Friedrich Wilhelm and Alwine Böttcher
Friedrich and Alwine
Great, Great Grandfather, Friedrich Wilhelm August Böttcher (1851-1907) was born in Egloffstein (now Lagodzin). He was named after his father, who was named after Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia, known as the "Soldier King." The King did much to centralize and improve Prussia in the 1700's.
Friedrich's wife Alwine Auguste Emilie (Friedrich) Böttcher (1854-1913), my Great, Great Grandmother, was born in Ratzdorf (now Raclaw). In 1876 they were married in nearby Neuendorf. Most of the Böttchers lived in small villages in the surrounding farmland near beautiful Landsberg an der Warthe.
Friedrich is shown here in his handsome Train Conductor's uniform with Alwine. They had six children: Martha, Otto, Paul, Minna, Max and Erich. (More information about their children follows.)
As a train conductor, Friedrich would have heard a lot about everyday's events, politics, and people's fears. No doubt influenced by these, as well as the increasing buildup to the first World War, Friedrich moved his family in the early 1900's down the Warthe River west to Küstrin (now Kostrzyn, Poland). After Germany lost the War, Poland's borders were expanded closer, and the people were justifiably worried about the future of the area. So Alwine continued the family's westward journey and moved to the large city of Neukölln, near Berlin, the capital of Germany. She later died in Neukölln. A few years later in 1920 it merged with Berlin.
Friedrich's wife Alwine Auguste Emilie (Friedrich) Böttcher (1854-1913), my Great, Great Grandmother, was born in Ratzdorf (now Raclaw). In 1876 they were married in nearby Neuendorf. Most of the Böttchers lived in small villages in the surrounding farmland near beautiful Landsberg an der Warthe.
Friedrich is shown here in his handsome Train Conductor's uniform with Alwine. They had six children: Martha, Otto, Paul, Minna, Max and Erich. (More information about their children follows.)
As a train conductor, Friedrich would have heard a lot about everyday's events, politics, and people's fears. No doubt influenced by these, as well as the increasing buildup to the first World War, Friedrich moved his family in the early 1900's down the Warthe River west to Küstrin (now Kostrzyn, Poland). After Germany lost the War, Poland's borders were expanded closer, and the people were justifiably worried about the future of the area. So Alwine continued the family's westward journey and moved to the large city of Neukölln, near Berlin, the capital of Germany. She later died in Neukölln. A few years later in 1920 it merged with Berlin.
Paul, Erich and Minna Böttcher
Paul, Erich and Minna
This photo of three of their children was taken in early 1914 in a restaurant on Hermannplatz, in Rixdorf (Berlin).
Paul was a head waiter at a restaurant on the Ostsee (Baltic Sea). Erich was a fine mechanic. Minna was a maid in a wealthy home. However, the Böttcher family's happy times were about to change, for that summer brought the beginnings of World War I. Erich was involved in both World Wars, and in the second was shot in the arm and his hand was paralyzed for the rest of his life. Eventually he learned to write with his left hand, and worked his way up to a good government position.
Paul was a head waiter at a restaurant on the Ostsee (Baltic Sea). Erich was a fine mechanic. Minna was a maid in a wealthy home. However, the Böttcher family's happy times were about to change, for that summer brought the beginnings of World War I. Erich was involved in both World Wars, and in the second was shot in the arm and his hand was paralyzed for the rest of his life. Eventually he learned to write with his left hand, and worked his way up to a good government position.
Two more Böttcher children, Martha Emilie (1895-) and Otto Hermann (1881-) were born in the city of Landsberg/Warthe (now Gorzów/W.). But both had moved with their parents and later died in Berlin. Part of Otto's life is outlined below and on the next page. Martha and her son are also detailed on the next page.
The German and British were rivals in South-West Africa. Some of the reasons were land, gold and possibly diamonds. World War I dramatically changed conditions in this part of Africa. The Second "Boer War" in which Otto fought, lasted from Oct. 1899 until May 1902. The local Herero and Namaqua tribes took up arms against the Germans in 1904, and during the next three years 10,000 Nama (half their population), and 25,000 to 100,000 Herero (three quarters of their population) were killed.