Rudolf's message in German wishes Carlos/Karl a right happy Easter, and discusses a package of books that was sent to him earlier, asking whether or not he had to pay duty on them.
The name of the recipient struck me because my great grandfather's name was Carl Dunkel. It took me by surprise, but as far as I know my great grandfather didn't spend any time in Spain. Here he is in Würzburg, Germany in the early 1940s. He was retired at this point, but had previously been Kriminal Kommissar (detective) in Berlin. He does look a little bit like the German counterpart of Hercule Poirot, doesn't he?
This is not the first time Carl Dunkel has had a doppelgänger. At one point, people he didn't know were greeting him on the street, but greeting him as someone else by a different name. Finally, he stopped one of these people and asked who they thought he was. I guess it must have been his natural instinct as a detective to track the other man down. He knocked on the man's door and when the door was opened, both men were purportedly astonished at how much they resembled one another. Carl Dunkel was born in 1871 and died in Würzburg in 1953.
There are no doppelgängers over at Sepia Saturday, but you might find some rabbits.
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Gosh that would send a shiver down your spine, it did me and I'm only reading about it! What a coincidence! The photo of your great grandfather is wonderful! He looks a very elegant detective.
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh, sleuthing is in your blood!
ReplyDeleteHe does look quite wonderful, his eyes on the subject of his sleuthing instead of the photographer. And with a charming smile too.
Great card and picture! How fascinating!
ReplyDeleteThat's a good card for Easter weekend. I wonder whether your great grandfather's picture is an example of a "walking picture."
ReplyDeleteQuite a coincidence with the names. I find it interesting that there was some sort of censorship, I presume in Spain, three years prior to the start of the Civil War. Given Germany's involvement on the side of the generals, it almost seems possible that this might be a coded message. What "package of books"? Pay duty? Perhaps I've read too many spy novels in my distant youth.
ReplyDeleteLuv that pic of your grandfather! How handsome he is! And great 'co-winkie-dink' story with the name!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting....awareness of ones family history is a good thing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome detective .....and his very happy expression on his face....he's a man of town and glad to meet you! ...Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful story! I just got to thinking about him finding his "twin". Who knows, maybe it really was!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Easter Weekend, and keep up your excellent work on here!
Kathy M.
Now that would be something - to have the door open and it be myself. wonder if they had more in common then looks, if they stayed in touch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a story!...both of them- the name on the post card and the twin.
ReplyDeleteNothing much scares me but on an old "Twilight Zone" T.V. show a man drove by in another car and saw himself driving it. For some reason this has always stuck in my mind and I find myself sometimes peering into the car next to me hoping I don't see myself. Don't tell anyone about this. They'll think I'm nuts!!!! I admire your great grandfather for pushing through this fear. He looks like someone who wasn't afraid of anything, though.
Barbara
Very handsome man (both of them, apparently). I find it interesting that when they met, they both could see the resemblance. So many times, others see a likeness that the people themselves fail to see.
ReplyDeleteVery handsome grandfather! Such an interesting story too!
ReplyDeleteOh he looks like he is having a much better time than Hecul Pierrot What an amazing story. They say we all have a twin somewhere and it sounds like he found his. Astounding/
ReplyDeleteGreat story and photo Christine. I was thinking the same thing as Brett, could the message have been a code of some sort? hmmmmm :)
ReplyDeleteFor one moment there I thought you were going to say his doppelganger was Sigmund Freud! However, your grandfather looks a far more smiley individual - must be the perkier moustache. A very enjoyable post.
ReplyDeletewhat a sharp dresser!!
ReplyDeletei would have like to see his face when the door opened!!
:D~
HUGZ
When he banged on the door of the doppelgänger, did that make him a doppelgäng-bang-er?
ReplyDeleteDorin, it's too bad there aren't jobs available specifically for punsters (or are there?) You would have top qualifications.
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