Dates

• Existence: 1895 - 1974

Biography

Johann Goldak (1895-1974) was a German engineer, officer, and interpreter in World War I.

Johann Goldak was born in late August 1895 to Johann Goldak and Luise Romahn in Lyck, East Prussia, Germany (now Poland), the second of five sons.

As a young man, while working to help support his family after his father's death in 1904, he learned Polish from his customers, which he later used to act as an interpreter during the war. At the age of 17, he completed his engineering studies. When World War I broke out two years later, Johann enlisted and was put to work laying cables (among other duties) as an engineer. He first fought on the Russian front, where his feet froze badly, and he was later shot very close to the heart. He miraculously survived and was later able to have surgery; 3 months later, he was sent back to the front lines, but this time in France. Goldak was captured and taken to an American-run POW camp, where he was the highest ranking officer. As such, when they were still being held prisoner in March 1919, four months after the Armistice, he wrote to the newly-elected first president of the new Weimar Republic, Friedrich Ebert, to ask when they might be released. He won three awards in the war, including the Iron Cross (all of which were meaningless to him as he didn't believe in the war).

He married Helene Hulda Erna Kalkkuhl in Apen, Westerstede, Oldenburg, Germany, on September 28, 1927. They raised two sons and two daughters. The family emigrated to the area of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1929 and 1930, where Johann built the family home and made a living doing carpentry and construction, raising livestock, farming and selling plants, hunting and fishing, working in the local brewery, or whatever else was available. He also taught German classes in the evening at the local high school at one point. In 1939, Johann registered for Canadian citizenship, along with his two daughters. When World War II started, Johann and Helene had to be fingerprinted and report to the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) every month.

After the war ended, Johann was offered a job supervising the construction of an addition to the local brewery. When the project finished, he decided to start his own business, Goldak Construction. The family later retired to Parksville, Vancouver Island. Johann built a fishing boat and became so successful as a fisherman that he had to register for a commercial license. Johann died January 21, 1974, in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada.

Citation:

FamilySearch, accessed March 6, 2024 (Johann Goldak, born late August 1895; parents Johann Goldak and Luise Romahn, born in Lyck, East Prussia, Germany (now Poland), second of five sons; as young man, while working to help support family after his father's death in 1904, learned Polish from customers; used as interpreter during war; at 17, completed engineering studies; World War I broke out two years later, enlisted and was put to work laying cables, etc., as engineer; fought on Russian front, feet froze badly, later shot very close to the heart; miraculously survived, later able to have surgery; 3 months later, sent back to front lines, this time in France; captured, taken to American-run POW camp; highest ranking officer: when Germans still prisoners in March 1919, four months after Armistice, wrote to newly-elected first president of new Weimar Republic, Friedrich Ebert, to ask when they might be released; won three awards in war, including Iron Cross: all meaningless to him, didn't believe in war; married Helene Hulda Erna Kalkkuhl in Apen, Westerstede, Oldenburg, Germany, on September 28, 1927; raised two sons and two daughters; family emigrated to area of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1929 and 1930; Johann built family home, made living doing carpentry and construction, raising livestock, farming and selling plants, hunting and fishing, working in local brewery, anything available; taught German classes in evening at local high school; 1939, registered for Canadian citizenship, along with daughters; when World War II started, Johann and Helene had to be fingerprinted, report to the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) every month; after war ended, offered job supervising construction of addition to local brewery; when project finished, decided to start own business, Goldak Construction; retired to Parksville, Vancouver Island, built fishing boat, so successful as hobby fisherman that had to register for commercial license; died January 21, 1974, in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada)

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