Bakers from Contessastrasse and Rübezahl on the Wagon

At ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra, formerly Contessastrasse 6 in Hirschberg, there was a bakery owned by Paul Betterman—but he isn’t the focus of today’s story. On July 11th, 1942, at 8:30 AM, 54-year-old Paul passed away. The cause of death was clearly detailed in his death certificate: heart muscle damage, arteriosclerosis, and liver disease. Originally from Bolków (Bolkenhain), he was the son of Wilhelm and Pauline, and he left behind his widow, Berta Minna.

Paul Bettermann’s death certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

That same year, the John family took over the business. Reinhold John, the son of Fritz and Martha, wrote in his memoirs that in the late 1930s, they moved to Jelenia Góra from Neustädtel, now known as Nowe Miasteczko in the Lubusz Voivodeship. They first settled at Äussere Burgstrasse 31(now Podwale), where they ran a small wood-fired bakery. Reinhold remembers that the conditions were difficult—the leaky attic of their home, where they kept a galvanized bathtub, doubled as both a bathroom and laundry room.

Reinhold John in front of Paul Betterman’s bakery building, circa 1942 / Source: Reinhold John’s memoirs

In 1944, 10-year-old Reinhold, like other kids his age, was required to join the Hitler Youth. Meetings were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He recalls that in May and June, they collected potato beetles that had been dropped on Jelenia Góra and burned them in the school basement. They also took part in field games, one of which involved putting a brick in a student’s bag and having the others chase him.

One of the most memorable moments in Reinhold’s life was when the Red Army entered the city on May 8th, 1945. In his memoirs, he describes how his family, along with other residents, tried to flee toward the mountains, taking only the essentials. During their escape, they saw houses on fire and gunfire broke out, forcing them to take cover in a roadside ditch.

After reaching Stonsdorf (now Staniszów), the family found temporary shelter with relatives, which allowed them to spend the night in relatively safer conditions. The next day, they decided to return to Hirschberg and were surprised to find the bakery still intact.

When the region officially came under Polish control, the John family, like many others, faced forced relocation.

Children in Hitler Youth uniforms, with an Italian worker on the right

In 1946, the John family received a deportation order. Reinhold, his parents, and two grandmothers set off with their few belongings on a long trip to the transit camp in Hartau. On June 27th at 3:00 PM, they left in cattle cars, and a local artist drew Rübezahl, the Spirit of the Mountains, on the front car to accompany them on their journey.

After arriving in West Germany, Reinhold’s life started to stabilize. Despite numerous challenges, his family worked hard to rebuild their lives. Reinhold became a carpenter, got married, and raised three sons, all of whom, he notes, went on to achieve success in their own lives.

Contemporary view of the building at ul. Klonowica 6 in Jelenia Góra / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Sources:

The Troche Family from Cieplice

Karl Gottlieb Troche, a sanitary doctor, owned the remarkable building located at pl. Piastowski 11 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (formerly Hirschbergerstrasse 11 in Bad Warmbrunn).

Building at pl. Piastowski 11 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Karl was born on April 24th, 1860, in Laskowice Oławskie (Laskowitz kres Ohlau) as the son of Johann Troche, a retiree and landowner, and Susanna née Maskos. He didn’t stay in Laskowice for long, as he decided to pursue a medical career.

At the age of 27, on May 3rd, 1887, Karl married Gertrude Menzel from Legnica in Cieplice (Warmbrunn). She was the daughter of the late hotel owner Hermann Menzel and Minna née Bruchman. The couple had three children: two daughters, Edith Irmgard and Ilse Susanne, and a son, Walter Kurt Gerhard. Edith married Dr. Johannes Fleck from Kostrzyn (Custrin), who lived in Sokołowsko (Görbersdorf) and likely worked at the renowned sanatorium there. Ilse married Pastor Martin Friedrich Mueth from Hartenstein, who resided in Großdalzig. Walter Kurt Gerhard followed in his father’s footsteps and became a royal spa doctor.

