Margret Wittmer (née Walbroel; 12 July 1904 – 21 March 2000)[1] was a German woman who was one of the original settlers of Floreana Island. Her experiences living on the island were documented in her 1959 biography Postlagernd Floreana: Ein außergewöhnliches Frauenleben am Ende der Welt (lit. Postal Office Floreana: An Extraordinary Woman's Life at the End of the World), published in English as Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galapagos.
Wittmer was born in Cologne on 12 July 1904, the daughter of Eva (née Leuchtenberg) and Johannes Walbroel, a goldsmith.[1]
She wrote about her experiences of being an early settler in the book Postlagernd Floreana. Erlebnisbericht deutscher Siedler (1959) (English title: Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galapagos). She returned to Germany in 1960 to present her book.
Margret's book attracted more German tourists to Floreana Island. She built several bungalows to host different tourists and scientists that visited Floreana.[2]
Wittmer, her husband Heinz, and her stepson Harry moved to Floreana Island in 1932, following the arrival of German doctor Friedrich Ritter and his wife, Dore Strauch. Wittmer was in the fourth month of her first pregnancy, and she gave birth to a son and a daughter while living on the island.[1]
Wittmer remained on Floreana Island for most of the remainder of her life, though she returned to Germany twice, once in 1935, and again in 1960 to present her book Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galapagos.[1]
Wittmer died on 21 March 2000, at the age of 95. She was buried on Floreana Island.[citation needed]
Actress Diane Kruger portrayed Wittmer in the 2013 documentary The Galapagos Affair.[3] Sydney Sweeney portrays Wittmer in the 2024 film Eden.
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