New Beginning for Anna and Ludwig von Waldenfels
From Gauting as their starting point, Anna and Ludwig von Waldenfels, both already at retirement age, began once again to build up a foundation for their livelihood. At the end of 1947, they leased one half of the former Wehrmacht training camp Pentenried, which had become the possession of the State of Bavaria. They purchased the living and material inventory for the property. The couple kept about 15 to 20 cows, 2 or 3 teams of horses, 2 German shepherds; they had access and use of a tractor and employed three coachmen, also Walter Schirrmeister, their former estate manager of Panwitz, as well as a certain Ulrich Kennemann, and between February 1948 and February 1949 their nephew Karl Klopp (1929 – 2019) [Peter’s brother]. At the beginning of 1950, the couple von Waldenfels gave up the lease again and went into retirement. Ludwig was 75, and Anna was 65 years old. Today there remains very little of the Pentenried estate, a few outbuildings, and a hall with pigs’ troughs dating back to the army years.
Anna and Ludwig acquired subsequently the house at Hauptstraße 1 in Söcking near Starnberg and there they spent their golden years. On 17 March 1954, Ludwig von Waldenfels died at the age of 79. His wife had him buried in his Bavarian officer’s uniform. In September 1990, the author of the Klopp Chronicles, which I am translating into English, Eberhard Klopp, visited the neglected gravesite and found Ludwig’s wooden cross, which while still showing name and vital dates of the deceased von Waldenfels had due to weathering greatly deteriorated over the past four decades. Ludwig’s unserviced gravesite No. 84/85 is located at the forest cemetery of Söcking. One searches in vain for the mention of Anna von Waldenfels (née Klopp), who has also been buried here in 1967.
The Peter and Gertrud Klopp Family 
Your aunt Baroness Anna, had quite a life and story. Thank you for sharing it, Peter. It does need to be told.
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Thank you for the support, Hazel!
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Peter, you are welcome! 🙂
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How sad that Anna’s grave cannot be located. And I was very sorry to see that your brother died in 2019. I don’t recall you writing about that. My condolences, Peter.
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Me too, Peter!
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My brother had a long good life and he peacefully passed away at the age of 90. Thank you, Amy, for your compassionate comment.
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May you cherish his memory.
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Seems like Georg did not take care of the graves of his parents … sad.
I am sorry to read that your brother died. He was the oldest, was he not, the only one who did not end up in Canada.
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Correct! Thanks for your understanding comment, Birgit!
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I am sorry, that I didn’t get it that your brother had passed. I know very well Soecking am Starnberger See.
Have you ever been back to Germany with Biene, to visit your family. It would be interesting to learn more about your experience , how you felt about it.
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We have been four times. The first time to show off our first son. It helped to reconcile with my in-laws. The second time a visit to my mother and two more visits with the main purpose to celebrate my mother’s 90th and 95th birthday.
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That’s wonderful, Peter. Since my mother had passed 8 years ago, I don’t go very often, unless there is a wedding to shoot of my nieces or nephews. Have a great week.
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Of such unserved graves I had also reported times.
Inspring we were on the “Ehrenfiedhof ” in Gemünden and is, with leave, in no good condition.
Here died 16-year-old in the last, meaningless resistance 1945.
Women and old men are among the listed.
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How sad when such places are being neglected!
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That’s true. They SHOULD serve as a reminder for us!
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Excellent.
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I’m so sorry about your brother, Peter! And thank you for sharing this portion of your family story.
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At 90 he has suffered so much that all of us who are left behind believe that his passing was a blessing for him and his family. Thank you, Amy!
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Really interesting.
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