Peter Hagendorf
Current research relates the book author to Peter Hagendorf, first principal of Görzke, who died on 4 February 1679 at age of 77.
The 192 pages tell of a 22,500 km long journey across Europe filled with battles in Italy, the German states, Spanish Netherlands and France.
As for one proof the diary says that his daughter Magreta was born on 3 November 1645 in Pappenheim, and by chance the church register of that town had survived the war.
Professor Jan Peters [de], who had published a transcribed version of the book in 1993, had already indicated that the language points to a Rhinelandic origin (in today's western Germany).
That may contradict the designation of Zerbst in the christening entry (in today's eastern Germany) however further research revealed that the Fläming Heath was dominated by settlers from the Rhine regions at the time.
There is a valid interpretation that the mercenary was returning to his old homeland after the wars - according to the registers in Görzke he baptized his son Peter, on 9 November 1649 along with his family.
From that history along with godmother and godfather entries of an Anna and her father Martin Hagendorf, there is a theory that Peter had relatives in Görzke upon returning.
The fame has grown over the years, leading up to a TV documentary in 2011 where Peter Hagendorf was pictured in Der Dreißigjährige Kriege (Teil 1) – Von Feldherren, Söldnern und Karrieristen.
Aber in die stadt am neistadter tohr bin Ich 2 Mal durch den leieb geschossen worden das Ist meine beute gewesen.
[..] Nachher bin Ich In das leger gefuhret worden, verbunden, den einmal, bin Ich durch den bauch, forne durch geschossen, zum andern durch beide agslen, dass die Kugel, Ist In das hembte gelehgen, Also hat mir der feldtscher, die hende auff den Rugken gebunden, das er hat können Meissel, einbringen, Also bin Ich In meiner hudten gebracht worden, halb todt.
[..] wie Ich nun verbunden bin, Ist mein weieb In die Stadt gegangen, da sie doch vber all gebrunnen hat [..] Auff den Abendt sindt nun meine gespan kommen, hat mir ein leder edtwas verehret, einen tall oder halben tall.
