Katherine took this photo above in February 2020 and the bottom picture is a postcard sent by August Storm in 1914.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
The circle completed: Katherine visits August Storm's grave
The circle completed: Katherine visits August Storm's grave
This is quite significant because, to my (Tim Oestmann) knowledge: Kathereine is the first Australian Oestmann to visit his grave. He was buried in 1914 during the First World War. So over a century later, one of his descendant *finally* got to visit his mortal remains and pay respects. All of the Oestmann offspring in Australia, as I write this would have his DNA. I, and a number of other relatives, have been trying to find out more about the family origins since 1988 and so this is very special.Here's what Kathereine writes:
"On Saturday I was finally able to visit August's grave. It was a bit surreal to see his name on the gravestone - something physical, in the real world - because for so many years I'd only been reading it in certificates on my computer screen.I felt quite emotional thinking about how this is the closest I'd ever get to meeting him - the man who called Dora his "little mouse" and who was so in awe of the beauty of the Black Forest he had to write about it.It was a beautiful, quiet area in the French countryside and during my time in the cemetery I felt a strong sense of peace."
Here's a short video Katherine took.
Various photos from Plaine De Walsch (Moselle) France, 25 January 2020
As we have mentioned earlier; if you are related to August Storm we would like to know more as we have discovered a whole family we are descended from, which we know very little about.
What we do know, we have placed in this blog. Any further information can be emailed to Tim Oestmann: tim.oestmann@gmail.com, or leave a comment on the blog. Thanks from Australia!
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
August Storm's death certificate
August Storm's death certificate - Katherine Oestmann writes "...August
Storm's death certificate. There isn't really new information but it
mentions his parents and that he died at Dreibrunnen on the 20th August
1914 (other sources say 24th Aug.)
A kind stranger translated the
details of his death for me, which says he "died as a result of his
wounds. The exact time of death hasn't been determined." Do you think
this suggests he died in battle? Or after fighting? Hopefully the
former.'
Toby Hildabrand writes " Look
up Battle of the Frontiers. VERY heavy casualties in Aug-Sep 1914 in
that general area. He is buried about 80km west of Nancy, France. By
late August, the Germans had advanced nearly to Paris, leading to the
Battle of the Marne in early September where the French were defending
Paris."
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Certificates of birth death and marriage around August Storm
Thank you Katherine Oestmann for finding this information. The ever unravelling of new information is amazing.
Katherine says "... I have discovered that August Storm had 4 more younger siblings, but only one that survived past the age of 5. Willi Adolf Storm married Margarethe Scheunert and had a son named Erich Richard August Storm, who unfortunately was killed at the end of World War II. Here is the Storm family tree now"
Here's a snapshot of the family tree and the certificates below
Anna Louise Storm's birth
Anna Louise Storm's death
Erich R A Storm's death
Erich Storm's grave is HERE
Karl J H Storm's birth
Karl J H Storm's death
Karl J H Storm's death
Louise K J Storm's death
Willi & Margarethe's marriage
Willi Adolf Storm's birth
Katherine says "... I have discovered that August Storm had 4 more younger siblings, but only one that survived past the age of 5. Willi Adolf Storm married Margarethe Scheunert and had a son named Erich Richard August Storm, who unfortunately was killed at the end of World War II. Here is the Storm family tree now"
Here's a snapshot of the family tree and the certificates below
Anna Louise Storm's birth
Anna Louise Storm's death
Erich R A Storm's death
Erich Storm's grave is HERE
Karl J H Storm's birth
Karl J H Storm's death
Karl J H Storm's death
Louise K J Storm's death
Willi & Margarethe's marriage
Willi Adolf Storm's birth
Sunday, October 1, 2017
August Storm had siblings?
