Some Nice Colonial Postcards... Translate help

[calaski8123]

These are my GGM's postcards. She got them from an old boyfriend before she moved the USA in 1911. I have about 25 or more from this guy, almost all are from German colonies or orther parts of the world (Buenos Aires). I'm curious what they say. If they say why this guy traveled so much. I am also looking for any family history info. She had 3 brothers and 3 sisters and I only know her father's name (my GGGF). I'd like to know more about my family. If someone would be so kind as to help translate one or two of these cards. I'm sure between the board I can get them all done eventually. If not, enjoy the PC's anyway, I think they are nice.

Please let me know if I should make them smaller. I figured the larger images would give better detail.

Thanks.

Jim

[calaski8123]

Post Card 1



Post Card 2



Post Card 3



Post Card 4



Post Card 5

[Niwre]

1.

Code: Select all

Fräulein
Elise Hettich
Adr. Frau ...
Gartenstr. 13

Stuttgart
Deutschland (Wttbg.)

K'hoop 3.3.08

L. Elise
Sende Dir die
herzl. Grüße aus
weiter Ferne +
grüße auch sämtl.
Herren von mir als
unbekannt die auf
der Karte unterschrieben
Grüße auch Frau ...
Gruß Dein
Bruder Emil.

Abs. Rtr. Hettich Garnisonkommand_
Keetmannshoop

[calaski8123]

Thanks Niwre for helping me out on my postcards. I am on a lunch break, so I don't have much time here. I took what you posted and put it into Google Translator:

Ms Elise Hettich Addr woman…
Gartenstr. 13 Stuttgart Germany (Wttbg.)
K'hoop 3.3.08
L. Elise Send you those herzl.
Greetings out far distance + greet also all. Gentlemen of me as unknown up the map
signed Greetings also woman…
Greeting yours Brother Emil.
Exp. Rtr. Hettich Garnisonkommand_ Keetmannshoop

I looked up Keetmanshoop. It was home to some German Colonial forces and the German Protective Force. I have a name of one of my GGM's brother's now, Emil. Is Emil short for a more formal name?

Is Abs. Rtr. Hettich Garnisonkommand give any info away? Garrison Command? What are Abs. and Rtr. abbreviations for? Was he part of the GPF or Colonial Forces? This is very interesting. Further translation of the other cards may reveal some more info.

Thanks again. I'll research and write more later.

Jim

[Niwre]

Wttbg. = Württemberg

Emil is just a short name like Hans or Karl.

2.

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K'hoop 9.11.07

L. Schwester [...
...] Wohlsein
sende Dir [u.] Frau
... die herzl.
Grüße aus weite
Ferne Dein
Bruder Emil.

Adr. Reiter Hettich
5. Komp./Kabus
Keetmanshoop
...

Abs. Rtr. Hettich 5. Komp Kabus
z.Zt. bei Kommandantur Keetmanshoop ...

Abs. = Absender
Adr. = Adresse
Frau ... = Frau Röhmler?
L. = Liebe
Rtr. = Reiter
z.Zt. = zur Zeit

3.

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Keetmanshoop, 28.6.08

L. Schwester,

Deine Karten erhalten
+ danke Dir bestens dafür.
Bitte auch die unterzeichneten
Damen + Herren als un-
bekannt zu grüßen.
Habe sehr wenig Zeit zu
Schreiben. Bin immer noch
gesund u. munter. Am 18.6.08
ist hier die erste Eisenbahn
eingefahren. Nächste Woche
kommt [Exzls.] Dernburg hier
her. Sonst weiß ich
nichts Neues. Grüße bitte
Frau .... Schreibe bald
mal ausführlich. [...]
herzl. Gruß Dein Bruder Emil.

Abs. Reiter Hettich Garnisonskommando
... Keetmanshoop

Exzls. = Exzellenz?
herzl. = herzliche[n]

[Niwre]

4.

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K'hoop, 28.6.08

L. Schwester.
Zu D. am 28.7.08
wiederkehrenden
Geburtstage die
herzl. Glück- & Segens-
wünsche von Deinem
in der Ferne weilenden
Bruder
Emil.

D. = Deinem
"Hths." next to "Gartenstraße 13" (address) = Hinterhaus

5.

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Keetmanshoop 4.11.07

L. Schwester.
Mir geht es immer
gut + hoffe dasselbe
von Dir + Frau ...
Hier ist nicht sehr
viel los + kann man
als [Zivilist] sehr wenig
hier [was] machen. Denn
die Soldaten werden
immer vorgezogen.
Es grüßt Dich herzl.
Dein Bruder Emil.
Schreibe bald.

Abs. Reiter Hettich
5. Komp. - Kabus
Keetmanshoop

Komp. = Kompanie

[calaski8123]

Niwre,

What is Emil short for? Emanuel? Something else?

The last postcard he says "Here is not much much loosely + one can as [civilian] [which] make very little here. Because the soldiers become always preferred." - I take this to mean he was not a soldier? But he signs the postcards as "Exp. Rider" "Garrison Command" and "5th Company" or am I making too literal a translation of these things?

If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Jim

[Niwre]

What is Emil short for? Emanuel? Something else?

It's just Emil. (My fault - I meant it's one of the shorter names, not a "short name". )

I take this to mean he was not a soldier? But he signs the postcards as "Exp. Rider" "Garrison Command" and "5th Company" or am I making too literal a translation of these things?

"Abs. Reiter" means "Absender" (return address) and "Reiter" is the lowest army rank (Private) (like Grenadier, Schütze, Pionier, Kanonier...).

[calaski8123]

Ok, thanks for the clarification. so from what you see here, would it be safe to assume that Emil was a member of the German Army in the colony?

Jim

[Niwre]

Yes.

[calaski8123]

So what I can make out on this is that he was a member of:

German Colonial Forces
Keetmanshoop Garrison
5th Company
Rank - Private

Would you agree? Can you see any other specifics as to his particular unit, job, or rank? I have traced his brother-in-law (my GGF) to a specific regiment and division in the German Army. I would like to do the same for Emil.

Thanks,

Jim

[Niwre]

So what I can make out on this is that he was a member of:

German Colonial Forces
Keetmanshoop Garrison
5th Company
Rank - Private

Would you agree?

He was member of the 5th Comp. in Kabus and temporarily in the garrison command in Keetmanshoop:

Code: Select all

Abs. Rtr. Hettich 5. Komp Kabus
z.Zt. bei Kommandantur Keetmanshoop

Some (german) links:
http://www.tauchernet.com/redaktion/34/ ... est_6.html
http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/suedwest.htm