Marriage certificate of Karl Gottlieb Troche and Gertrude née Menzel / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

Karl Gottlieb Troche passed away on September 22nd, 1915, at 1 a.m. in his apartment in Cieplice at the age of 55. His tombstone has survived to this day and is one of the few remaining from pre-war times at the municipal cemetery in Cieplice.

Karl Troche’s death certificate / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

Karla Troche’s tombstone / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

According to the 1930 address book, Karl’s son, Walter, lived at Hirschbergerstrasse 13, literally across the street—in the building that now houses the police station. Walter’s mother, Gertrud, also lived there, along with Josef Wunder, a glass grinder. Meanwhile, at Hirschbergerstrasse 11, now pl. Piastowski 9, residents included, among others, the blacksmith master Bruno Wanka, likely with his wife Emma, and a widow, Alwine Knappe.

Police station at the former Hirschbergerstrasse 13 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

I don’t know about you, but I am always amazed by this building.

Details – building at pl. Piastowski 11 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)

Fritz Singer from Kowary

On October 25th, 1895, Frida Singer went to the Civil Registry Office in Kowary to report that her younger brother had passed away the day before. Fritz Singer, the son of Julius and Amalie Singer (née Peter), was just six years and two months old. His tombstone is one of the few that remain in the Jewish cemetery in Jelenia Góra.

Photo of Fritz Singer’s tombstone, Jelenia Góra, 2012 / Source: Fotopolska.eu

Fritz Singer was born on November 25th, 1888, in Kowary, which was then called Schmiedeberg and is located less than twenty kilometers from Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg). Kowary, like other nearby towns, was part of the Jewish community of Jelenia Góra. Fritz was the youngest of nine children born to Julius and Amalie Singer.

The family lived in a tenement at Markt 10, now ul. 1 Maja 19. Julius Singer was an enterprising man—he ran the inn “Under the Golden Lion” (Zum Goldenen Löwen) in the same building, reminders of which can still be seen in the form of the decorative lion heads on the doors. He also owned a local distillery and a fruit juice factory, which was said to produce the best mountain raspberry juice in the area.

The building where the Singer family lived / Photos by Jowita Selewska

Advertisement from 1884

Julius Singer was born on February 6th, 1849, in Kluczbork (Kreuzburg), the son of Samuel Singer, a horse dealer from Krasków (Kraskau), and Friederike, née Wendriner. On April 19th, 1876, he married Amalie Peter in Trzciel (Tirschtiegel), the daughter of Lewin Louis Peter and Seraphine, née Kirsch. Within a year, they moved to Kowary, where their first child, Alphons, was born on July 26th, 1877. The family faced difficulties—Alphons died after just six months, and their next son, Bernhard, passed away shortly after birth on May 13th, 1878. The family later had Max, Elfriede, and Hans—who lived only a year—followed by Willy, Elsbeth, Martha, and finally Fritz, through whom we learn about the Singer family’s story.

Amalie Singer passed away prematurely on February 26th, 1891, at just under 39 years old, leaving her husband with six children. Less than a year later, Julius decided to marry Minna Rothenberg from Rawicz (Rawitsch), the daughter of merchant Selig Rothenberg and Pauline, née Birnbaum. The wedding took place on February 2nd, 1892, in Wrocław (Breslau), where Julius would start his business ventures in the 1920s.

Death certificate of Fritz Singer / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

As early as 1912, Julius Singer is listed in the address books at Gartenstrasse 63 (now Piłsudskiego Street, near the Capitol Musical Theater) as a distiller. Later, the address book for the Jewish community in Breslau also includes his youngest and only son from his second marriage, Siegmund Singer, and his wife Erna, née Kohn, at the same address. Julius likely passed away in 1932 and was buried in the new Jewish cemetery on Lotnicza Street in Wrocław. His wife Minna probably died earlier, as she does not appear on the address list of community members.

