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Duke Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Oldenburg, 10 Aug 1897 – Rastede, 3 Apr 1970

8 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 10 Aug 1897

    Born in Oldenburg

  2. 3 Jan 1940

    A son is born

  3. 3 Apr 1970

    Dies in Rastede, aged 72

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Oldenburg.

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

The 1890s · Duke is born in Oldenburg

What people wore

Distinctive vests signaled marital status in Betzingen

In Betzingen, married men wore black velvet vests, while unmarried men wore red cloth vests with twelve silver buttons. Bachelors also traditionally displayed a red handkerchief from their pocket when searching for a bride.

Getting around

Steamship travel on the Weser River

By the late 19th century, steamships on the Weser river were a popular tourist attraction, with the upstream journey from Hamelin to Münden taking 15 hours and 30 minutes, and the downstream journey taking 8 hours and 29 minutes.

At the table

Simple breakfasts and rare egg treats

Breakfast typically consisted of brown rye bread and a watery brew of coffee and barley, as milk and sugar were considered expensive luxuries. Eggs were an extremely rare delight, and one worker noted that it was amazingly rare for him to even get one.

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.Around the world · 1889–1890

The “Russian flu”. A flu pandemic travelled the world by rail and steamship in a few months, killing about a million people.

Unknown · CC BY 4.0

Music

Diverse musical repertoires in cities

Musical life was diverse, blending folk music and rustic dances with military band repertoires that featured marches, operetta tunes, and original works.

Daily life

Access to running water varied by class

Working-class homes often lacked running water, requiring water to be heated in cooking pots, while wealthier, modern homes featured hot-water heaters and running water in the kitchen and bathroom.

What it cost

Weekly earnings for working-class families

Manual workers commonly earned around 12 to 15 marks per week, while some skilled industrial workers like lathe operators could earn 20 to 30 marks weekly.