Charlotte Kretschmann | Gerontology Research Group

Full name: Charlotte Kretschmann
Lifespan: (03.12.1909 – 27.08.2024)
Age: 114 years, 268 days
Birthplace: Breslau, Schlesien, German Empire (now Wrocław, Lower Silesia Voivodeship, Poland)
Last residence: Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Application date: 19.03.2023
Validation date: 23.08.2023
Validation source: Stefan Jamin/Felix Kommnick/Thomas Breining

Biography

Charlotte Kretschmann was born in Breslau, Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Lower Silesia Voivodeship, Poland) on December 3, 1909. She married Werner Kretschmann and had one daughter with him. During the World War II, her husband was drafted to the army and sent on the frontline in France. In 1944, her daughter and she were forced to flee Breslau and moved to Stuttgart, Baden Wuerttenberg, Germany, where she was reunited with her husband after the war ended. At the time Charlotte was 109, her daughter was still alive, as well as two grandsons, Dominic and Peter.

Charlotte Kretschmann celebrated her 110th birthday in December 2019, becoming a supercentenarian. In March 2021 at the age of 111, she voted in the Baden-Wurttemberg state election. On June 19, 2023, the Gerontology Research Group announced on the World Supercentenarian Forum that Kretschmann had been given the pending status. On August 8, 2023, she surpassed the final age of Josefine Ollmann, becoming the oldest person ever to have been born and resided in Germany.

As of her 113th birthday, she lived in Kirchheim unter Teck, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. She is the oldest known living person in Baden-Wuerttemberg, and she has been the oldest known living person in Germany since the death of Anna Cernohorsky on September 18, 2022. She is also the third-oldest validated living person in Europe behind Maria Branyas Morera and Ethel Caterham.

On December 3, 2023, Charlotte Kretschmann celebrated her 114th birthday. She was then the 13th oldest living person in the world.

Despite her age, Charlotte Kretschmann kept her activity. In July 2024, she visited chocolate factory.

Longevity Recognition

Doyenne of Germany (18.09.2022 – 27-08-2024)
Longevity recordholder of Germany (08.08.2023 – present)

Validation

The case of Charlotte Kretschmann was meticulously examined and verified by GRG-Correspondent for Germany Stefan Jamin, Felix Kommnick et al., and validated by the GRG on Aug. 23, 2023.

Charlotte Kretschmann during Christmas 2023.

Charlotte Kretschmann, 114, visiting the Rübezahl chocolate factory in Dettingen in July 2024.

Charlotte Kretschmann portrait photo.

Charlotte Kretschmann as a young woman with her daughter

Charlotte Kretschmann in 2020, aged 109.

Spring 2023; Charlotte Kretschmann with her great-grandson.

Charlotte Kretschmann on her 114th birthday.

Photo courtesy of Charlotte Kretschmann’s instagram.