By Aaron M. Lisec and Tanja Burkhard
Title: Mathias Lang World War I Correspondence, 1913-1918
Predominant Dates:1915-1918
ID: 1/7/MSS 316
Primary Creator: Lang, Mathias
Extent: 2.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
Date Acquired: 04/00/2005
Subjects: World War, 1914-1918
Forms of Material: Soldiers - Germany - Correspondence
Languages: German
The day-to-day correspondence of Mathias Lang and his wife Lorly depicts upper (middle) class life in wartime Vienna, including frequent tea parties and opera and theater visits. Lorly’s letters focus on physical ailments and social gatherings, while Mathias describes his life as an army officer (lieutenant). A 1917 letter reflects anti-semitism and racism in Viennese society.
The correspondence mentions that Mathias Lang achieved the rank of Leutnant (1916) and Oberleutnant (1918)); his brother-in-law Fritz Mottl was also an officer. Mathias received the kleine silberne tapferkeitsmedaille (small silver medal for bravery) in 1917); Fritz earned the eisernes kreuz (iron cross).
Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted use.
Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.
Acquisition Source: Charles Apfelbaum.
Acquisition Method: Purchase.
Preferred Citation: Mathias Lang World War I Correspondence, Special Collections Research Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
April 4, 1916. Mathias gives a very detailed account of his life as a lieutenant, although he does not operate on the front, but in the back of the ‘baggagetrain’ K.u.k.j.R Frhr v. Albori No. 89.
He describes training his dog, hunting foxes for fur and roaming the forest on horseback. His position as ‘Oberleutnant’ mainly entails the supervision of soldiers.