Burschenschaft
Encyclopedia
German
Burschenschaften (abbreviated B! in German
; plural: B!B!) are a special type of Studentenverbindung
en (student fraternities). Burschenschaften were founded in the 19th century as associations of university
student
s inspired by liberal
and nationalistic ideas.
(original Burschenschaft), was founded on June, 12, 1815 at Jena
as an association drawn from all German university
student
s inspired by liberal
and patriotic ideas. Its purpose was to break down society lines and to destroy rivalry in the student body, to improve student life and increase patriotism. It was intended to draw its members from a broader population base than the Corps
. At first, a significant component of its membership were students who had taken part in the German wars of liberation against the Napoleonic occupation of Germany
.
Its motto was “honor, freedom, fatherland” , and the original colors were red-black-red with a golden oak leaves cluster, which might be based on the uniform of the Lützow Free Corps
, being a corps of volunteer soldiers during the wars of liberation. These colors were based on the Holy Roman Empire
's national colors black-red-gold, although the reason for the colors was as well a practical one. Even today, these colors are worn by many Burschenschaften.
The Burschenschaften were student associations that engaged in numerous social activities. However, their most important goal was to foster loyalty to the concept of a united German national state as well as strong engagement for freedom, rights, and democracy. Quite often Burschenschaften decided to stress extreme nationalist or sometimes also liberal ideas, leading in time to the exclusion of Jews, who were considered to be un-German. Nevertheless, all Burschenschaften were banned as revolutionary by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich
of Austria
when he issued the reactionary Carlsbad Decrees
in 1819.
Many Burschenschafter took part in the Hambacher Fest
in 1832 and the democratic Revolution in 1848/49. After this revolution had been suppressed, plenty of leading Burschenschafter, such as Friedrich Hecker and Carl Schurz
, went abroad. After the foundation of the German Empire in 1871, the Burschenschaften movement faced a severe crisis, as one major goal had been achieved to some extent: German unification. In the 1880s, a renaissance movement, the Reformburschenschaften, led by the ideas of Küster, arose and many new B!B! were founded.
) and Nazi opponents (Karl Sack
, Hermann Kaiser) were members of Burschenschaften. Theodor Herzl
, an Austrian
Jewish journalist who founded modern political Zionism
, was also a member of a Burschenschaft.
Because of the German emigration into Chile in the late 19th century, there are also some Burschenschaften in Chile, organized in the BCB (Bund Chilenischer Burschenschaften), in contact with the German and Austrian organizations.
Most Burschenschaften are pflichtschlagend, i.e. their members must absolve a number of Mensuren. Academic fencing is still an important part of their self-understanding as well as political education.
Burschenschaften are, depending on their membership of "umbrella" organisations (especially if they are a member of the Burschenschaftliche Gemeinschaft), associated with neo-Nazism
and extreme right-wing ideas, in particular with the wish for a German state encompassing Austria
. Members of the Burschenschaft "Olympia" were involved in bombings in Southern Tyrol in 1961, have close ties to the extreme right-wing NDP, and have invited holocaust denier David Irving
to give a lecture at Olympia.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Burschenschaften (abbreviated B! in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
; plural: B!B!) are a special type of Studentenverbindung
Studentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
en (student fraternities). Burschenschaften were founded in the 19th century as associations of university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s inspired by liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and nationalistic ideas.
History
Beginnings 1815–c. 1918
The very first one, called UrburschenschaftUrburschenschaft
The Urburschenschaft was the first Burschenschaft, a special type of German Studentenverbindung . Burschenschaften were founded in the early 19th century as associations of university students inspired by liberal and nationalistic ideas.It was founded in 1815 in Jena, Thuringia, in Germany...
(original Burschenschaft), was founded on June, 12, 1815 at Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
as an association drawn from all German university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s inspired by liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and patriotic ideas. Its purpose was to break down society lines and to destroy rivalry in the student body, to improve student life and increase patriotism. It was intended to draw its members from a broader population base than the Corps
German Student Corps
Corps are the oldest still-existing kind of Studentenverbindung, Germany's traditional university corporations; their roots date back to the 15th century. The oldest corps still existing today was founded in 1789...
. At first, a significant component of its membership were students who had taken part in the German wars of liberation against the Napoleonic occupation of Germany
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
.
Its motto was “honor, freedom, fatherland” , and the original colors were red-black-red with a golden oak leaves cluster, which might be based on the uniform of the Lützow Free Corps
Lützow Free Corps
Lützow Free Corps was a voluntary force of the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was named after its commander, Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm von Lützow. They were also widely known as "Lützower Jäger" or "Schwarze Jäger" .-Origins:...
, being a corps of volunteer soldiers during the wars of liberation. These colors were based on the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
's national colors black-red-gold, although the reason for the colors was as well a practical one. Even today, these colors are worn by many Burschenschaften.
The Burschenschaften were student associations that engaged in numerous social activities. However, their most important goal was to foster loyalty to the concept of a united German national state as well as strong engagement for freedom, rights, and democracy. Quite often Burschenschaften decided to stress extreme nationalist or sometimes also liberal ideas, leading in time to the exclusion of Jews, who were considered to be un-German. Nevertheless, all Burschenschaften were banned as revolutionary by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich
Klemens Wenzel von Metternich
Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich was a German-born Austrian politician and statesman and was one of the most important diplomats of his era...
of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
when he issued the reactionary Carlsbad Decrees
Carlsbad Decrees
The Carlsbad Decrees were a set of reactionary restrictions introduced in the states of the German Confederation by resolution of the Bundesversammlung on 20 September 1819 after a conference held in the spa town of Carlsbad, Bohemia...
in 1819.
