Heeresegruppe Afrika back to Tunis which eventually resulted in their surrender on the 13th of May 1943.
The Stab Nachschub-Kolonne-Abteilung 572 (572nd Motorized Supply Column Battalion) that Hans Walden belonged to was identified as having been being “destroyed” in May 1942 with survivors who had managed to leave Tunisa being formed into the Nachschub-Kompanie 756 (Supply Company 756) in Italy.
In “Letters from Afrika” Part Six, what became of Hans Walden after the defeat of the Heeresegruppe Afrika and what happened to Hildegard and Paul Bronnold and their daughter Renate?
© John Tull 2025
