Brugge

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Richard Max Hirschnitz

I attended the temple in June and did the proxy endowment for Richard Max Hirschnitz. I felt captivated by the name and the individual.

The temple card indicated he was born 20 February 1893 in Langebruke, Kamenz, Dresden, Deutschland.

After doing some research on Richard Hirschnitz I discovered he passed away in 1917 in Belgium. Which to me told me he was likely a casualty of World War I.

He died 1 May 1917 in Flanders Province of Belgium. It shows he was buried in the Vladslo German Military Cemetery. He was definitely fighting for the Germany military.

I could not locate a formal battle happening in Flanders in May 1917. A German website shows Richard is at Seeflugstation I at Zeebrugge. The ongoing Battle of Arras seems too far away for him if he was a pilot. He could have been part of preparations for the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). I just don’t have enough detail to tell me more about how or where he died.

Gruppenaufnahme des II. Zuges, Weihnachten 1915

FindaGrave shows this designation: Flugzeugf.-Matrose. He was certainly on an aircraft. Planes in 1917 were not very large and not many crew members.

What he shot down? Crashed? Plane failure? He was just over 24 years old.

His proxy baptism and confirmation were performed 13 April 2019 in the Twin Falls Idaho Temple.

His proxy initiatory was performed for him 26 April 2019 in Twin Falls Idaho Temple.

I attended to his proxy endowment on 28 June 2025 in Twin Falls Idaho Temple.

His proxy sealing to parents is yet to be performed.

He appears to be fourth of 13 children born to the marriage Max Friedrich Heinrich Hirschnitz and Johanne Therese Schlegel.

I have more questions but cannot locate answers. Perhaps some day?

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Roßwein, Leipzig, and Augsburg

We have uploaded all our pictures for the past few dazs!  Go on over and take a peek!  The photos from Brugge, Amsterdam, The Hague, Dresden, Meißen, Roßwein, and Leipzig are all now available.  We are especiallz glad to have them online and saved at another location.

Todaz we said good-bze to our hostel in Dresden and made our waz to Augsburg.  Since were so close to the Andra-Schneider familz area, we made a special trip to Roßwein where several generations of mz familz are from. 

Stadtverwaltung Roßwein
Sächsische Postmeilensäule

Unfortunatelz the church was locked the whole time we were there, nobodz at town hall spoke English, and the cemeteries in Germanz do not keep the burial location for those whose familz do not paz for it.  Other than having been there, I have nothing more.

Stadtkirche Roßwein

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A name on a grave I recognized in Stadtfriedhof Roßwein

We found our waz to Leipzig where we took a quick 1 hour whirlwind tour.  We went to the church where Bach was organ master.

Nikolaikirche Leipzig
Nikolaikirche Leipzig

Also the church where his remains are presentlz located (the original church was destrozed in WWII).

Thomaskirche Leipzig
Thomaskirche Leipzig where Bach is interred

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Monument to Goethe in Leipzig, a favorite author of mine
Amanda enjoying a treat in Marktplatz Leipzig

We are now in Augsburg, Deutschland.  We will be here for the next three dazs.  Here we will make visits to Neuschwanstein, Munich, Dachau, Stuttgart, and other little towns with relatives on the Wanner and Nuffer families.  I am definitelz looking forward to all.  We will be traveling quite a bit on trains, but nothing we are not accustomed to zet!

Do not smoke while picking your nose. Odd signs in Germany.
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Unexpectedly in Amsterdam

As I sit in an internet cafe in the middle of Amsterdam, my entry will have to be short and sweet.

This morning we found ourselves wandering around Brugge, Belgium. 

Brugge Provinciaal Hof
Brugge Belfort
Amanda Ross in front of Brugge Provinciaal Hof
Brugge Grot Markt
Paul Ross in Brugge with the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk spire in the distance
Gruuthusemuseum in Brugge

We snapped a few photos, and caught a train back to Antwerp.  I recognized the train station from the famous flash mob. We have a knack for catching things under construction, Antwerp Central was the same!

Bahnhof Antwerpen-Centraal

Then we jumped trains and headed to Nederlands. Amsterdam Central was also under construction.

