Genealogists are often writing letters to solve family mysteries. Sometimes, things turn out wonderfully with new answers. Other time, there isn’t even a response.
In 1973, Shirley Stiehm Albrecht started one of those quests. Looking for family history from back in Germany. I don’t know if Shirley received more letters or information, but she did receive two responses.
These responses show some genealogical information, but also a poignant reflection on his family’s life during World War II.
Here are those letters:
November 24, 1973
Dear Mrs. Shirley Albrecht:
First, I thank you with all my heart for your letter. Since I was not taught English in school, I will have to answer in German.
Now, with regard to your letter: My family did not come from Bayern (Munchen). We came as refugees from East Germany (Landsberg, Warthe). I am the oldest one in the family. I worked on the railroad, therefore I found a job in Muchen again. Our home land was Old German, which now belongs to Poland.
I can tell you it is possible we are related. I remember very well when I was 8 or 10 years old (around 1910), my parents spoke often about the name Wilhelm who emigrated to the United States. The second name you found in the telephone book, is my son, Horst.
Now in regard to my family in general: My father died at 66 years of age of an unusual illness (Hitler). My sister died the same way. My brother-in-law was a congressman before Hitler’s time. During Hitler’s period, he got 6 years in prison, and 5 years in a concentration camp where he died. Somehow, I survived the hard period, and am now 74 years young.
In 1926, I was required to furnish proof as the the correctness of my name. I went back in the records to the year 1879. There I located the family register, and verified our name to be correct. When the Russian soldiers came in, I escaped with just the clothes on my body. All my records were left behind.
You realize, of course, this is all from memory. However, it is the best I can do. There is a very good chance we are related.
I would be very happy to here from you again, but please write in German. Otherwise, it would be impossible for me to read it.
For now, friendly greetings, always yours
Walter Stiehm
P.S. Of course, many greetings to your husband too.
The second letter addressed many of my questions of the history and specifics of the family information.
December 20, 1973
Dear Shirley:
I got your lovely letter with joy and thanks. Is it necessary that you mus work? Stay home, be healthy, then you shall need not a doctor. The Stiehms are usually very happy people. My father was a Social-Democrat since 1897 — until the time of his death. If he were still alive, he would be 98 in February, My grandfather passed away in 1919 at the age of 92, My mother passed away February 1967 – age 85.
The things I wrote about the Nazis was meant for information about my family. I would like to forget the bad part, but it is hard to get out of your head.
There are only 4 Stiehms in West Germany: at least only 4 that write it that way.
The wife of my son Horst gave birth to a baby girl after 11 years of marriage. The baby girl is now 12 years old. After my son graduated from grade school (8 years), he went on to become a judge. His wife is a school teacher, and is still teaching because they are short teachers here.
My son has great respect for his father. My daughter lost her first husband in the war. From that marriage, there was a son, which my wife and I raised. He is now 28 years old. And, nobody dare criticize his grandpa. He works as an electrician. There there is another grandson born to my daughter (out of wedlock). He also carried the name Stiehm. Now for something else —:
I have knocked myself out trying to bring things back to mind. The result is as follows: My grandfather Julius Stiehm passed away in 1919 at the age of 92. My grandfather’s brother lived 20 meters from our house. I cannot remember when he passed away but it was around 1918. He had a son name Wilhelm. That is all I know for sure, because my parents always spoke of him, According to my investigation, our family came from Lansberg (Warthe) and Pomeranian (old Germany, which is today Poland.) Later I will write more. Today I send you two photos. One is of me made in 1945. I will have a new one made soon. The other photo is made in 1956, while I was on vacation with my wife and daughter-in-law.
Forgive me for not sending a Christmas greeting on time. The reason is because I was waiting for an answer from you. So, a belated Christmas greeting, and a happy healthy new year.
Walter
Are we related?
Location:
Walter reports that the family was located near “Lansberg (Warthe) and Pomeranian (old Germany, which is today Poland”
In our tree, many are identified as being from the same area. Specifically, Schultzensorge, now Klopotowo, Poland. So, that’s possible.
Ancestry:
This is less likely. If I read the letters correctly, Julius was born in 1827. In our tree, we have:
1. Carl Ludwig Stiehm was born 30 April 1767 and died 2 July 1840 in Schuetzensorge, Landsberg, Brandenburg, Prussia. Children of Carl Ludwig Stiehm: 2. i Friedrich Wilhelm Stiehm Birth: 18 March 1796 Schutzensorge, Landsberg, Brandenburg, Prussia Death: 23 November 1863 Farmington Twp, Jefferson, WI 3. ii Karl Ludwig Stiehm Birth: 15 May 1801 Schuetzensorge, Landsberg, Brandenburg, Prussia Death: 10 August 1870 Henderson, Sibley, MN
In the Walter Stiehm Tree we have:
Julius Stiehm (b 1827 - d 1919)
| _ Walter’s Father (b 1875 - d abt 1940)
|_ Walter (b abt 1900 - )
|_ Horst
|_ Horst’s daugher (b 1961 -
|_ Horst’s sister
|_ Walter’s grandson (b 1945
|_ Second grandson
Julius Brother (b ?? - d abt 1918)
| _ Wilhelm (b ?? - d abt 1918 in America)
For a direct connection, Carl Stiehm would have been 60 when Julius was born if Julius is his son. That is possible, but we don’t know.
Perhaps an uncle? We don’t know,
Was there another Wilhelm? Again, a Wilhelm born in Germany and dieing near 1918 in the US? Not that we know. The Wilhelm’s in our tree that died here in 1918 were born in the US.
So, more research is needed.
Apology?
So, this is where I need to apologize.
I don’t know if there were more letters between Shirley Albrecht and Walter Stiehm.
I had copies of the letters given to me around the turn of the millennium where I placed them in my “To Do” files. I never asked Shirley about the letters. I never asked her about other details she may have learned. I’m sorry.
I just got back to them recently. This may be another mystery we will never solve, and it’s at least partially my fault.
So, if you know more, or have questions, or answers, please let us know.