Bayern's THW Commemorates 75 Years: Seven and a Half Decades of Safeguarding the Populace - A retrospective on the emotional history of THW Bayern during their anniversary celebrations.
In the heart of Bavaria, the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) is commemorating its 75th anniversary. Founded on August 22, 1950, by Otto Lummitzsch, the THW was established as a civilian order service to protect the population from the effects of war and clear up the aftermath of World War II.
The THW has since evolved, expanding its competencies in emergency supply and emergency restoration, particularly in civil defense. This expansion came in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent regaining of significance for civil defense capabilities due to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine.
Today, the THW in Bavaria boasts around 16,000 volunteers across 111 local associations. These dedicated individuals, who donate their free time to the THW, have been instrumental in the organization's success. In fact, the THW's roots in Bavaria can be traced back to Nuremberg, where one of the first nationwide local associations was established in 1950.
The THW's journey has not been without challenges. In the 1950s, there were only around 20 local associations in THW Bavaria, with a total of about 1,000 volunteer personnel and only a few professional staff. Today, only around 300 people work full-time for the THW in Bavaria.
The THW's first foreign mission was a storm surge in the Netherlands in 1953. Since then, the organization has been deployed worldwide on behalf of the federal government, including technical and logistical assistance within the framework of the EU's civil protection mechanism and on behalf of UN organizations.
The THW's focus has had to adapt as global political situations changed. After the end of the Cold War, supporting the disaster protection of the federal states became a main focus. The THW in Bavaria has numerous special forces for foreign deployments, specialized in treating contaminated drinking water and pumping out large volumes of water.
The Bavarian State Chancellery is hosting a reception for around 350 THW members in Munich to commemorate the jubilee. Six volunteer personnel from the local associations of Bayreuth, Selb, Ingolstadt, Aschaffenburg, Freising, and Simbach have been members of THW Bavaria for over 70 years.
The THW is a vital part of Germany's emergency response system, with over 80,000 volunteers nationwide supporting fire services, police, aid organizations, and others. The THW in Bavaria, with its rich history and commitment to service, continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of its community and the world at large.