Amanda Ross at Amsterdam Centraal
Paul Ross with Basiliek van de HH Nicolaas in Amsterdam
Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam with De Nieuwe Kerk
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

We found ourselves a hostel this morning and checked in this evening about 6 PM.  We walked all the way from the station to our little hostel up near a quaint little eating district.  We stayed at the Hotel Orfeo at 12 Leidsekruisstraat. We were on the very top floor. I have a really interesting story about this hostel and how it came to play at law school in Oklahoma City!

Our ventures here took us through the Red Light District!  Who would have thought?  It wasn’t that bad, I don’t think we were in the heart of it.  Just a few naughty souvenirs in the store fronts, oh, and a few leather stores.

Amsterdam Hostel

After checking in we went for a walk around the city.  We found the Anne Frank house, which happens to be under construction, or the facade is.  We got a picture of the sign and that was about it. 

There was a Holland Footie game tonight against an unknown opponent.  Don’t know if they won or not but there is a party going on in the streets.

We stopped on a quiet little street to enjoy an Indian meal. 

Who would have thought I would be sitting at a sidewalk cafe with my wife in Amsterdam eating khorma with the bellows of the crowds from the bars at every little quirk of the game.  Then again, my life has always been enchanted.  What next?

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Victor in Vianden

We have just returned from a trip to Luxembourg.  I really am exhausted and don’t want to take the time to tell a whole lot.  So you are only going to get an abbreviated version.

Yesterday we went to visit the Catholic church in Harelbeke, Belgium. 

We then went to Kortrijk, Belgium and of course Amanda had to go to the chocolate shop for Belgium chocolate. 

We did some window shopping, being tempted by some of the goods in the stores. 

The suits were out of my range, as is about everything with the exchange rate with the Euro/Dollar. 

We did snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Afterward, we made our way back to Oostrozebeke and prepared for the trip to Vianden. 

We drove through the beautiful Ardennes on the way and into Germany. 

There was a storm the entire way so everything was highly misted and especially green. 

We drove past Brussels, Liege, and stayed at the Grand Hotel de Vianden. 

It was very pretty.  Amanda and I went for a late night walk through the city for some photographs. 

The bars were full but we enjoyed the sights.  Victor Hugo lived in Vianden for a spell. 

We saw the house he lived in and the bridge with his name and bust.

Today we arose and went for a tour of the Vianden Castle/Chateau.  It was beautiful. 

Originally there was a fort on the site in the time of Julius Caesar. 

The current castle was built during the 13-14th centuries. 

It fell into ruin but was restored in the 1970’s – 1980’s. 

Vianden was the last town to be liberated in Luxembourg in 1945.

Afterward, we drove through the beautiful mountains to Luxembourg and went on a tour of many of the cities sights. 

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Amanda and Paul Ross at Vianden Chateau
Catherine and James Cazier, Paul and Amanda Ross at Vianden Chateau

We saw the Notre Dame there.  It was gorgeous with a huge, high wall. 

Who would ever have thought? 

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Altar, Notre Dame, Luxembourg

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Amanda and Paul Ross, Notre Dame, Luxembourg

We ate lunch at Pizza Hut of all places.  Talk about going for the local cuisine. 

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I did have toasted bread with goat cheese on them (at Pizza Hut!)  Did you know Luxembourg had a 1,000 year celebration?  963 to 1963.  How is that for old? 

Paul Ross on the Luxembourg wall

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The downtown market area reminded me much of London or Manchester, but the architecture is different.

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We finished our trip to Luxembourg and came back to Oostrozebeke, Belgium.  We will visit Antwerp and Brugge in the next couple of days before we make our way to Paris.

Panorama of Luxembourg
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Roßwein, Leipzig, and Augsburg

We have uploaded all our pictures for the past few dazs!  Go on over and take a peek!  The photos from Brugge, Amsterdam, The Hague, Dresden, Meißen, Roßwein, and Leipzig are all now available.  We are especiallz glad to have them online and saved at another location.