Julius Singer in the address book of the Jewish community in Breslau (Wrocław)

Siegmund lived at Gartenstrasse 63 until the start of the war. He managed to escape to Shanghai and then arrived in San Francisco on September 17th, 1946, aboard the USS General W. H. Gordon. At fifty-one, he came to the United States to start a new life. According to the 1950 census, he settled in Milwaukee with his second wife, Sara, who was from Poland, and went into the antiques business. He passed away on December 18th, 1968.

It’s not known what happened to the rest of Fritz’s siblings.

Passenger list with the name Sigmund Singer

I’d like to thank Jowita Selewska for her help in finding the current address in Kowary.

The text appeared in the magazine Chidusz, issue 3/2023.

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)
  • Fotopolska.eu

From Cieplice to Vienna: the story of Armin Seydelmann

Another remarkable figure lived at Hirschbergerstrasse 310 (later Hirschbergerstrasse 10), today known as Plac Piastowski 12. On November 9th, 1872, in Villa Bellevue, Wilhelm Seydelmann and his wife Augusta, née Schall, welcomed a baby boy, whom they named Martin Gustav Adolf Armin.

Armin Seydelmann / Source: Wikipedia

As he grew older, he would go by the last of his given names, Armin, and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Karl Seydelmann, a well-known 19th-century actor. In 1894, he began his career on the stage at the Coburg-Gotha theater, and over the next 13 years, he performed in numerous German theaters, including those in Lübeck, Sondershausen, Barmen, Erfurt, and Bremen, where he served as the director of the local municipal theater.

On August 8th, 1906, in Dresden, specifically in the Blasewitz district, 34-year-old Armin married Susanna Emilia Mathilde von der Osten, the daughter of theater actor Emil von der Osten, whose remarkable life story could be the subject of a separate post or even a book.

A photograph of Susanne von der Osten and the marriage certificate of her and Armin Seydelmann

The couple settled in Vienna, where they both worked at Austria’s leading theater, the Burgtheater. Armin was there from September 1907 until 1932, while Susanne worked there from 1910 to 1923. Starting in 1912, Seydelmann also became a professor at the Vienna Conservatory (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien).

Between 1919 and 1925, Armin also appeared in several films, usually playing roles of aristocrats and notable figures.

The von der Osten sisters, from left to right: Vali, Eva and Susanne

Armin’s father, Wilhelm, passed away in Cieplice (Warmbrunn) on August 25th, 1888, and his mother died on December 23rd, 1921, at the age of 91. Although Seydelmann had been connected with Austria for decades, the estate in Cieplice stayed in the family—it was still listed in the address book at Hirschbergerstrasse 10 in 1939. Perhaps Cieplice served as his summer residence, as it did for many.

Armin Seydelmann died on July 28th, 1946, in Spittal an der Drau, Austria.

Entries for Villa Bellevue in the address books over the years

Truly, Cieplice used to be home to many distinguished individuals.

Villa Bellvue currently / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)
  • Wikipedia

Adolf von Henselt – renowned pianist, court musician to the Tsarina, resident of Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój

That moment when you find out that a renowned pianist once lived on the street you’re walking down. A friend of Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt. An inspiration to Rachmaninoff. And, of course, a court musician to the tsarina and a teacher to the tsar’s children, who split his time between St. Petersburg and Warmbrunn.
 
Today, we’re talking about Adolf von Henselt and Gartenstrasse in Warmbrunn, now ul. Juszczaka in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój.

Portrait of Adolf von Henselt painted by August Grahl / Source: Wikipedia

Adolf von Henselt was born on May 9th, 1814, in Schwabach, Bavaria, at Penzendorfer Straße 13. He was the son of Philipp Eduard, a cotton manufacturer, and Karolina née Geigenmüller. At just three years old, he began learning the violin, started piano lessons at five, and gave his first public performance at the age of 14. Soon after, he received a scholarship from the King of Bavaria to continue his piano studies with Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

Birth certificate of Adolf Henselt and a contemporary view of the entrance to the building at Penzendorfer Straße 13 in Schwabach

At the age of 8, Henselt lost his mother, and by 16, his father had also passed away—these tragic events likely contributed to his later nervous breakdowns and severe stage fright, which troubled him throughout his life. In 1836, to improve his mental health, he visited the spa town of Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic) and then went to see his former teacher Hummel, who was living in Weimar. Concerned about Henselt’s condition, Hummel arranged for him to meet with court physician Vogel, whose wife, Rosalie Vogel (née Manger), Henselt married a year later.

