Skip to content
VitrineVitrine
Sign in

Countess Sophie Schaffgotsch

25 May 1916 – 6 Sep 2005

6 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

  • Born25 May 1916not verified1 source
  • MarriedPrince Carl von Wredenot verified1 source
  • Died6 Sep 2005not verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 25 May 1916

    Born

  2. 1940–1942

    2 children are born

  3. 6 Sep 2005

    Dies, aged 89

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1910s · Countess is born

In the news1914

Ten percent of households accessed electricity by 1914

By 1914, approximately ten percent of German households had access to electricity, transforming daily life through new lighting and urban infrastructure.

What people wore

Everyday and Festive Rural Dress

While festive rural attire often included traditional pieces like buckled shoes, white stockings, and specific vests, ordinary people's everyday clothes were made of durable fabrics meant to be easily washed. Poorer children in particular sometimes had to go without shoes entirely.

Getting around

Railways dominated long-distance travel by 1914

By 1914, Germany had one of the world's densest railway networks, which by then far outperformed road transport in both speed and cost for long-distance travel. Express trains reached speeds of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour, allowing travel from Berlin to Munich in a significantly reduced time compared to previous eras.

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.Around the world · 1918–1920

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.

Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine · public domain

In the news1910

Life expectancy rose to 47 years by 1910

By 1910, advancements in medicine, hygiene, and infrastructure, such as improved water and sewage systems, increased the average life expectancy to 47 years, compared to 37 years in 1871.

Music

Itinerant German street bands

Itinerant German bands, often consisting of brass and woodwind players, traveled globally and performed in streets or at kur (spa) resorts for a weekly wage.

Daily life

Schooling experiences for children

Students often sat four to a bench, and in under-resourced schools, a candle might be used for light on dark mornings. Children carried their books and lunch in long tin satchels, and many were noted for wearing spectacles.