Please Help To Settle An Argument – UPDATE
In my previous post about this photo, I attached an image of the back. I suggested that there may be more clues as to the identity of the sitter, if only I could read German. I was convinced that the photo is of a man. My friends thought it was a woman. Now thanks to a reader, Wolff Postler, we have a translation of the inscription. Wolff writes –
As far as I could decipher it, the notice reads:
Meiner Logismutter
Möll(?) zum Andenken
an den fremden
Freiheitsbruder
Ludwig Rot…(?)This translates as “To my lodging mother Möll as a memory of the strange (weird) brother of liberty Ludwig Rot…”
The places marked by (?) are not readable.
Hope that helps – at least it confirms your speculation about a boheminan of some sort.
The translation confirms this to be a man who is seen and sees himself as strange. What “brother of liberty” meant in Pre-WW2 Germany, I cannot say. Hearty thanks to Wolff for making this interesting photo even more fascinating!
Photobooth Journal 
Well, you were right, Kate. Is that Mike’s friend in Germany who did the translation?
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Not sure. The gentleman in question left the translation in a comment. It is a brilliant note to have uncovered!
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I see that now. Mike’s German friend is a woman. She has some beautiful photos of horses on her blog.
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Hi! I’m not much on WordPress lately, but just checked in and was so glad to find this. A wonderful, arresting photobooth portrait indeed. All the best!
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Hi Alessandro! Hope you are well. Yes, the blogging can become very time and energy intense. One needs a break occasionally! Nice to hear from you. Katherine
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http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremder_Freiheitsschacht&prev=search
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=freiheitsbruder&biw=1727&bih=1075&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCwQsARqFQoTCJSOtbPgiMYCFQ0J2wodRMsANQ
The Freiheitsbruders appear to be a German equivalent of the masons. Check the two links above for details. The second link contains many images of men wearing hats similar to the one in your photo.
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Very cool link. There are photos with the same kind of shirt too. I think Katherine has her answer!
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Hi Paul.
Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. Mr E’s comment was spot on. It is a very cool and for me, exciting link. He is definitely a Freiheitsbruder. His hat, shirt and in the older photos, sometimes his hair matches. I will have to do another post to update this.
I really appreciate your input, as every detail I can have about a photo makes it more and more precious and interesting.
Thank you!
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Der Freiheitsbruder heißt Ludwig Rokus, geboren in Langendreer/Bochum. Laut Fremdenzettel war er 1932
Buchgeselle in Chemnitz. Auf ein Bild 1937 aus Genf/Schweiz ist er zu sehen. Mehr weiß ich auch nicht.
Mit Gruß Martin Reimers (Einheimischer Freiheitsbruder)
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Thank you! That is great information.
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