In 1837, he settled in Breslau, now Wrocław, where he composed his famous etudes (op. 2 and op. 5). On October 24 of the same year, he married Rosalie, who was 10 years older than him, in Bad Salzbrunn (now Szczawno-Zdrój). Rosalie had left her husband and four children to be with him. The couple had one child together, Alexander, who was born in 1839.

Adolf von Henselt

A few months after the wedding, after recommendations from friends, the newlyweds traveled to St. Petersburg for Adolf’s first concert tour of Russia. On January 21, 1838, during the trip, Adolf performed a concert in Warsaw and, to commemorate the occasion, composed the piece “Souvenir de Varsovie” (Souvenir of Warsaw). His success in Russia was so immense that at the tsar’s request, he stayed in St. Petersburg and was appointed court pianist to the tsarina, Alexandra Fyodorovna. He also began teaching music to the tsar’s children. In 1861, Henselt and his family were granted Russian citizenship, and in 1876, he received a Russian noble title.

Henselt composed all of his works by the age of 30 and, at 33, withdrew entirely from public performances due to chronic stage fright. From then on, he only performed for close friends and acquaintances, and he devoted himself to teaching piano. His career in education reached its peak in 1888 when he was appointed professor of piano at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.

Address book, Villa Henselt, 1882

In 1852, Henselt bought a palace in Gersdorf am Queis (now Gierałtów; the building no longer exists), where he hosted notable guests such as the fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and the composer Richard Wagner. He spent every summer in Silesia and brought a silent keyboard with him on long trips so he could practice wherever he went.

In 1866, Adolf sold his property in Gierałtów and, in 1871, bought a villa in Bad Warmbrunn (now Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój), which became his summer home for the rest of his life. At Villa Henselt, he hosted intimate concerts for friends and close acquaintances. Bettina Walker mentions these gatherings in her memoirs, “My Musical Experiences”, published in 1892.

Historical view of Gartenstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (now ul. Juszczaka in Jelenia Góra)

Their happiness was interrupted by the death of their son. On February 10, 1878, Alexander passed away from pneumonia in Samara, Russia. The news caused Rosalie to suffer a severe stroke, leaving her unable to speak, walk, or write. Thankfully, with Adolf’s devoted care, she was eventually able to recover.

Adolf died on October 10, 1889, at home, and was buried in a now-defunct cemetery near the Evangelical Church in Cieplice. Rosalie passed away four years later, on September 27, 1893, at the age of 89.

From left: a note from Gazeta Handlowa (October 19, 1889) announcing the death of Adolf von Henselt; death certificates of Adolf and Rosalie / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

According to the 1882 address book, Villa Henselt was located at Gartenstrasse 329, now Juszczaka Street. Unfortunately, the numbering has changed, and since there were no heirs, the Henselt name no longer appears in later address books. It is known that Villa Henselt was built in the 1870s. Based on comparisons of addresses and names in the address books, I consider buildings at the current addresses of Juszczaka 14 and 16 to be the most likely candidates. Building number 12, listed as number 330 in the 1882 address book, belonged to the Merker family, so number 14 could be the Henselt residence. However, stylistically, I would lean towards number 16 as the villa of such an artist.

From left: the building at ul. Juszczaka 14 and the building at ul. Juszczaka 16 / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

What do you think? Perhaps someone will manage to discover which house was actually Villa Henselt?

