This postcard has the edelweiss flower the German alpine troops used as a patch on their uniforms

My father wasn’t into SS daggers or luger pistols. He brought this patch home and a piece of Hitler’s marble fireplace in bavaria.

Mittenwald-Oberbayern  7/4/45

Dear Aunt Hattie,   -Your letter of June 9th was received a few days ago.  Since I wrote I have been busy on several interesting jobs.  Before the battalion left the Plauen area I was assigned to ride with trains of displaced persons (Russian) from the City of Hof to Chemnitz. I usually rode in caboose although I sometimes sat in the cab of the locomotive, (thus satisfying a lifelong desire).  I had many interesting experiences on these trips, and will have so much to tell you when I return.  As you can see by dateline I am now in the Bavarian Alps.  The battalion came here by truck three days ago.  The mountains are the most beautiful that I have ever seen.  The valleys cup charming little lakes bordered by picturesque little alpine towns.  The styles of dress and architecture are so different from anything I have seen elsewhere that it is like being ain a different country.  The war seems not to have touched this part of the world.  The railroads and and village sic are unharmed.

512th F.A. hq Mittenwald

The battalion is lodged in a substantial camp at the foot of a high mountain.  The camp is a permanent installation formerly occupied by German Alpine Ski Troops.  We have all conveniences.  We are will still supervising the movement of displaced persons (Italians this time.)      With love to you and Aunt P. Regards to Bill –  Carl

My father in Germany 1945