Katherine Oestmann found through a kind online friend these details which suggest that August Storm had siblings, all who died young. If anyone has any more information, or if we find out, I'll continue to post. This has certainly been an interesting journey.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Various translations from postcards
Once again kindly translated for us by https://www.reddit.com/user/ScanianMoose
- Here are snippets of postcards. As I write this, I have other matters to deal with, so I am cutting and pasting it quickly. I am very grateful to the translator and Katherine for making this possible. We are getting an unfolding picture of August as the young man missing home and maybe not the hardened soldier I first thought (Tim O)
- Here are snippets of postcards. As I write this, I have other matters to deal with, so I am cutting and pasting it quickly. I am very grateful to the translator and Katherine for making this possible. We are getting an unfolding picture of August as the young man missing home and maybe not the hardened soldier I first thought (Tim O)
1st postcard - Transcript
Fröhliche
Pfingsten (cont’d) wünscht Ihnen Ihr A. Storm.
1913.
Herrn H. Oestmann u Frau
Neuhof
Haus,
5 links
1st
postcard - Translation
Merry Pentecost (cont’d) wishes you[1]
your A. Storm.
1913.
Mr.
H. Oestmann and wife
Neuhof[2]
House
no. 5, on the left
**********************************************************************************
2nd postcard - Transcript
Freiburg
Münsterportal
(cont’d)
Grus von der 13. Generalversammlung ? Bad. E.V,
Freiburg,
Viele Grüße von
hier sendet dir
dein August.
Feldpostkarte.
Frl. D. Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Neuhof Haus No. 5 l.
Freiburg (Breisgau) 7.8.12.2-3N
2nd postcard - Translation
Many greetings from here sends you
your August.
Field
postcard.
Mrs.
D. Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg
/ Elbe 4[3]
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left[4]
[Stamp] Freiburg (Breisgau)[5]
7.8.12.2-3N
**********************************************************************************
3rd postcard - Transcript
Glückliche Fahrt
in’s neue Jahr (cont’d) wünscht dir von Herzen
dein August
N. B.
Bin während ich
diese Karte schreibe noch auf der Dahrt. Bin noch nicht in Frankfurt.
Halte dich auch
im Neuen Jahre munter u gesund.
Frl. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg (Elbe) 4
Neuhof, Haus 5 l.
Rastatt 30.12.13 5-BN. 1
3rd
postcard - Translation
A happy ride into the New Year (cont’d)
wishes you, with all his heart,
your August.
N. B.[6]
I am still on my way while writing this
postcard. I still haven’t arrived in
Frankfurt[7].
Keep yourself well and healthy in the New
Year as well.
Mrs. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg (Elbe) 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp]
Rastatt[8]
30.12.13 5-BN. 1
**********************************************************************************
4th
postcard - Transcript
Glückliches Neues
Jahr! (cont’d) wünscht dir dein August.
Füsl. [Füsilier]
Irmer
Alfred Schäfer.
Chr. [Christian]
Schön.
Frl. D. Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Rastatt 3??213 5-64 1
4th
postcard - Translation
Happy New Year! (cont’d) wishes you your
August.
Private Irmer
Alfred Schäfer.
Christian Schön.[9]
Mrs. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp] Rastatt 3??213 5-64 1
**********************************************************************************
5th postcard - Transcript
Herzlichen
Glückwunsch zum Geburtstage (cont’d) wünscht dir dein August.
Abs. [Absender]
Füsilier Storm ??40 Rastatt.
Frl. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Neuhof,
Haus No 5l
Rastatt
???
5th
postcard - Translation
Happy birthday (cont’d) wishes you your
August.
Sender: Private Storm ??40 Rastatt.
Mrs.
Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg
/ Elbe 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp] Rastatt ???
**********************************************************************************
7th
postcard - Transcript
Hannover. Schloß Herrenhausen.
(cont’d)
Hanofer 29.12.13
Liebe Dora!
Habe die Elecktrische
gut gekriegt, war schon um 12 Uhr auf dem Bahnhof hatte bis 12.40 Zeit. Warn um
4 ¾ Uhr in Hanover ist recht langweilig nach den vergnügten Stunden wollte du
wärst hier. Also nochmals, Kopf hoch und nicht zurück sehen immer vorwärts dann
werden wir schon singen wens noch so schlecht geht.
Dein August
Mit vielen Grüßn
an dich und deine Eltern
Frl. D. Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4.
Neuhof,
Haus 5l
Hannover
29.12.13 ?? 2
7th
postcard - Translation
(cont’d)
Hanover, 29th of December 1913
Dear Dora!