From left: the Henselt monument in Schwabach, and the album cover by Piers Lane featuring Henselt’s etudes

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)
  • Wikipedia

Elise Höniger’s rural educational center in Jagniątków

Eliza Höniger’s guesthouse at Agnetendorf 31 (now ul. Kręta 8 in today’s Jagniątków), was notably mentioned in the Kurier Warszawski in 1904. The article stated: “A guesthouse and retreat for vacation relaxation, with separate houses for girls and boys. Girls aged 6-20 and boys up to 14 are accepted. Recommended by doctors, it offers instruction in all school subjects. Admission is open at any time. Brochures are available from the headmistress.”

Historical view of the guesthouse / Source: polska-org.pl

Who was Eliza, or rather Elise? Judith Eliseba Höniger was born into a Jewish family on October 9, 1854, in Zülz, now Biała in the Opole Voivodeship. She was the daughter of David Höniger, a doctor from Rybnik, and Henrietta Jetty (née Fröhlich) from Gliwice (Gleiwitz).

She was the oldest of three siblings, which may have influenced her later career. Her brother Gideon was born in 1858, her sister Sara in 1860, and her youngest brother, Ruben, was born on February 2, 1864, but sadly passed away three months later.

The family moved to Breslau (now Wrocław). In 1887, Elise was listed in the Wrocław address book at Gartenstrasse 9 (now: ul. Piłsudskiego) as a guesthouse manager.

Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

According to the records of the W. Schimmelpfeng Information Bureau, the complex in Jagniątków was built in the 1890s. The 5-hectare property included buildings, a park garden, and a farm with 4 horses, cattle, and pigs. The guesthouse was a well-known Jewish educational center, renowned for its excellent reputation and high level of teaching. The staff consisted of about 10-12 people.

According to a 1925 guidebook, one of the buildings was used by parents visiting their children.

Advertisements and documents related to the Eliza Höniger guesthouse

Elise Höniger never married or had children and passed away in Jagniątków on April 18, 1915, at the age of 61. She was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Wrocław on Ślężna Street. After her death, the guesthouse was managed by her sister, Sara, and her niece, Frieda. The center continued to operate actively until the war. On August 17, 1942, Sara and Frieda were deported in the first transport for elderly people from Berlin to Theresienstadt, where they were murdered.

Death certificate of Eliza Höniger, transport list containing the names of Sara and Frieda, Frieda’s transport card, and death certificate of Sara / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)

Helena Schultze’s Mysterious Story

In the Karkonosze forest, between Michałowice (Kiesewald) and Piechowice (Petersdorf), lies a small cemetery. Although its exact nature remains unclear, there are many indications that it served as a burial site for Germanic neo-pagans. This cemetery is unique among other pre-war necropolises for several reasons: the deceased were cremated and buried in urns, the cemetery was designed with three overlapping circles forming different levels, and another cemetery was said to be nearby. Additionally, a water intake was constructed a short distance away. The site does not appear on any pre-war maps, and at least two surviving tombstones feature runes and a triskelion next to the birth and death dates. The other tombstones lack Christian symbols, except for one, which I will describe today. By uncovering the stories of those buried here, I hope to learn more about the true nature of this mysterious cemetery.

Helene Lange’s tombstone in the cemetery between Michałowice and Piechowice / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

The first person I would like to introduce to you is Helene Lange, née Schultze. Hers is the only tombstone with a Christian symbol and the most recent burial date – February 21, 1944.
 
Henriette Elisabeth Helene Schultze was born on September 9th, 1874, in Wohlau (it is not known which one, as there were three places with that name: Wołów in Lower Silesia, Wola in Silesia, and Lelkowo in Warmia-Masuria) as the daughter of Georg Wilhelm Schultze, a secret government counselor, and Caroline Elisabeth, née Augustin, residents of Sopot (Zoppot).

First page of the marriage certificate of Helene Schultze / Source: State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

On May 23, 1896, 19-year-old Helene married Adalbert Edward Wilhelm Lange in Sopot. He was a 24-year-old second lieutenant from the 3rd Grenadier Regiment of King Frederick William II of Prussia, residing in Königsberg and born in Parnau (Pärnu), Estonia. He was the son of merchant Adalbert Eduard Lange and Maria Sternberg, who were living in Szczecin at that time.
 
