Desert Mystery: “Letters from a Feldgrau”, Part Six

In Part 5, the relationship between Hans Coutandin and Eva Moller appeared to have changed, he was now in Africa and had narrowly missed being captured.

In his next letter of the 3rd March 1943, he wrote, “Today finally I have the opportunity, to write you a few lines. I was just thinking of Spring and I did not want to forget you. It was a long time ago, since to you I wrote. Also it was only in the rest days that we now had not been granted, to write to you earlier. May I also something joyful tell you, because on 23.2.43 the E. K. II get awarded, it has taken for soon 1 1/9 year I have been trying. Everything else is the same old, of food lack we do not, because we can still melon from the inhabitants buy, that is when the opportunity is given. Now in two rest days we had anyway the opportunity. Here there are a lot of oil fruits like dates for example. There are also a lot of eggs where you unfortunately have to pay a lot. For one you can average 20 Francs relates to 1 Reichsmark. Now I would like to finish my writing and wish you dear Evchen thousand times greetings and if I could kiss a thousand times but only in thought.”

The “E.K. II” awarded to Hans was the “Eisernes Kreuz II” or Iron Cross Second Class presumably, based on the timing, for his actions in fighting the Russians in late 1941. He also included a post card of roses with written on the back, “Wish you on your birthday all the best and good luck, I wish you in the rest of your life. Wishes you all this your friend Hans Coutandin”.

During this period, Rommel had launched an offensive against the US/British forces in Tunisia capturing Faid, Gafsa, Sbeitla and the American airfields at Telepta, and had won the Battles of Sidi Bou Zid and the Kasserine Pass. However, the “Panzerarmee Afrika” advance was halted at Tebessa before they then retreated back through Kasserine.

His next letter was on the 5th of March 1943 and included a sprig of dried desert flowers arranged in a diamond shape. He wrote, “Once again I have some free time and so I want to you again a few lines send. You cannot imagine how beautiful it is here, when lying in rest. Will soon be over the good times, who knows when we again such good days will get. Just now I was looking at the area around and that is when I found that almost everywhere the beautiful flowers bloom. Dear Evchen I have still kept your card, because it shall always of a spring in my homeland remind me. I have already a diamond for your birthday done. I would have liked a nicer diamond to have added, but unfortunately I did not get any other. So for me everything is still in perfect order. What about you are you still at the height of good health? Hope for the best. I want to end my writing, for I would like to make the most of the other time to a friend in Russia to write.”

He soon follows this with another letter of the 10th March 1943, “Since I want once again the free time today to use, so I would like again a little something to send you. I am still good and you Dear Evchen I hope you are the same. I am longing already for a few lines from you. Just now there was again Post, but again there was nothing from you. As you will see, I have now become an Ober-Gefreiter, just 1st March 1943 I was promoted. The Kompanie-Führer had already been to me when I the E.K. acknowledged, I should commit myself to 12 years, then he would right away an Uffe make me. I cannot do that because without my father I cannot do it. I myself do not do it either, because if the war comes to an end, then I will be happy when I can be with my loved ones again. I have been for 8 months now in Africa. Will I another leave get? Now I would like to close and greet you for today a thousand times. Your friend Hans! Write…”

Hans has received another promotion to the rank of “Obergefreiter”, equivalent to a Lance Corporal, and a promise of a further promotion to “Unteroffizier” or Corporal if he agrees to sign on for 12 years of service. However, still being under 21 years old, he cannot do this without his father’s permission. The “Kompanie-Führer” or Company Leader was usually a temporary role in place of having an appointed “Kompanie-Chef” or Company Commander.

The day before Hans wrote this letter, on the 9th March 1942, Erwin Rommel had left Africa for the last time and General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim had taken over command.

The last letter from Africa from Hans is dated 14th of April 1943 and is headed, “Please write soon”. He wrote, “A long time I had meant to, a little something to send you, but unfortunately only allows me to do so today. Had three days ago you a little letter written, but it was too badly written and therefore I do not give you any way at all. I have dear Eva also sent you a few days ago a good piece of soap. Write to me please as soon as you receive it. What here was happening you will surely know. Difficult days I have behind me got and I am proud all this to have experienced. How are you doing at all? What makes your exam? For me is still everything the same. I have some tropical sores, but which are already healing. Otherwise there is nothing more I can write to you. A thousand greetings to you, your friend Hans”.

The German forces were in retreat in Tunisia and between the 9th and 13th of May, through the progressive capitulation of individual units, they finally surrendered on the Bon Peninsula, Tunisia as the US and British forces broke through their fortified defences.

So what happened to Hans?

Eva had received the soap he sent her and had written a letter to him but it was returned as being undeliverable (see translation of her letter in “Desert Mystery – Does using AI software work”).

Her letter told him that, “Such beautiful soap has not been here for a long time, and that is why I am only going to wash my face with it. Then I must always think of you. But you have to promise me, that you can do well without it, or it does not give me any joy.” and “…my School leaving examination passed and now on 3rd May, my training as a primary school teacher begins”.

Eva continued to live in Germany with her mother and brother Gottfried, whilst her father was in Riga in Latvia with the “Reichskommissariat Ostland” and her brother Johann was being trained as a Medical Officer. I also have a letter written to her by her cousin Uffz. Heinz Becker written in August 1944.

Researching families post-war in Germany is difficult because there are no centralised records as the majority are kept at the equivalent of Parish level and few are available on-line.

Finding out about the fate of Hans hit a brick wall until I came across the website of the local Walldorf football team (Eva came from Walldorf near Frankfurt-am-main as did Hans probably).

The team is “SV Rot-Weiss Walldorf EV” and in their archives they have photographs of their post-war teams.

The team photographs covering 1951 to 1954 include “Hans Coutandin” who is kneeling at the front right in the above 1952 photograph. He looks to be around 30 years old, which would fit in with the timeline of these letters, so, if it is him then presumably he was taken captive in Africa and would not have returned to Germany until after the war, probably late 1940s.

As for Eva, I can find no records, so her fate remains a mystery…
 

© John Tull 2025