I reached the electrical one well in time,
I was at the train station at 12 already and had time until 12.40. We arrived
in Hanover at 4.45; it’s quite boring after the merry hours; wish you were
here. So, once again: cheer up and don’t look back, always forwards, then we’ll
even sing no matter how badly we are doing.
Your August
With many greetings to you and your parents
Mrs. D. Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp]
Hannover 29.12.13 ?? 2
**********************************************************************************
10th
postcard - Transcript
(cont’d) wünscht dir dein August.
Brief folgt.
Frl. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4.
Neuhof,
Haus 5l
Rastatt
30.5.13 7-8?
10th
postcard - Translation
(cont’d)[12]
wishes you your August.
Letter will follow.
Mrs.
Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg
/ Elbe 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp]
Rastatt 30.4.14 7-8?
**********************************************************************************
11th
postcard - Transcript
Rothenfels, 9.5.14.
Grüße und Küsse
an Euch alle lieben sendet dir liebe Dora nebst Bubi und Eltern
dein August.
Hier im
Schwarzwald ist es jetzt sehr schön.
Frl. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4.
Neuhof,
Haus 5l
Rastatt
9.5.14 10??
11th
postcard - Translation
Rothenfels[13],
9th of May 1914.
Greetings and kisses sends you, dear Dora,
and Bubi[14]
and parents
your August.
At the moment, it’s quite beautiful here in
the Black Forest.
Mrs. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / Elbe 4
Neuhof,
house no. 5, on the left
[Stamp]
Rastatt 9.5.14 10??
**********************************************************************************
Letter
2 envelope - Transcript
Frl. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / a.d.E.
Neuhof Haus 5.
Rastatt 18.10.13 10-?N
Letter
2 envelope - Translation
Mrs. Dora Oestmann
Wilhelmsburg / at the Elbe
Neuhof, house no. 5
[in blue ink, between the lines of address]
Gluing the stamp on slanted means I love you. Did you already know that.
[Stamp]
Rastatt 18.10.13 10-?N
**********************************************************************************
One-page
letter - Transcript
Leb wohl mein
Schatz.
Denk ein wenig an
mich.
Meine Gedanken
werden auch Schatz bei dir u Rudi sein
Dein dir bis in
den Tod treuer August.
Grüß auch deine
Eltern
Wirst wohl mit
diesem Briefe auch den andern erhalten kanst ja an den Datum erkennen.
One-page
letter - Translation
Farewell, my darling.
Think of me a bit.
My thoughts will be with you and Rudi[15],
my darling.
Your August, faithful until death.
Do also greet your parents.
You may well receive the other letter with
this one, you’ll be able to recognise it at the date.
**********************************************************************************
Letter
bits - Transcript
[1st bit]
denn ich
mich auch
erfreuen,
so gern
n, von Eu-
[2nd bit]
Dir u klein Rudi
gehört mein Herz sonst niemand auf der weiten Welt.
Letter
bits - Translation
My heart belongs to you and little Rudi and
no one else in the wide world.
[1] The “you“ is formal, probably due to the fact that August wrote to
Dora’s parents.
[2] It is utterly impossible to tell which Neuhof he means - there are
dozens. See the next postcard for more info.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuhof
[3] A part of Hamburg, which is on the Elbe river.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmsburg,_Hamburg
[4] I found an old article saying that Neuhof used to be a
dwelling/settlement in the Wilhelmsburg area, now absorbed into Wilhelmsburg. The
name has survived in street names like “Neuhöfer Straße”, which is around here:
https://www.google.se/maps/dir/53.5104757,9.9866249//@53.4710759,9.9717006,10z
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freiburg_im_Breisgau
[6] Nota bene
[7] Note that there are two Frankfurts; however, it is quite safe to
say that he means Frankfurt/Main, not Frankfurt/Oder.
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastatt
[9] Three fellow soldiers, I guess.
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herrenhausen
[12] I don’t have the front of the postcard available, so I cannot see
what he wishes Dora.
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenfels
[14] Term of endearment for a little boy (Bub), in this case Rudi/Rudolf.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Dora Oestmann details from myheritage.com
Thank you to Jodi Kennedy for finding this information on Dora. My understanding is that Dora and August were not married when August died but who knows....
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