Contrexeville 29. August 1939

Dear Lore,
I received your letter this afternoon and am answering it already this evening for the following reason.  I wrote to Oma about two weeks ago and received a letter from her a few days later in which she said she had not heard from me for the last ten days and that I must write immediately.  I did so and now I see from your letter that Oma did not receive my second letter either.  Write immediately to Oma that I am sorry she did not receive my two letters and that I would not be writing to her for the time being but that she would hear about me through you.  I will tell you why I won’t be writing to her but don’t tell Oma. The French German and Belgium German frontiers are closed.  The trains can no longer go in or out.  I don’t think letters sent airmail would arrive because foreign planes are forbidden to fly over France, Belgium and Germany.  I am not able to send a telegram because one requires special permission.  I can’t telephone either because I am not able to phone even Thonon.  For this reason there is no point in writing.  The same could happen to us but you need not be anxious about this.  Dear Lore, it is possible that I will return to Thonon in two days because there are hardly any guests here and I think there will be a new law that all foreigners must go to the police to register as volunteers in case of war.  I prefer to go to the police in Thonon because I only have permission to stay there.  If war were to break out suddenly, I could not return to Thonon.  In case I am in Thonon and war breaks out I am sure I could not stay there because the whole population would be moved.  As soon as I am in Thonon I will write to Uncle Max because I can’t pay the Pension alone.  I am tense to know how things will develop.  Lore, don’t write to me for the time being till you hear where I am.  – Do me the favour and write to Oma immediately, even if you only wrote to her an hour ago.  I only hope she can still receive your letters.  I don’t know if it is the right thing to have the auction at the beginning of September.  (Oma and Opa were getting ready to come to England.  The contents of the flat in Scheffelstrasse 11 were planned to be auctioned)

Much love Oswald

The Hotel Majestic was closed a few days ago.   After all, answer to this address.  If I am no longer here, I will let the letter be forwarded.  Are you returning to London on 1st September?