Uniformed Youth Group Biography: Herman Hoffmann Fölkersamb (Germany, 18???-19??)


Figure 1.--

A Berlin university student, Herman Hoffmann Fölkersamb, founded a study circle for shorthand at the all boys Berlin-Steglitz grammar school where he was teaching. This schoolboy group began to meet without adult leadership about 1895. The early members of the Wandervogel movement liked to consider themselves the pioneers of the youth mission, yet not until November 1901, in the Steglitz town hall cellar, was the Wandervogel, as an association formally created. The origin and description Wandervogel is perhaps symbolic for many of its members, and for many members of other elements in the German Youth Movement, including the Hitler Jugend. The Wandervogel soon became the preminent German youth movement.

Parents


Childhood


Education

Hermann was a student in the Untersekunda of the Guerickeschule at Magedburg. He was fascinated by a teacher named Herr Sträter, who encouraged hicking. Hermann in 1890 set out together with his brother and a friend on a long hiking journey. Many more followed.

Teaching

A Berlin university student, Herman Hoffmann Fölkersamb, founded a study circle for shorthand at the all boys Berlin-Steglitz grammar school where he was teaching. This schoolboy group began to meet without adult leadership about 1895 and to get interested in hiking in the open air. Some of the boys was Karl Fischer and Hans Breuer. They wrote the Zupfgeigenhansel (a songbook). They found a small book describing a journey to the Harz Mountains. They wanted to do the same and did.

Wandervogel

Fisher and Brewer on November 4, 1901 at the Ratskeller in Steglitz Karl Fischer founded the "Ausschuss für Schülerfahrten". Wolf Meyen took the name "Wandervogel" from a poem by Otto Roquette which later was made into a song:

"Ihr Wandervögel in der Luft,
im Ätherglanz, im Sonnenduft,
in blauen Himmelswellen,
euch grüß' ich als Gesellen!
Ein Wandervogel bin ich auch,
mich trägt ein frischer Lebenshauch,
und meines Sanges Gabe
ist meine liebste Habe."

The term " Wandervogel " means a migratory bird. The word was also used in informal language for vagabonds.

The early members of the Wandervogel movement liked to consider themselves the pioneers of the youth mission, yet not until November 1901, in the Steglitz town hall cellar, was the Wandervogel, as an association formally created. The origin and description Wandervogel is perhaps symbolic for many of its members, and for many members of other elements in the German Youth Movement, including the Hitler Jugend. The Wandervogel soon became the preminent German youth movement.






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Created: September 20, 2003
Last updated: September 20, 2003