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Fellow Researchers: Between 1920 - 1932 my mother lived with and/or was married to a man by the name of 'Jger ' (German Umlaut 'a') in or around Karlsbad, (former Sudetenland), Now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. My mother's name was 'Adele Becher' Date of Birth: May 21, 1897 in Donawitz #36 (Stanovice). I was born in March of 1933!

If you have information, or can help me find him, or his family, please contact me! Of course I am interested to know whether or not I have brothers and/or sisters!

Here are recent discoveries concerning my father: (Reported to me by the Czech Government):

Sir Friedrich Jger Ritter von Jaxtthal He was born in Prague on July 26, 1894 and registered for Military Service as a Lieutenant in 1914. He served from 1914 - 1926. He was drafted while attending the University of Prague and was transferred to Olomouc (Olmtz) one year later.

"Olomouc", (Olmtz), was located in Moravia, (Czechoslovakia) after 1919. Before 1919 it belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The records show that his name changed from Friedrich to Bedrich after 1919.

However, his record at the Artillery Regiment, Battery #102, in Olomouc, (Olmtz), according to the "Schematismus", shows his name as: "Friedrich Jaeger Ritter von Jaxtthal"

Many of these Military Units kept their names and designations, though, they just changed nationality as national borders were moved or re-drawn.

Further, records show that he reached the rank of Colonel: Money / wealth / influence / education / standing! He would have done well in the "colonies", eh whot?

His brother, Oskar Jaeger, born November 30, 1896, too, was a Artillery Officer at the 233rd Artillery Regiment, Battery #35, though from the records it is not clear where he served. A "Domicile Certificate" was issued on 8/17/1931 at Chomotice, (Komotau near Karlsbad).

It is noteworthy that an entry in Emil and Adela's (Parents of Friedrich and Oskar) record shows their children as: "Friedrich" and "Oskar". Therefore, throughout my father's history, he used "Friedrich" and "Bedrich" interchangeably, depending on the time frame, i.e. Austria or Czech; 1919 being the focal point in history. Also, I think the same is true for the spelling of the last name, i.e. "Jaeger" vs. "Jger". With respect to the Royal Title "Ritter", (Knight), that passes from Father to the oldest son. Hence, "Friedrich Jaeger Ritter von Jaxtthal". The original Ritter von Jaxtthal - though still a bit sketchy - was knighted by the Royal Family at Kirchberg/Jagst, Schwbisch Hall, Hohenlohe, (Now Baden-Wrttemberg) around 1812 for outstanding achievements in medicine (Ophthalmology); a "Grey Star" operation technique which is still in use today. It seems that Kirchberg was home for many family members named Jaeger. All of them medical doctors that for one reason or another made meaningful contributions to the medical profession.

He was born in Prague and after his Military Service in 1926 he became a Jeweler. The Czech Government tells me that he managed his father's jewelry business, and he was "Very wealthy"! There is a "power of attorney" (executed during the Czechoslovakian period), that authorizes "Bedrich" (Friedrich) to manage his father's affairs including the family jewelry companies which apparently came from Vienna, Austria in the early-to-mid 1800's. Entry in Company Registry: "This is a request to verify that Friedrich / Bedrich Jaeger may act as a business representative for his father Emil Jaeger's Jewelry Business." "As per your request of 2/9/1926 we declare that Bedrich (Friedrich) Jaeger, born in 1894 and residing in Prague at #1804 Prague II is authorized to conduct business as there are no known restrictions."

This accounts for the large chest my mother transported in 1946 from Karlsbad to Germany filled with all kinds of jewelry! My mother always maintained that these things belonged to "Jger "!

Interesting question: Friedrich Jaeger died in Maly Trostinec concentration camp in 1942, where, or from whom, did she get this chest filled with jewelry in 1946?

