The following letter, written by Prince Joachim of Prussia, the
youngest son of the German Emperor, was addressed to a wounded
comrade in arms by the Prince, himself at that time recovering from
a wound suffered in battle. Prince Joachim, who is 24 years old,
is a Lieutenant in the First Prussian Infantry Guards. In a tone
of easy-going comradeship, not usually associated with the stern
and imperious Hohenzollerns, the young Prince wrote to his friend
and fellow-guardsman, Sergt. Karl Kummer, who had been sent, badly
wounded, to the home of his sister at Teplitz:
My dear Kummer: How sincerely I rejoiced to receive your very
solicitous letter! I was sure of Kummer for that; that no one could
hold him back when the time came to do some thrashing! God grant
that you may speedily recover, so that you can enter Potsdam,
crowned with glory, admired, and envied. Who is nursing you?
The old proud First Guard Regiment has proved that it was ready to
conquer and to die. Kummer, if I can in any way help you, I shall
gladly do so, by providing anything that will make you comfortable.
You know how happy I have always been for your devotion to the
service, and how we two always were for action (Schwung). I, too, am
proud to have been wounded for our beloved Fatherland, and I regret
only that I am not permitted to be with the regiment. Well, may God
take care of you! Your devoted