Deutsche Freischar
Encyclopedia
The Deutsche Freischar – Bund der Wandervögel und Pfadfinder (DF) is a German
youth organization. Originating from the merger of several small Wandervogel
and Scouting
groups, it was one of the largest and most important associations of the Bündische Jugend of the Weimar Republic
besides the Deutscher Pfadfinderbund and Reichsschaft Deutscher Pfadfinder.
On May 4, 1930 the DF and the Großdeutscher Jugendbund (under Admiral Adolf von Trotha
) united under the name Deutsche Freischar. The result was a large association with up to 16,000 members, which split again after some weeks, so the former Deutsche Freischar became an independent association again.
During the association of Freischar and Großdeutscher Jugendbund Eberhard Koebel
, known under his totem name Tusk, was excluded from the association, some districts followed him and formed their own association, the Deutsche Jungenschaft vom 1.11.1929
(dj. 1.11); he became its leader.
On June 17, 1933 the DF together with other member organizations of the Großdeutscher Bund was prohibited by Baldur von Schirach
, who was appointed Jugendführer des Deutschen Reiches (Youth Leader of the German Reich) shortly before.
In 1946, the Deutsche Freischar was re-founded as Sturmschwalben – Ring Deutscher Jugendgruppen, later named itself Bündische Freischar, and since 1950 is again called Deutsche Freischar. In 1953 and 1954 a major part of the association merged into the Neuer Bund, from which the Bund deutscher Jungenschaften (BdJ) originated later.
The Freischar still exists with some hundred members. The Freischar is a member of the Ring junger Bünde (RjB).
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...
youth organization. Originating from the merger of several small Wandervogel
Wandervogel
Wandervogel is the name adopted by a popular movement of German youth groups from 1896 onward. The name can be translated as rambling, hiking or wandering bird and the ethos is to shake off the restrictions of society and get back to nature and freedom...
and Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
groups, it was one of the largest and most important associations of the Bündische Jugend of the Weimar Republic
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
besides the Deutscher Pfadfinderbund and Reichsschaft Deutscher Pfadfinder.
History
In 1926 the DF originated from the association of the Großdeutscher Pfadfinderbund (itself an association of the Bund Deutscher Neupfadfinder and Bund der Ringpfadfinder) with the Altwandervogel, Deutsche Jungenschaft, the Wandervogel, Deutscher Jungenbund and the Reichsstand, Gefolgschaft deutscher Wandervögel forming the Bund der Wandervögel und Pfadfinder. In March 1927 the Bund der Köngener joined; in April of the same year it was renamed to Deutsche Freischar; on October 27, 1927 the Wandervogel-Mädchenbund joined. Until 1928 several smaller groups joined; at the end of 1929 the DF had 12,000 members (among them 1500 women and girls).On May 4, 1930 the DF and the Großdeutscher Jugendbund (under Admiral Adolf von Trotha
Adolf von Trotha
Adolf von Trotha was a German admiral in the Kaiserliche Marine from Koblenz, Rhenish Prussia.-Family:...
) united under the name Deutsche Freischar. The result was a large association with up to 16,000 members, which split again after some weeks, so the former Deutsche Freischar became an independent association again.
During the association of Freischar and Großdeutscher Jugendbund Eberhard Koebel
Eberhard Koebel
Eberhard Koebel was a German youth leader, writer and publisher.Eberhard Koebel was born in Stuttgart on June 22, 1907. From the age of 13, in 1920, Koebel was a member of the Wandervogel...
, known under his totem name Tusk, was excluded from the association, some districts followed him and formed their own association, the Deutsche Jungenschaft vom 1.11.1929
Deutsche Jungenschaft vom 1.11.1929
The Deutsche Jungenschaft vom 1.11.1929, abbreviated dj.1.11., was a youth group within the German Youth Movement, founded by Eberhard Köbel on November 1, 1929. It demerged from the Deutsche Freischar after some disagreements of the organisation's course. The dj.1.11...
(dj. 1.11); he became its leader.
On June 17, 1933 the DF together with other member organizations of the Großdeutscher Bund was prohibited by Baldur von Schirach
Baldur von Schirach
Baldur Benedikt von Schirach was a Nazi youth leader later convicted of being a war criminal. Schirach was the head of the Hitler-Jugend and Gauleiter and Reichsstatthalter of Vienna....
, who was appointed Jugendführer des Deutschen Reiches (Youth Leader of the German Reich) shortly before.
In 1946, the Deutsche Freischar was re-founded as Sturmschwalben – Ring Deutscher Jugendgruppen, later named itself Bündische Freischar, and since 1950 is again called Deutsche Freischar. In 1953 and 1954 a major part of the association merged into the Neuer Bund, from which the Bund deutscher Jungenschaften (BdJ) originated later.
The Freischar still exists with some hundred members. The Freischar is a member of the Ring junger Bünde (RjB).
External links
- Homepage of the Deutsche Freischar
- NS-Dokumentationszentrum Köln: Deutsche Freischar – Short description of its history until 1933