Altag

Friedrich Altag was a soldier in Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grand Armée and was taken prisoner by the Russian military during the 1812 invasion of Russia. Nearly 200 of these prisoners remained in Russia and settled in Volga German colonies. Published Russain documents describe him as a Lutheran from "Kleinbramin" Westphalia, age 24 in 1814, and single. The Russian documents also state that he has a mother and sister in the village of "Kleinbramin", and nine brothers in the Westphalian service.

There is a village in North Rhine-Westphalia called Kleinenbremen. The village chronical of Kleinenbremen describes the impact that Napoleon's invasion of Russia had on their community and includes a list of seven men who were believed to have died during the military campaign. This list includes Friedrich Altag and his brother Carl Altag.

Friedrich Christian Altag was born 13 June and baptized 17 June 1786 in Kleinenbremen. Carl Heinrich Altag was born 1 May and baptized 8 May 1791 in Kleinenbremen. Their parents, Johann Daniel Altag from Barksen and Anna Catharina Elisabet Monkhaff, were married in Kleinenbremen on 3 November 1774. The baptisms of ten sons of Johann Daniel Altag were found in the Kleinenbremen parish records.

Friedrich Altag, and fellow Westphalian soldier Heinrich Später, settled in Messer. According to the 1834 Census, Friedrich Altag was 24 years old in 1816, and had relocated to Franzosen in 1825. The 1857 Census of Messer includes a Johann Friedrich Altag, who is reported as age 40 in 1857, along with his wife and three sons. Johann Friedrich's son Johannes Altag and his family are reported in the 1897 Census of Messer in Household #25, and son Johann Friedrich Altag and his family are reported in Household #504.