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Germany (1921)
Source:
Alexander Eggerstedt (great-nephew) / Hamburg
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Albin Eggerstedt was born on September 18, 1921 in the city and district of Harburg, which became part of Hamburg in 1937. His father, who had passed on his first name to his son, worked here as a musician. His talent and enthusiasm for music was also passed on to his two sons. In addition to his brother, who was three and a half years younger, Albin Eggerstedt had two half-sisters, who were born after his death. His mother, Johanna Maria, was a housewife. One week after his birth, Albin was baptized as a Protestant. On March 8, 1928, his father enrolled six-year-old Albin in elementary school 3 in Heimfeld. At that time, the family lived at number 32 Grumbrechtstrasse, very close to Harburg Harbor, a large industrial area on the southern Elbe. The school was less than 500 meters away, so Albin Eggerstedt could easily walk there. After eight years, he finished elementary school in 1936 and began an apprenticeship as a musician with the brothers Theodor and Hermann Sohrbeck in Elmshorn. The town of Elmshorn is on the other side of Hamburg, just outside the city gates.
It is already part of Schleswig-Holstein. As the daily journey would have been too far, the teacher arranged for Albin Eggerstedt to live with them in Elmshorn and receive food. In return, he had to help with the housework. On April 17, Albin Eggerstedt and his father drove to Elmshorn to sign the apprenticeship contract. The apprenticeship was to last four years. In addition to accommodation and food, the musical instruments on which lessons were to be played were also provided. The father had to take care of his son's black suit, including the top hat. It was necessary because Albin Eggerstedt was trained primarily in orchestral playing and played in the Elmshorn municipal orchestra during his apprenticeship. His teacher took on the fatherly duties and made sure, for example, that Albin Eggerstedt attended church services regularly. He learned to play the tenor horn, the baritone and the trombone from his teacher. Albin Eggerstedt was a good and studious student.
After the start of the Second World War, his apprenticeship ended early on September 12, 1939. The seventeen-year-old actually still had half a year ahead of him. His teacher gave him a good apprenticeship certificate, and so he was able to celebrate his eighteenth birthday a week later with peace of mind. However, he was still unable to find a job as a musician due to the war, and so Albin Eggerstedt began working as a postal worker for the Reichspost. This job was probably not enough for him, and in 1940 he volunteered for service in the navy so that he could play music again. The navy had a special career path for musicians, and the promotion opportunities and academic university education for those with particular aptitude were advertised. Arguments that certainly helped persuade Albin Eggerstedt to take this step.
He began his service in mid-1940 and, after basic training, was assigned to the battleship Bismarck. As a sailor with a musical career, he played in the ship's on-board band. Albin Eggerstedt sent a newspaper article home about the visit of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy aboard the Bismarck, which took place on November 22nd, 1940. Even though the Bismarck was not mentioned directly for reasons of secrecy, he probably wanted to let his family know where he was now serving. He was not allowed to write this because he was forbidden to write or speak about his command. The Bismarck came to Hamburg over the winter of 1940 to have the final work carried out at the Blohm & Voss shipyard. For Albin Eggerstedt it was a welcome opportunity to return home to nearby Harburg during the shore leave. At the beginning of March he went back to the Baltic Sea for training exercises. Albin Eggerstedt never saw home again. As part of the ship's band, he had a different role in the last battle than that of a musician. He may have worked as an assistant stretcher bearer or ammunition man. He died when the ship sank. Albin Eggerstedt was 19 years old.
Documents of Albin Eggerstedt
Click on pictures to enlarge.
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