Many Burschenschafter took part in the Hambacher Fest
Hambacher Fest
The Hambacher Fest was a German national democratic festival—disguised as a non-political county fair—that was celebrated from 27 May to 30 May 1832 at Hambach Castle near Neustadt an der Weinstraße ....
in 1832 and the democratic Revolution in 1848/49. After this revolution had been suppressed, plenty of leading Burschenschafter, such as Friedrich Hecker and Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz
Carl Christian Schurz was a German revolutionary, American statesman and reformer, and Union Army General in the American Civil War. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German-born American elected to the United States Senate.His wife,...
, went abroad. After the foundation of the German Empire in 1871, the Burschenschaften movement faced a severe crisis, as one major goal had been achieved to some extent: German unification. In the 1880s, a renaissance movement, the Reformburschenschaften, led by the ideas of Küster, arose and many new B!B! were founded.
1918–1945
In 1935/36, all Burschenschaften were dissolved by the Nazi government or transformed and fused with other Studentenverbindungen into so-called Kameradschaften (comradeships). Both some Nazis (e.g. Ernst KaltenbrunnerErnst Kaltenbrunner
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was an Austrian-born senior official of Nazi Germany during World War II. Between January 1943 and May 1945, he held the offices of Chief of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt , President of Interpol and, as a Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei und Waffen-SS, he was the...
) and Nazi opponents (Karl Sack
Karl Sack
Karl Sack was a German jurist and member of the resistance movement during World War II....
, Hermann Kaiser) were members of Burschenschaften. Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl , born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl was an Ashkenazi Jew Austro-Hungarian journalist and the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the State of Israel.-Early life:...
, an Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
Jewish journalist who founded modern political Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
, was also a member of a Burschenschaft.
Postwar
While in communist East Germany Burschenschaften were prohibited as representatives of a bourgeois attitude to be extinguished, in West Germany most Burschenschaften were refounded in the 1950s. Some of them had to be transferred into other cities, since Germany lost great parts of its territories after the Second World War as well as many Burschenschaften from East Germany tried to find a new home. The allied victors had forbidden refounding Burschenschaften originally, but this could not be upheld in a liberal surrounding. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Burschenschaften, as many other student fraternities, underwent a crisis: a lack of new members and strong attacks by the leftist student community. In the 1990s many Burschenschaften that had left Eastern Germany in the 1940s and 1950s returned to their traditional home universities in the East.Today
Roughly 160 Burschenschaften still exist today and most of them are organized in the Deutsche Burschenschaft-organization (DB) in the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria or in the Neue Deutsche Burschenschaft-organization (NeueDB) founded in 1996 as a collective for liberal Burschenschaften in the Federal Republic of Germany only. While the DB still insists upon Fichte's idea of a German nation based on language, thought and culture, the NeueDB favors defining Germany as the political Germany established by the German Basic Law (constitution) in 1949 and altered by the 1990 unification. Aside from these two bigger organizations there are some smaller and non-organised Burschenschaften.Because of the German emigration into Chile in the late 19th century, there are also some Burschenschaften in Chile, organized in the BCB (Bund Chilenischer Burschenschaften), in contact with the German and Austrian organizations.
Most Burschenschaften are pflichtschlagend, i.e. their members must absolve a number of Mensuren. Academic fencing is still an important part of their self-understanding as well as political education.
Controversy
It is affirmed that members of Burschenschaften are often affiliated with conservative and/or right-winged parties. Burschenschaften themselves do not tend to a single party or group of parties.Burschenschaften are, depending on their membership of "umbrella" organisations (especially if they are a member of the Burschenschaftliche Gemeinschaft), associated with neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
and extreme right-wing ideas, in particular with the wish for a German state encompassing Austria
German nationalism in Austria
German nationalism is a political ideology and a current in Austrian politics. It has its origins in the German National Movement of the 19th century, a nationalist movement of the German-speaking population in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had striven for a closer connection of the...
. Members of the Burschenschaft "Olympia" were involved in bombings in Southern Tyrol in 1961, have close ties to the extreme right-wing NDP, and have invited holocaust denier David Irving
David Irving
David John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
to give a lecture at Olympia.
See also
- The Revolutions of 1848 in the German states - (Burschenschaften were student groups which played a part in beginning of the Prussian Revolution)
- Hep-Hep riotsHep-Hep riotsThe Hep-Hep riots were early 19th century pogroms against German Jews. The antisemitic communal violence began on August 2, 1819 in Würzburg and soon reached as far as regions of Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Bohemia. Many Jews were killed and much Jewish property was destroyed.-Historical...
- Karl Ludwig SandKarl Ludwig SandKarl Ludwig Sand was a German university student and member of a liberal Burschenschaft . He was executed in 1820 for the murder of the conservative dramatist August von Kotzebue the previous year in Mannheim...
Further reading
- Martin Biastoch: Tübinger Studenten im Kaiserreich. Eine sozialgeschichtliche Untersuchung, Sigmaringen 1996 (Contubernium - Tübinger Beiträge zur Universitäts- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte Bd. 44) ISBN 3-51508-022-8