Carwin's Blog

Ernst and Wilhelmina Zimmermann brought the Zimmermann family from Germany to Australia.

There are two parts to this article:

• The historical context explains events that had been happening in Germany around the time that the Zimmermanns moved
• The timeline tells how the family moved and who was born when

Historical context

In the late middle ages, Germany was not a united country like it is today. Simplistically speaking, it was a collection of smaller kingdoms or duchies¹, with an emperor elected to look out for the interests of the whole.

• 1618 to 1648

  The Thirty Years War involved most of the European powers. Because of its central position, Germany suffered greatly during the war; a third of the population perished. Much of the population gave up on farming and went elsewhere.

• 1701

  The Kingdom of Prussia was formed after the union of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia.

  

• 1756 to 1763

  The Seven Years' War involved all the major powers in Europe. Austria and Prussia had their own conflict as they both sought to gain control of Germany. Prussia survived against a collition of France, Austria, and Russia thanks to Britian pumping money into Prussia.

• 1806

  Napoleon's French army conquered Germany and formed the Confederation of the Rhine to provide him with resources and a buffer from Prussia and Austria. He then defeated the Prussians and made them subordinate to Russia

  However, in 1813, the Confederation of the Rhine collapsed after Napolean's loss in Russia.

• 13 May 1841

  Our story starts here

• 1848

  Harvests failed and there was a massive revolution in Germany

• 1914-1918

  World War I ends the Prussia Empire

  Interestingly, the name of the British Royal Family was changed from the German Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the English Windsor in 1917, due to anti-German sentiment.

• 1939-1945

  World War II started with much of the discontent and radical ideas coming from what used to be Prussia

Timeline

As described above, the years leading up to these events were tumultuous and difficult times.

• 13 May 1841
  Ernst was born in Wittenhof, Prenzlau, Uckermark, Brandenburg, Prussia

  

• 30 January 1845
  Wilhelmine Christine Schulz was born in Bristol near Menkin, Brandenburg, Prussia
• date unknown
  Ernst and Wilhelmina were married. Together they had 10 children.
• 21 Mar 1871
  Wilhelmine and Ernst had a daughter who they named Anna Ernestine Ulrike Zimmermann.

  She was christened the next month in Wollschow, Brüssow, Prenzlau, Brandenburg.

• 1 December 1871

  They boarded the "Herschel" in Hamburg and took a three month voyage to Australia, landing in Moreton Bay on 7 March 1872. The boat² carried 250 immigrants including Wilhelmine's sisters Frederick and Ernestina (her brother and parents also moved to Australia in 1873)

  

• 1872 - 1893
  The family lived in Lowood. Ernst had several occupations during this time.

  

• 29/1/1874
  George Wilhelm Zimmermann was born at Boy Creek, Brisbane. He married Marie Helena Mollenhauer in Engelsburg on 16 April 1895; together they had 11 children. He passed away on 29 November 1950 in Kalbar
• 1893
  The Zimmermann family moved to Englesburg in the Fassifern

  

• 27/9/1897
  William Zimmermann was born. He married Annie Louise Pfeffer and they had three children: Alan, Leonard, and Melba.
• 1916

  Englesburg was renamed to Kalbar due to anti-German sentiment during World War I³.

• year unknown
  Allan Zimmermann born. He married Rita Lorna Niebling and they had 3 boys: Leon, Wayne, and Stuart. They were dairy farmers in Warrill View before retiring to Ipswich and leaving the farm to their oldest son Leon.
• 1951
  Wayne Zimmermann born. He married Jeanette Huth and they had 7 children. Initially a diesel mechanic, he became a minister and moved to Brisbane to become pastor of Life Gate Baptist Church

1 A Duchy is the area ruled by a duke or duchess; similar to a king/queen and kingdom, but smaller

2 The Herschel transported several groups of people to Australia and was eventually scuttled in 1907. Its resting place was unknown for 112 years, but it was very recently discovered by a diver. See ABC news article

3 Lots of other places were renamed too. See wikipedia