Union of German Scouts in South West Africa

The Union of German Scouts in South West Africa, (Bund deutscher Pfadfinder Südwestafrikas ) the first German oriented Scouting organization, was founded in 1928 in South West Africa and dissolved by the South African administration in 1939 on the outbreak of World War II.[1] The current association, Deutscher Pfadfinderbund in Namibia, was founded in the 1960s, under the name Deutscher Pfadfinderbund Südwestafrika.[2]

German-speaking Scouts in Namibia
Flag of the Scouts in South-West Africa before 1939
 Scouting portal

Background

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At the end of the World War I there was a sizable population of German Namibians in what is now Namibia. Most of these were farmers, craftsmen, and their families. By 1928, there was a movement to bring Scouting to the youth of South West Africa. The program flourished until it was made to become part of the "Hitler Youth" in 1934. In 1939, the group was disbanded at the start of World War II.[3]

In 1937, Heinz Anton Klein-Werner wrote the song Südwesterlied [de] for the German Scouts which later became the unofficial national anthem of the German Namibians.[4]

Further reading

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  • Deutscher Pfadfinderbund von Südwestafrika: Reise in die Vergangenheit oder Safari durch den Norden von Südwestafrika, o.O o.J. (in German).
  • Deutscher Pfadfinderbund von Südwestafrika: Reise in die Vergangenheit oder Safari durch den Norden von Südwestafrika, Windhuk o.J. (in German).
  • Falkengruppe (1. Group) of Deutsche Pfadfinder in Windhuk, Windhuk, ed. (1932). Falkengesang (in German).[clarification needed]
  • Pfadfinder Swakopmund: Mit dem Jukundus durch den Süden, Privatdruck o.O.,o.J (in German).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Keil, Thomas (24 July 2003). Die postkoloniale Literatur in Namibia (1920-2000) (PDF) (Diplom thesis) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Pfadfinder-Treffpunkt" (in German).
  3. ^ "Deutsches Leben in Südwestafrika von 1918 bis 1948 - die schweren Jahre" [German life in SWA, the hard years]. wfg-gk.de. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007.
  4. ^ Längin, Bernd G. (2005). Inge Mellenthin (ed.). Die deutschen Kolonien. Schauplätze und Schicksale 1884–1918 (in German) (Sonderausgabe ed.). Hamburg / Berlin / Bonn: E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. p. 145. ISBN 3-8132-0854-0.
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