knoop.org

In addition to being #58 on my great uncle’s (Dr. Herbert Knoop) document, “Stammtafel Der Familie Knoop“, Robert Knoop was the author’s brother and my grandfather. He passed away when I was 3 years old and I have only vague memories of him.

The PDF version of the document is available here.

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Robert Johan Emil Knoop, geb. 25.9.1911 in Hamburg, mache zuerst die Lehre in einer Kolonialwarenhandlung durch. Dann wird er selbständiger Reisevertreter und übt dann einen Spirituosenhandel und eine Handelsvertretung der Nahrungs und Genussmittelbranche aus. z.Zt. betreibt er einen Automatendienst.

Er wohnt in Hamburg-Altona, Stresemannstrasse 258.

Im 2. Weltkrieg 1939-45 wird er am 20.10.1941 zur Marine-Art. nach Norwegen eingezogen (Stavanger, Egersund, Drontheim) und nach der Kapitulation am 25.8.45 als Obergefreiter entlassen.

Er heiratete am 25.9.1937 in Hamburg-Altona Lieschen Marie Magdalena Amalie Kolb, die am 3.2.1911 in Altona geborene Tochter des Milchhändlers Georg Kolb und dessen Frau Martha Elisabeth Katharina geb. Löding.

Aus diser Ehe stammen folgende Kinder, alle in Hamburg beboren:

a) Horst Robert Georg, geb. 11.1.1938. Er ist z.Zt. (1957) Lehrling in einer Hamburger Im- und Exportfirma.

b) Heino Karl-Heinz, geb. 31.8.1941.

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.

Rüdiger Knoop sent in the following German newspaper clipping that covers a recent Knoop family reunion in Stirpe, Germany. Stirpe is located just east of Dortmund and south of Bielefeld. Rüdiger wrote that this reunion was for family that originated from Friederich Leopold Knoop.

Click on the image to view a larger version. An even larger version is available from there as well.

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Marc

Rüdiger Knoop writes:

Julius Knoop was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s chauffer.

In 2006, the Preussen museum in Minden (Germany) had a special exhibition with the topic “Des Reisekaisers Leibchauffeur” (The journey emperor´s chauffeur).

Center of the exhibition was Julius Knoop (1887-1967), who became driver of the “imperial automobile department” in 1909. In the years after and until the last German emperor Wilhelm II went into Dutch exile, Knoop was chauffeur of the emporer and drove famous state visitors. He was one of the first drivers in the world who got a ticket for driving too fast. The ticket and many other items can now be found in the Preussen museum in Minden (Germany). Probably in 2008 there will also be a special exhibition in Wesel (Germany).

More information about Julius Knoop: Welt Online (German press release):

http://www.knoop.org/gallery/d/709-2/Julius+Knoop.jpg

My wife, LaVonne, and I have researched the KNOOP/KNOPF names throughout the Western United States for the last several years, and have presented the results of our research in these books.  The books are the next best thing to visiting over 800 county courthouses and doing the on-site research yourself.  You may see more detail on these books, and the areas included, by clicking http://www.baseballundertaker.com/knoop.html.  I assure you that you will find some information you are missing in these books.  Try them.  You will not be disappointed.

Thanks for reviewing our books, and happy hunting in your genealogical pursuits!!

Bill Lee