The young couple lived with Helene’s parents in their villa at Eissenhardtstrasse 9 (now Chopin Street) in Sopot, as indicated by the 1922 address book and Georg Schultze’s death certificate.

Excerpt from the Sopot address book, 1922

On April 30, 1920, Helene arrived at the Civil Registry Office in Sopot to report that her father, Georg Schultze, a secret government official born in Gdańsk (Danzig), son of Philipp, also a secret official, and Henrietta née Hoffmann, had passed away the day before, on April 29 at 7:30 PM, at the age of 78.

Georg Schultze’s death certificate / Source: State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

From the address books, we know that in 1922 Helene was still living in Sopot, and her husband had been promoted to the rank of major. After 1926, they vanish from the records. Did they move to Lower Silesia during that time? Or did they live in various places due to Adalbert’s military career before settling at the foot of the Karkonosze Mountains? Was Helene’s husband also buried in the same cemetery? What brought them here, and was it connected to the popular beliefs in Old Germanic traditions of that era?

The villa where Helene Lange (née Schultze) lived / Source: Google Maps

I’ve gathered some new information and now have even more questions. I couldn’t find the Lange couple in the 1941 address books of Piechowice. So far, I haven’t been able to uncover anything more about Adalbert’s military career. I’m waiting for a response from the Civil Registry Office regarding Helene’s death certificate—maybe this document will shed light on where she lived before her passing and if there were any descendants.

Perhaps you can contribute something of your own to this story?

 

By the way, I recommend Jakub Pomezański’s book “Neopogańskie formy upamiętniania zmarłych w III Rzeszy” (“Neopagan Commemoration of the Deceased in the Third Reich”), where this topic is well explored.

Sources:

  • Archiwum Państwowe we Wrocławiu oddział w Jeleniej Górze (State Archives in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch)

Martha Senftleben and Deutsche Gotterkenntnis (Society for the Knowledge of God) in the Karkonosze Mountains

On the tombstones of two individuals buried in the forest cemetery in Michałowice, there are inscribed runes and a triskelion. One of them will be our focus today, although you’ll soon see that her story is about to be eclipsed by a certain couple. But let’s start from the beginning.

Tombstone of Martha Senftleben at the cemetery between Michałowice and Piechowice / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Martha Binner was born in Niemcza (Nimtsch) on October 1st, 1859, as the daughter of Herman Oswald Binner, a master painter, and Ernestine Dorothy née Burgstadt, both Evangelicals. She married Bruno Senftleben, a technician from Świdnica (Schweidnitz). The couple settled in his hometown and had one son, Herbert, and one daughter, Margarethe. The years 1916 and 1917 proved tragic for Martha – first her husband passed away, followed shortly by her 22-year-old son, who died on August 8th, 1917, on the front in Bukovina. Interestingly, Herbert’s death was registered in Piechowice, where he was said to reside before his death, while according to the record, his mother still lived in Świdnica. I suspect he might have been staying with his sister, who married Alfred Georg Poludniok, a writer, in Piechowice in 1915.

Gravestones at the cemetery between Michałowice and Piechowice / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Going back to Martha – we know she passed away on December 25th, 1939. According to her death certificate, she passed away in her apartment in Piechowice (Petersdorf) 96, and her religion was listed as… Deutsche Gotterkenntnis, which literally translates to German Knowledge of God. And now the most intriguing part begins.

Death certificate of Martha Senftleben / Source: The State Archive in Wrocław, Jelenia Góra branch

The religious movement Deutsche Gotterkenntnis was established by the controversial General Erich Ludendorff and his wife Mathilde von Kemnitz (Spiess). In the early 1920s, Erich was dubbed “the most dangerous man in Germany” and by others – the forefather of Nazism. He was the author of the controversial book “The Total War”, wherein he asserted that Germany’s fundamental objective was perpetual war and conquest.

