The information below was sent to me by Yvonne Snyman (born Knoop) and details information about her father (William Turner Knoop) and her grandfather (Hanns K.A. Knoop). There are several years in which Hanns whereabouts and doings are unaccountable. Should you, the reader, have any information regarding the life of Hanns Knoop, please comment below or contact me using the contact link to the right.
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Marc
- 1884 – Born in Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Attended school there as well. Came to South Africa. May have lived in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
- 1914-1919 – Interned in Fort Napier, Pietermaritzburg during World War 1.
- 1931 – Worked at a bakery in Mossel Bay. Married on 15. September to Muriel Amilda de Swart (born 29.02.1908 in Mossel Bay) in the same city. Moved to PE.
- 1932 – William (Wilkie) Turner Knoop born 6. January in South Africa.
- 1934 – Ursula Knoop born.
- 1937 – Wilkie, Muriel, Ursula and grandfather attend court. Hanns not present, unsure why.
- 1938 – Hanns found to be living in Johannesburg at a boarding house for men on Noord Street.
- 1939 – Muriel and children move to Johannesburg to live with Hanns in Krugersdorp West in the hom of Sam Wilkinson (Muriel’s uncle).
- 1940 – While living on Nugget Street, Hanns interned at Baviaanspoort in Pretoria. Internment No 1501/40.
- 1944 – Hanns given monthly visiting rights with children. Muriel and children move to 100 Noord Street inJohannesburg. Hanns is exchanged for war prisoners and sent to Germany. Muriel and children remain in South Africa.
- 1944 – Hanns sends photograph taken on Hindenbergstrasse 23. At age 64, he tries to escape Germany after travelling via the Mosel River, Eifel, Rhine River, Lake Chiem (?), Alps, Tyrol and is eventually caught in Italy. From there, he is sent to Rosenheim, Bavaria where he temporarily remains.
- 1946 – After war, Hanns is ordered back to Mecklenburg where he finds his hometown in ruins and little food to eat. From there, Hanns travels to Hamburg.
- 1949 – Hanns sends a letter, including photo of himself, to family in South Africa detailing his attempts to return to South Africa. Details that the new South African government is allowing foreigners to become “Afrikaners”. Return address: Schrammsweg, Eppendorf, 33 B II ETE, Germany.
- 1952 – Hanns sends a postcard to Ursula asking for permission to marry. Return address: Gerhofstrasse 12, 36 Hamburg.
- 1961 – The Wall is erected. Neubrandenburg on the wrong side.
- 1965 – Wilkie tries to make contact with the last known address.
- 1966 – Wilkie receives reply from a female stating that Hanns had died a month ago.