The pieces of the puzzle begin to fit! There is additional Information: In looking at my father's Passport Application of 4/22/1931, for example, it seems that he intended to leave the country. Why? (Leo Jaeger, my father's cousin, practiced medicine in Ecuador at the time) He was the son of Karel and Karolina Jaeger, (my great-uncle) A pre-arranged escape?? All of this took place before I was born. Was my mother supposed to go with him? Did she refuse? She refused to leave when my adoptive father, Franz Kies, later wanted her - and us - to go with him to France.

Is that why my father "married" Frutschnigg in a last ditch effort to shield me - and my mother? (See comments concerning the "Standesbeamter" below.) Prague, at that time, was already under total German control. Birth Certificate #632 issued on 4/20/1931 to Hermenegilda Frutschiggova. Marriage Certificate (to Frutschnigg) issued: 10/24/1933. Note: an entry on Hermenegilda Frutschnigg's file shows that according to the "Standesbeamter", (German custodian of records i.e. Justice of the Peace (JP)) of Prague in 1941, she was not allowed to use the name "Jaeger". She continued to use her maiden name until she perished in the concentration camps (Theresienstadt) August 10, 1942.

It is noteworthy, too, that Friedrich Jaeger died in Maly Trostinec on September 8, 1942. They rounded them all up at about the same time, each for different reasons, I suppose

Question: did Friedrich marry Hermenegilda in 1933 as his passport application records show? Or was this a smoke screen to evade the Nazis? If it was a smoke screen, it didn't work for him but it worked for Mamma and for us children. We were spared the gas chambers. He was not! The Nazis didn't have a clue! Further, on passport applications some of these Jaegers attempted to show their religion as "Roman Catholic" And so, with the stroke of a pen the world is changed? Not likely! Their birth records identified them as "Israelites"!! That is, all records to which the Jaegers did not have access, i.e. Birth and Death Records, showed their true religion as Jewish. These records were under the control of the watchful "Standesbeamter".

Frutschnigg: This was the woman my father "married" on October 24, 1933 when I was 6 months old! Why? See the Entry on her Birth Record above: The Standesbeamter in Prague (under total German control at the time) decided on 1/31/1941 that she is only to use her maiden name Hermenegilda Frutschniggova! Why? Was her marriage to Friedrich/Bedrich Jaeger not valid? Does Friedrich/Bedrich show another, previous marriage? In Olomouc? He lived there for over 10 years! Or in Austria where my mother served as a nurse in a military hospital? Time will tellinvestigation continues

Hitler took power in February of 1933 - I was born in March of 1933 - Jaeger was a Jew and so was Hilda Frutschnigg. Interesting note: She was born in Falkenau near Karlsbad! This may have been the reason they married: (if in fact they did): to erase the connection between Adele Becher=Rudolf Becher=Friedrich Jaeger.

In looking at the sum total of that man, the rank of Colonel, Money / wealth / influence / education / and standing, it does not reflect the picture of a man that would leave a woman with a six-month old baby! All within "earshot" of one another!

Honneure, Fidelit et Fraternit! Where have I seen these words before? But I must add, that in spite of all the qualities I attribute to Friedrich Jaeger, Francois Kis was the only man I've known in my life that showed a character quality known as "bearing"; that aristocratic display of direction and purpose seldom witnessed in modern man. Perhaps a touch of "la Legion Etrangere". Friedrich Jaeger and Franois Kis; how alike they were in character and deed! Two men with the same ideals? I believe so; and I can't shake the feeling that they knew one another. Why not! Mamma would not have loved two men of different characters and temperaments. She had to have seen the same qualities in both of them. And they all applied for passports at the same time...like children playing a game of "hide and seek" a deadly game in a vicious world Where did Francois Kis fit in all of this? I have a hunch that they were all well acquainted with one another, the whole bunch! The whole obstinate, adventurous bunch! ..

Oh, what a frightful web

Rudi Becher
Author IN SEARCH OF YESTERDAY
kies@kies.org (see the Book at www.kies.org/index.html for more details.)

If you can help me find his date of birth in the Schematismus, he is listed in the Schematismus as: Bedrich (Friedrich) Jaeger, Ritter von Jagstthal, please contact me privately: kies@kies.org