German officer's mail censored?

In WWII were the letters of officers, in particular doctors, from the front censored? If so, what were the guidelines.

Was it a crime to send a letter home via a comrade returning home?

I am writing a novel that contains a semi-important character who is a doctor in the German Army. Central to the plot are his letters home talking about the battles, events happening in the outside world, and anecdotes.

Thanks for the help.

 

The Nazi's would censor mail sent from the front but the censors didn't do a very good job of it. Not all mail that was sent home could be searched simply due to sheer volume and resources, as a result, a lot of mail got through that would have some pretty nasty things to say about the Reich or conditions on the front. I forgot the exact figures in terms of how much mail was sent within the first year of war alone but it was a lot (in the millions IIRC)!

If you were to write something bad about the war effort, officers, the Nazi's, etc and were "lucky" enough to have your letter picked by the censors you would be punished. Punishments would range from freezing of salaries, jail time, penal battalions, and even death.

I don't know if it was a crime to send letters home via a friend who was going on leave but I doubt it. The fact that so much uncensored mail was already going to homes and the front, added with the fact that such actions encouraged camaraderie and friendship among soldiers on an even deeper level probably made it ok.

The letter didn't have to say bad things about officials either to be deemed punishable. If you wrote a letter to your wife for example and it contained some very personal details (like about sex) it might also get you in trouble. Punishments likely weren't very severe for stuff like this, if your fellow soldiers were to read it though you'd likely have to suffer through their mocking.

The first (or maybe it was the second) chapter of Frontsoldaten is recommended reading on this subject.