Carl Muth letter to Hans Scholl

Copy. [Note 1]

Munich-Solln, October 19, 1942

Dear Mr. Scholl, I cannot express my joy at your long-expected letter in any better way than to reply by return mail. I have repeatedly asked about you in Ulm. One time I was able to discern that you are hail and hearty.

Sofie – and in the beginning Elisabeth as well – was here for ten days and helped me bring my best books from the upper stories of my half-destroyed house to the first floor. I had to make substantial adjustments in expectation of the next bombing raid, which we will not be spared. The one on September 19/20, 1942 was apocalyptic. In Solln, 40 houses are destroyed, 15 people are dead. In Munich, many times over that number of houses, and more than 400 dead! 200 meters [650’] from my house, houses toppled over like boxes. The Bergangellen’s [Note 2] house is uninhabitable and B. and his family have moved away from Solln.

I myself was unwittingly in grave danger, as I was not in my basement. Whoever experienced this single hour will never be able to forget it, no matter how long they live. The English were flying over the Rhine and the Ruhr [district] every night! Cologne was under heavy attack for a second time. Düsseldorf was hit hardest and is destroyed. I think you were still here for the attack on Mainz. The list of [bombed] cities grows longer every day, and the mood is correspondingly dark.

I am happy that you are able to give yourself the feeling of freedom for the time being. I am certain you are aware that those in Ulm are counting on your father’s return after only 2 months. He is not doing too badly, though he has grown quite gaunt. But these days, that is more and more the lot of us all. I can no longer go out, and the walk to church is too far for me. Otherwise, I am well for the time being. – The book bindery has all but shut down. Everywhere, there is a great shortage of manpower. I have had quite a bit of wood chopped in my garden. Old friends are dying off.

Do you still see Werner now and again? Tell him hello. Your letter made Dr. Fuchs ( = Schaumann) happy.

So, now you know the important things about [my] external life. The inner life is becoming ever warmer and deeper. Now more than ever, one must take to heart the words of St. Chrysostomus, Nihil potentius homine orante! Strengthen yourself, my dear young friend, and do not forget for one moment that you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, one who may say with the Apostle Paul: “Quis ergo nos separabit a charitate Christi? Tribulatio, an persecutio? Angladius? /Illegible/ scriptum est: Quia propter te mortifica /illegible/ tota die: aestimati /illegible/ [Note 3] oves occisionis.”

I send you my greetings and remain with many good religious [Note 4] wishes

Your

Carl Muth.

-.-.-.-

Note: The correspondent in question is:

Prof. Karl [sic] Muth
Munich-Solln, Dittler Str. 10

-.-.-.-

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Note 1: In this case, the “Abschrift” was also a transcription of a handwritten document.

Note 2: Sic. Should be “Bergengruen”, as the author Werner Bergengruen was Carl Muth’s neighbor.

Note 3: Portions of this quote are illegible because the transcriber’s typewritten words have been marked through and corrected by someone. The correction renders the text illegible.

Note 4: Religiös. Not a common close.

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Source: ZC13267 (33 – 34)