In 1924, Erich established the Tannenbergbund association, which focused on political activities and “promoted a mystical pantheism with a Germanic-racist flavor.” In 1926, he married his second wife, Mathilde, a psychiatrist, who took charge of the religious aspect of Tannenbergbund – Deutschvolk, founded in 1930. Mathilde formulated its ideological principles, which were pantheistic, anthropocentric, and nationalist. The movement was extremely right-wing, anti-Semitic, and anti-Christian, to the point that even the NSDAP was considered too soft on this faith for them. Despite her involvement in the volkist movement, Mathilde opposed occultism and astrology, labeling them as a “Jewish distortion of astronomy,” and criticized theories suggesting the Indo-European origin of Germans. She aimed to create a new, genuine German religion.

Erich and Mathilde Ludendorff

Because some of her views were extremely radical and bordering on conspiracy theories, the movement wasn’t universally regarded as credible. Mathilde Ludendorff asserted, among other things, that the Dalai Lama was guiding Jews in their supposed efforts to undermine Germany through Marxism, Catholicism, capitalism, and Freemasonry. She argued that Christian beliefs were incompatible with the Aryan ideal and that the Bible and Christianity themselves were fraudulent.

Despite this, in the early 1930s, the community boasted 320 local groups comprising approximately 15,000 members across the Reich. In 1933, the movement was outlawed by the authorities, but just 4 years later, in 1937, Erich gained approval to revive the religious movement, this time under the name Deutsche Gotterkenntnis, which continued the legacy of Deutschvolk. Consequently, German Knowledge of God became a state-sanctioned belief.

Erich passed away at the end of that same year. Meanwhile, in 1951, Mathilde established the Association for Gotterkenntnis, which had 12,000 members, and in 1955, she also founded a school. The association faced another ban from 1961 to 1977. It continues to operate today; as of 2010, it reportedly had around 240 members.

Erich and Mathilde Ludendorff

And circling back to the Karkonosze Mountains – new findings raise new questions. How did Martha become involved with Deutsche Gotterkenntnis? Could it be linked to her son-in-law’s artistic profession? Where did the community meetings take place? Did all those buried in Michałowice belong to the same movement, or perhaps different ones? Hopefully, we’ll uncover the answers soon!

Nazi Bishop in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój (Bad Warmbrunn)

In 1927, at 70 Hermsdorferstrasse in Bad Warmbrunn (now Cieplicka 70 in Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój), lived Josef Galle, a senior tax secretary, Ernst Kuhlig, a chimney sweep, and Max Klein, a porter.

Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

I know very little about Josef and Max; by 1937, their names no longer appear in the address book. However, I managed to find out a bit more about the chimney sweep and one controversial figure, about whom I will tell you shortly.
 
Ernest Kuhlig was born on December 15, 1895, in Goldberg (Złotoryja). On April 23, 1921, he married Agnes Alwine Selma Hornig in Cunnersdorf (in the area of Mała Poczta in Jelenia Góra), a 24-year-old saleswoman from Dziwiszów Górny (Ober Berbisdorf). The groom lived at Hermsdorfstrasse 62 in Bad Warmbrunn at the time, while the bride resided at Dorfstrasse 210 in Cunnersdorf. The wedding was probably organized hastily because less than 4 months later, on August 17, 1921, their first daughter, Ilse, was born; the second would be named Inge. Unfortunately, 6 years later, on April 12, 1927, Ernst passed away, leaving Agnes and the girls alone. They likely had to move shortly thereafter because there is no trace of them at that address in the address books from the 1930s.

The first page of Ernst Kuhlig’s marriage certificate / Source: Landesarchiv Berlin

In 1939, Agnes Ludwig, a widow, resides in the villa alongside Bishop Fritz Kessel, who will be staying there at least until 1941. Upon further investigation, it seems likely that this refers to the controversial clergyman who, among other things, co-founded the pro-Nazi religious movement known as Deutsche Christen (German Christians). Fritz Kessel, born on March 10, 1887, pursued studies in Protestant theology at Königsberg (Królewiec), Heidelberg, and Breslau (Wrocław).

