November 15th, 1918

Title

November 15th, 1918

Subject

Letter from Frank to his mother and sister

Description

Frank wrote this letter on November 15th, 1918 to his mother and sister. He wrote the letter while he was serving in France during World War I.
Frank begins this letter by saying that the war is over – something that he had been anticipating for a while. He is not sure when he will be getting home, but he believes it will be sometime before Easter. It is interesting that Frank, a Jewish man, is referencing Easter, a Christian holiday – the holiday that celebrates Jesus rising from the dead, instead of a holiday, such as Passover. This could perhaps due to the culture Frank is living in and the people he is surrounded by. He also mentions twice that he is going to stop writing so much. It is possible that now that the war is over, there is a lot more to do (i.e. clean up and reconstruction) and he doesn’t anticipate having a lot of time. It is also likely that he doesn’t feel the need to write so often because the war is over and so that fear of what might happen is dispersed.
He complains about the letters he is receiving from his mother and sister. He says that he wants to hear news from home – information that is relevant to him and the family. This is something that Frank has complained about in past letters. It appears that Frank feels cut off from home and knowing what is going on helps him feel relevant and connected – as if he is not an ocean away.
The letter is based off of what Frank is thinking and feeling. The war is finally over and he is anticipating going home in a few months’ time. But he is still in France, separated from his family and feels that distance.

Creator

Frank Eisenberg

Source

Upper Midwest Jewish Archives, Archives and Special Collections in the University of Minnesota Archives, Box 2, File 1

Date

World War I

Language

English

Original Format

8x11 sheet of paper

Files

November 15, 1918 - Part 1.jpg
November 15, 1918 - Part 2.jpg
Date Added
December 4, 2013
Collection
Letters from Frank
Item Type
Still Image
Tags
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Citation
Frank Eisenberg, “November 15th, 1918,” Discovering the Importance in the Ordinary:, accessed April 20, 2024, https://eisenbergexhibit.omeka.net/items/show/49.