Rummaging in old photo albums: my grandfather Hermann Volpert

I enjoy history and genealogy, and passing on the stories. . .

My dad, Helmut Volpert, was born on Sep 15, 1928, to Hermann Volpert and his wife Lina, nee Hourand. I collected some historic pictures here together with a few stories, so that they may remembered. (Click on any picture to enlarge it.)


A family-tree of my grandfather Volpert. Created in the 1930's it has some dates added in later years.

one of the oldest pictures i have: my great great grandmother Josefine Rost, nee Noethig, (1835-1895), mother of Johanna Volpert. She was the daughter of a physician, Dr Jakob Noethig, from Miltenberg, by far the highest pedigree among my ancestors. She married a teacher, Ferdinand Rost, who died at 49 years of age, and must have left his family in rather poor circumstances. When he died, his 6 children's ages ranged from 6 years old to 15 years old.

This is Johanna Rost (1869-1956), Josephine's daughter. She was a beautiful, proud and strict woman. This picture must date from the early 1900's.

In 1898, Johanna married the Taschnermeister (leatherbag maker) Michael Volpert (1864-1942), my great grandfather. He must have been a very good-hearted man.

This is the store for leather goods that my great grandfather Michael Volpert in Wuerzburg founded in 1890. The store still exists in another location, now owned by my second cousin Michael Volpert.

Michael and Johanna had four kids. Their oldest, Hermann Volpert, (1899-1963) is my grandfather. Here he is as a young kid. Around 1906.

Here he is with his sisters Irene and Frieda. He looks dashing in his student uniform.Ca 1920

Hermann studied engineering in Munich, and then began a job with airplane maker Junkers in Dessau. ca 1925.

On Oct 8, 1927 he married Lina Hourand, who he had met at a fraternity ball in Munich. Reportedly he was a few inches shorter than his bride, and was given a ladder as a wedding gift, so that he may `kiss his bride'.

Here is Lina with her parents-in-law. Clearly she liked her father-in-law. Her mother-in-law, not so much. . . .1927

my dad was born in 1928. Here he is with his grand parents

During the war years, Hermann worked in Berlin in the defense ministry. He held the rank of Major, and was a Flieger Stabsingenieur. He was involved in the development of the ME-262 jet.

Hermann and his younger brother Rudi Volpert (1903-1955). The picture must date from around 1940. Rudi continued the leather-goods store, and passed it on to his son Walter and his wife Wally

Christmas 1940. Grandparents Michael and Johanna Volpert, with Hermann and Lina Volpert, and their 4 children: Helmut (my dad), Helga, Manfred and Waltraud. A fifth child, Angela, was born in 1942.

The grave of Michael Volpert (1864-1942). I am sad that I never met him. i think I would have liked him a lot.

Kissing, May 1945, shortly after the end of the war. Despite the lost war, and the terrible circumstances, there is hope and optimism in the faces.

80th birthday of great grandmother Johanna in Dec 1949, surrounded by her children (from left) Rudi, Irene Hammermeier, Frieda and Hermann.



(thanks to Uncle Peter for the picture)

Silver wedding anniversary in Dec 1952 of my grandparents Lina and Hermann Volpert. Their five children clockwise beginning with my dad on the far right: Helmut, Waltraud, Angela, Manfred, Helga.

Volpert family reunion, July 1959. A celebration of Manfred's graduation, as well as good-bye party to my parents who are about to leave for Sweden for 5 years.

This is the last picture I have of my grandfather Hermann, who died in 1963.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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