Address book from Bad Warmbrunn, 1941

After his studies, he participated in World War I. In 1917, he was ordained as a priest, and three years later, in 1920, he was sent to Brazil where he served as a pastor in Badenfurt (Santa Carolina). After another three years, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, and in 1925, he returned to Germany. He then became a parish priest in Parchwitz (Prochowice), and in 1928, he additionally took on a role in the parish of St. Nicolai in Berlin-Spandau. In 1932, he co-founded the aforementioned Deutsche Christen movement, and in 1933, he was appointed Bishop of East Prussia with headquarters in Königsberg – against the will of Gauleiter Erich Koch.

Archival photo of the building / Source: Fotopolska eu

In 1936, due to internal disagreements, Kessel resigned from his position and left East Prussia. With the assistance of the party, he received a research scholarship the same year, which he used to analyze his botanical research from Brazil, and it is likely that he lived in the house at Cieplicka 70 during this time.
 
During the war, he volunteered in the Luftwaffe’s construction battalion. Following the war, he lived in Osterode am Harz, where he later passed away.

Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Sources:

Haus Wunsch at ul. Złoty Widok 1 in Michalowice (Kiesewald).

Haus Wunsch currently / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

As indicated on the plaque next to it, the building was constructed in the years 1928-1928 by Otto Wunsch – a glass grinder from Sobieszów (Hermsdorf). In the 1930s, this place was known for a restaurant run by the Wunsch family.

Archival photos of the building / Source: Polska-org

I wonder what the signature dish was?

Contemporary view of the building / Photo by Marta Maćkowiak

Do any of you happen to know any stories about this building? Post-war tales are welcome too; feel free to share them in the comments!

Sources:

  • Polska-org pl

Końcowy raport składa się z kopi odnalezionych dokumentów, tłumaczeń, zdjęć oraz podsumowania. Wyjaśniam pokrewieństwo odnalezionych osób, opisuję sprawdzone źródła i kontekst historyczny. Najczęściej poszukiwania dzielone są na parę etapów i opisuję możliwości kontynuacji.

Czasem konkretny dokument może zostać nie odnaleziony z różnych przyczyn – migracji do innych wiosek/miast w dalszych pokoleniach, ochrzczenia w innej parafii, lukach w księgach, zniszczeń dokumentów w pożarach lub w czasie wojen.  Cena końcowa w takiej sytuacji nie ulega zmienia, ponieważ wysiłek włożony w poszukiwania jest taki sam bez względu na rezultat.

Raporty mogą się od siebie mniej lub bardziej różnić w zależności od miejsca, z którego rodzina pochodziła (np. dokumenty z zaboru pruskiego, austriackiego i rosyjskiego różnią się od siebie formą i treścią).

 

Na podstawie zebranych informacji (Twoich i moich) przygotuję plan i wycenę – jeśli ją zaakceptujesz, po otrzymaniu zaliczki rozpoczynam pracę i informuję o przewidywanym czasie ukończenia usługi. Standardowe poszukiwania trwają około 1 miesiąca, a o wszelkich zmianach będę informować Cię na bieżąco.

Na Twoje zapytanie odpiszę w ciągu 3 dni roboczych i jest to etap bezpłatny. Być może zadam parę dodatkowych pytań, dopytam o cele albo od razu przedstawię propozycję kolejnych kroków.

Warto pamiętać, że im więcej szczegółów podasz, tym więcej rzeczy mogę odkryć.

Podziel się ze mną:

  • Imionami i nazwiskami przodków (wszystkich, o których wiesz)
  • Miejscami urodzenia i zamieszkania (jeśli jest inne np. wojnie)
  • Datami urodzenia, ślubów i zgonu (mogą być orientacyjne)
  • Informacjami o rodzeństwie, kuzynach, emigracjach.
  • Legendami i historiami rodzinnymi

I najważniejsze – jeśli masz niewiele informacji, zupełnie się tym nie martw, w takich sytuacjach także znajdę rozwiązanie.