Friedrich Ernst Standt of Koln

[michaelcharles]

Friedrich Standt appears to have visited with my grandfather, Charles Watson, in Warrington, U.K., in 1931. I have no idea of what the connection could have been. It would be interesting to find any descendants of Friedrich who might have some knowledge of this visit.
From a previous post, I believe Friedrich was born in 1860 in Preusisch Eylau, was a tailor by trade, and was known to have lived in Paulstrasse 16, Koln am Rhein btween 1930 and 1941. He also had a son, Franz Arthur, and a daughter, Ida.

[davecapps]

How old was your Grandfather in 1931

Dave

[michaelcharles]

My grandfather was 48 yrs. old in 1931. Quite an age difference from Friedrich.

[davecapps]

so that means we are looking for Friedrich Ernst II his son.

I thought it was odd, an 81 year old man travelling to England in 1931.

Dave

[garstonite]

But obviously your grandfather spoke German - where was your grandad in WW1 ??   did he go in to  Koln ?? and - a middle name of Arthur for Friedrichs  son Franz ?  I always thought Arthur was an English name ?...maybe I am wrong ?

[davecapps]

http://standt.de/familie-gottfried-standt-1.html

Friedrich Ernst Standt with family.

i think the man who wrote to your Grandfather is child no. 5 Friedrich Ernst Eduard, born 1905 in Köln.

Dave

[michaelcharles]

Thanks for that , Dave. It makes more sense. I am currently searching local historical societies to see if they have anything on visits from Germany. Cheers, Mike.

[bennoschluender]

Hello Mike,

First of all, thank you so much for putting the letter online.

Friedrich Ernst Standt was my great-grandfather.
One of his sons was called Friedrich Ernst Eduard who happened to be my grandfather.
He was born in 1905 and this letter is obviously from him.

In the letter, Friedrich thanks your grandfather for his kind welcome in March 1931.
I would assume he stayed with your grandfather during his stay in England.
Apparently, your grandfather was able to read German. Which is as far as I know very unusual for the time.

From stories told by my mother, who was born in 1937, I can trace my grandparents' history very accurately back to about 1936.
My grandfather married my grandmother May Tatlock who was from Kearsley in 1936.
Unfortunately, he was called up for military service right at the beginning of the war in 1939.
My grandmother had no opportunity to escape back to England with her daughter.
It's a wonder how the two of them, who couldn't speak German at first, were able to survive in Nazi Germany at all, while my grandfather was in Russia as a soldier.

Sadly, I don't know anything about how my grandfather came to England and what he did from 1931 to 1936. That's why I find this letter so very exciting. Are there any more letters from my grandfather to yours?

Many greetings from Cologne
Benno