Thonon, 12 March 1942

My dear Uncle Max and dear Aunt Betty,

I have received your letter from the 12th January safely and I was very happy to get your news.  I have also received Lore’s letters from 9th December and 8th January and I was very happy about it for I hadn’t heard anything from you for at least 5 months.

With respect to your letter, my dear Uncle Max, I will endeavour to reply to it as well as possible. Our friend, from whom I was receiving money has not responded further for some months and I therefore can’t count on him any longer. From now until the end of the school year I won't have to worry, and I will be fine until October, especially as I believe that many things will have changed by then. – I am now in the 2nd year and I will finish my studies in June 43 (it’s still far off!!). I work much better now than in the 1st year and I would not regret the lost time if I had be able to spend it in another way than I did.  My main goal is the following: if one really wants to succeed in my profession, it is necessary to know how to speak the 3 main languages. As I already know 2 of them, I would really like to learn the third and to do this, it is necessary to go to the country itself otherwise this takes too much time, do you understand?

Have you received my letter from the 11th January?  Now that I have received your letters it is no longer necessary that you write to the other man, but do as at present. I am always corresponding with him, in case you are no longer able to write to me.

Today, for the first time the weather is truly magnificent and it is even quite hot fortunately!
Before I finish, I would like to tell you that I am always very happy when I receive your news.

I hope that these lines find you in good health and I send you my best greetings.

Your Oswald.

Thonon, 12 March 1942

Dear Derrick,

I have just learnt that you are going to get married soon.  Not knowing the date, I would like to offer you today, my best wishes for your happiness and a long life.

Receive the best greetings of your

Oswald.

P.S. Please tell Lore that I am going to reply to her letters soon. I can’t do it straight away as I have a lot of work to do. Furthermore, I request that you always address your letters to the pension.