Day at the beach, German style

It's a day at the beach with relatives in Berlin. Since my grandmother is about 5 years old, it was taken somewhere around 1925-26. I believe these are her mothers relatives. I was thinking it was taken on the beach near the lake in Berlin, but it could have also been taken near the Baltic Sea on Holiday?

 I have found fascinating documents since starting this blog. My great grandmother had several siblings from August Mannewitz and Berta Therese Anna Lange. It was a surprise, since I thought she was an only child. Another person that I thought was an only child was my great grandfather on my Opa's side.His name also Paul Stapf. I found a marriage certificate of a Friedrich Albert Otto Stapf with Paul's parents name on it! What a find! He died in 1941 in Berlin and I do not know if he and his wife Anna Bertha Lisbeth Kolhoff had any children. The search will continue though. My Opa as far as I know was the last Stapf from his line. Oma and Opa had a son but he past away when he was 18 months old from a freak accident. Hot water had scalded him when he reached for a pot on the stove. There had to have been an underlying issue as to why he died besides having hot water spilled on him. Of course I guess shock would have been the cause of death. Mental note to look at that certificate.

I have seen other families photos from Germany that seem to have similar photos. There was a site where a fellow posted his Oma's pictures online. They were so similar in area and time, that I felt like I was going to find my Oma in his pictures. He had class photos and one very similar to this beach scene. That site no longer is available. Such a shame. I truly enjoyed looking at those Vintage photographs. Hope I find them again.

My Oma with her sister Ulla

Family Picture

In this photogragh,is Kathe von Brand (geb. Mannewitz) with my great-grandfather. my great aunt is sitting next to my Oma who is sitting with the doll. The other 2 unindefied persons are other relatives. One I do know is an aunt.

I have been researching more things. Still no luck on finding concrete links to the German families,

*Note, the man that I thought was my Great Grandfather is not him. My Oma said to me he is an Uncle. I found the death certificate of my great grandfather and he died in 1920, when my grandmother was only 3 and a half months old. It was a wonderful find to find the documentation but....now I wonder who he was.

A picture of my Oma with her sister Ulla and her mother Kathe. Ulla was married  to Ernest (Ernie) Brackertz. I know Ulla's birthday was January 7th and I think she was 7 years older than my Oma, which would mean she was possibly born in 1913. My great mothers birthday was sometime in November.  Have no idea how old she was when she had my grandmother. I believe I was told she died possible in 1964, maybe. Again just have clues but can't find out anything. 

I wonder if joining Ancestry.com , the international version would be better for finding more info. I have tried using the Google, German version and spelling as if it were the German version. Despite me not knowing how to speak or write German. I do have a small understanding of what I read. I would never be able to ask a question in the language or send an email. 

I think my great grandmother was a single child, but I don't really know..... I know she was born Mannowitz. Another rare last name. Can't find squat about it. My grandmother also spoke of the aunts she had. 

It was also said that Ulla was from a previous marriage. I wonder what her maiden name was if my Great grandmother had been married before.

My Great grandfather , Great grandmother pictured with Ulla perhaps in 1919. Kathe was pregnant with my grandmother in this picture.My great grand fathers name is Gustav Theoder Von Brand.