Todaz we said good-bze to our hostel in Dresden and made our waz to Augsburg.  Since were so close to the Andra-Schneider familz area, we made a special trip to Roßwein where several generations of mz familz are from.  Unfortunatelz the church was locked the whole time we were there, nobodz at town hall spoke English, and the cemeteries in Germanz do not keep the burial location for those whose familz do not paz for it.  Other than having been there, I have nothing more.

We found our waz to Leipzig where we took a quick 1 hour whirlwind tour.  We went to the church where Bach was organ master and also the church where his remains are presentlz located (the original church was destrozed in WWII).

We are now in Augsburg, Deutschland.  We will be here for the next three dazs.  Here we will make visits to Neuschwanstein, Munich, Dachau, Stuttgart, and other little towns with relatives on the Wanner and Nuffer families.  I am definitelz looking forward to all.  We will be traveling quite a bit on trains, but nothing we are not accustomed to zet!

by

Unexpectedly in Amsterdam

As I sit in an internet cafe in the middle of Amsterdam, my entry will have to be short and sweet.

This morning we found ourselves wandering around Brugge, Belgium.  We snapped a few photos, and caught a train back to Antwerp.  Then we jumped trains and headed to Nederlands.

We found ourselves a hostel this morning and checked in this evening about 6 PM.  We walked all the way from the station to our little hostel up near a quaint little eating district.  I cannot remember the street we are on nor how to spell it so you will just have to take our word for it.  Our ventures here took us through the Red Light District!  Who would have thought?  It wasn’t that bad, I don’t think we were in the heart of it.  Just a few naughty souvenirs in the store fronts, oh, and a few leather stores.

After checking in we went for a walk around the city.  We found the Anne Frank house, which happens to be under construction, or the facade is.  We got a picture of the sign and that was about it.  There was a Holland Footie game tonight against an unknown opponent.  Don’t know if they won or not but there is a party going on in the streets.

We stopped on a quiet little street to enjoy an Indian meal.  Who would have thought I would be sitting at a sidewalk cafe with my wife in Amsterdam eating khorma with the bellows of the crowds from the bars at every little quirk of the game.  Then again, my life has always been enchanted.  What next?

by

Victor in Vianden

We have just returned from a trip to Luxembourg.  I really am exhausted and don’t want to take the time to tell a whole lot.  So you are only going to get an abbreviated version.

Yesterday we went to visit the Catholic church in Harelbeke, Belgium.  We then went to Kortrijk, Belgium and of course Amanda had to go to the chocolate shop for Belgium chocolate.  We did some window shopping, being tempted by some of the goods in the stores.  The suits were out of my range, as is about everything with the exchange rate with the Euro/Dollar.  We did snap a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Afterward, we made our way back to Oostrozebeke and prepared for the trip to Vianden.  We drove through the beautiful Ardennes on the way and into Germany.  There was a storm the entire way so everything was highly misted and especially green.  We drove past Brussels, Liege, and stayed at the Grand Hotel de Vianden.  It was very pretty.  Amanda and I went for a late night walk through the city for some photographs.  The bars were full but we enjoyed the sights.  Victor Hugo lived in Vianden for a spell.  We saw the house he lived in and the bridge with his name and bust.

Today we arose and went for a tour of the Vianden Castle/Chateau.  It was beautiful.  Originally there was a fort on the site in the time of Julius Caesar.  The current castle was built during the 13-14th centuries.  It fell into ruin but was restored in the 1970’s – 1980’s.  Vianden was the last town to be liberated in Luxembourg in 1945.

Afterward, we drove through the beautiful mountains to Luxembourg and went on a tour of many of the cities sights.  We saw the Notre Dame there.  It was gorgeous with a huge, high wall.  Who would ever have thought?  We ate lunch at Pizza Hut of all places.  Talk about going for the local cuisine.  I did have toasted bread with goat cheese on them (At Pizza Hut!)  Did you know Luxembourg had a 1,000 year celebration?  963 to 1963.  How is that for old?  The downtown market area reminded me much of London or Manchester, but the architecture is different.

We finished our trip to Luxembourg and came back to Oostrozebeke, Belgium.  We will visit Antwerp and Brugge in the next couple of days before we make our way to Paris.

Anyhow, I have uploaded more pictures in the European Trip Album from the last two days for your viewing pleasure.