Alte Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania

The Alte Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania (ADB! Germania) is a student fraternity (Studentenverbindung) based at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany. It was founded on 2 November 1869 as the Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania at what was then the polytechnic school in Darmstadt. The founding location was the Erbacher Hof, today the Grohe brewery. The fraternity is a member of the Allgemeine Deutsche Burschenschaft (ADB), a umbrella organization of Burschenschaften. The ADB! Germania describes itself as a community of active and former students of Darmstadt's universities who feel lifelong friendship ties because of their studies in Darmstadt and shared universal values of the liberal-democratic Burschenschaft movement. Its stated principles are community, success, and values. It is committed to a democratic Germany and a united Europe. Members profess the Lebensbundprinzip (lifelong bond), the wearing of colors (Couleur), and the Bestimmungsmensur (academic fencing). The fraternity's colors (Couleur) are a Burschenband of black-wine-red-gold with golden percussion and a Fuxenband of wine-red-gold-wine-red, also with golden percussion. The head color is a wine-red Tellermütze. Its motto is "Einigkeit macht stark!" (Unity makes strong!), alongside the general motto "Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland" (Honor, Freedom, Fatherland). The Zirkel shows a stylized "G" for Germania. The fraternity house is Haus Kaiser on the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, a two-story Jugendstil villa built in 1903 by architect Heinrich Metzendorf for merchant Georg Kaiser. The house was purchased in 1925 by the Wirtschaftsverband der Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania e. Gen.m.b.H. and used as a fraternity house. In 1939 it was forced to be rented to the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK). During a bombing raid on the night of 11 September 1944, it was hit by an aerial bomb and burned out except for some cellar rooms and one ground-floor room. In 1961 the Wirtschaftsverband was re-entered as owner in the land register, and in 1962 reconstruction began. Since 1964 Haus Kaiser, now a listed building, has again served as the fraternity house of ADB! Germania. The fraternity's history includes the first Mensur on its colors by August Föppl on 10 May 1871. From October 1891 it had a permanent home in rented rooms of the inn "Zum Gutenberg," which it bought after World War I. That building was sold in 1925 to acquire Haus Kaiser. From the winter semester 1935/36, due to the forced dissolution of student fraternities, ADB! Germania had to continue as Kameradschaft Germania, which was ordered dissolved by resolution on 24 February 1936. In 1937 the old members' association merged with Kameradschaft Friedrich Friesen. After the war, members reunited in 1948, and active operations resumed in 1949 in rented rooms of the Fey brewery. In 1952 the Fey brewery house at Alexanderstraße 23 was bought for Germania. In 1955 a split occurred over the reintroduction of compulsory Bestimmungsmensur; the old members voted to remain in the Deutsche Burschenschaft (DB), while the active members left. Legal disputes followed, resulting in two associations: "Darmstädter Burschenschaft in der D.B." and "Darmstädter Burschenschaft an der T.H." Both recognize their common traditional root and may wear the same colors and Zirkel. The latter received financial compensation and kept the house at Alexanderstraße 23, while renouncing claims to the destroyed Haus Kaiser. The remaining old members of the former were able to form a new active membership with support from Darmstädter Burschenschaft Frisia and lived in rooms of that fraternity. Today the ADB! Germania continues as an active fraternity, offering affordable rooms in its Jugendstil villa and seeking new members. It emphasizes lifelong friendship, shared values, and a vibrant community life.

The Alte Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania was founded on 2 November 1869 as the "Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania" at the then polytechnic school in Darmstadt. The founding location was the Erbacher Hof, today the Grohe brewery. The first Mensur on the colors of ADB! Germania was fought by August Föppl on 10 May 1871. Since October 1891, the Burschenschaft Germania had a permanent home in rented rooms of the inn "Zum Gutenberg," which it bought after World War I. The "Zum Gutenberg" building was sold in 1925 to acquire Haus Kaiser at Alexandraweg 6 with the proceeds and further donations from old members. From the winter semester 1935/36, due to the forced dissolution of student fraternities, ADB! Germania had to continue as Kameradschaft Germania. By resolution on 24 February 1936, its dissolution was ordered. The inventory was removed from Haus Kaiser and the house was rented out. In 1937, the old members' association of Germania merged with Kameradschaft Friedrich Friesen, which had been founded as a replacement for the dissolved Kameradschaft Germania. This then bought Haus Kaiser in 1943 from the Wirtschaftsverband der Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania e. Gen.m.b.H., which was forced into liquidation. On 11 September 1944, the house was severely damaged during a heavy bombing raid as part of the Darmstadt firestorm. After the war, despite difficult circumstances, the fraternity brothers reunited as early as 1948. Active operations resumed in 1949 in rented rooms of the Fey brewery. In 1952, the Fey brewery house at Alexanderstraße 23 was bought for Germania. In 1955, a split occurred within the fraternity. The point of contention was the reintroduction of a compulsory Bestimmungsmensur for members in the Deutsche Burschenschaft (DB). In several votes in 1954/55, the old members' association decided to remain in the association, while the active members had to leave the association due to their rejection of compulsory fencing. Some of the old members supported the active members' plan and founded the Verein Germania e. V., which remained in the disputed possession of the house at Alexanderstraße 23. In the following years, there were legal and extrajudicial disputes between the two parties. Their results were as follows: The names were henceforth "Darmstädter Burschenschaft in der D.B." and "Darmstädter Burschenschaft an der T.H." Both associations recognized that they emerged from the same traditional root and were allowed to wear the same colors and Zirkel. The "Darmstädter Burschenschaft an der T.H." paid financial compensation and remained in possession of the house at Alexanderstraße 23. The "Darmstädter Burschenschaft an der T.H." renounced claims to Haus Kaiser, which was still destroyed at that time. The remaining old members' association of the "Darmstädter Burschenschaft in der D.B." was able, with the help of supporting members from the Darmstädter Burschenschaft Frisia, to immediately form a new active membership and lived henceforth in rooms of the Burschenschaft Frisia. The fraternity house, Haus Kaiser, is a two-story Jugendstil villa built in 1903 by architect Heinrich Metzendorf for merchant Georg Kaiser. Architectural features include the finely worked sandstone areas of the facade and the limestone relief "Der Schäfer" by Ludwig Habich on the southern gable wall. In 1925, the Wirtschaftsverband der Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania e. Gen.m.b.H. bought Haus Kaiser and used it as a fraternity house. In 1939, it was forced to be rented to the National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK). During a bombing raid on the night of 11 September 1944, it was hit by an aerial bomb and burned out completely except for some cellar rooms and one ground-floor room. In 1961, the Wirtschaftsverband was re-entered as owner of the house in the land register, and in 1962 it began reconstruction. Since 1964, Haus Kaiser, which has since been placed under monument protection, has again served as the fraternity house of ADB! Germania. Today, the ADB! Germania is a member of the Allgemeine Deutsche Burschenschaft (ADB). It is an academic association that aims to educate its members according to general Burschenschaft principles and to have a corresponding public impact. It advocates a democratic Germany and a united Europe. Its members profess the Lebensbundprinzip, the wearing of colors, and the Bestimmungsmensur. The fraternity's colors are a Burschenband of black-wine-red-gold with golden percussion and a Fuxenband of wine-red-gold-wine-red with golden percussion. The head color is a wine-red Tellermütze. Its special motto is "Einigkeit macht stark!" alongside the general motto "Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland." The Zirkel shows a stylized "G" for Germania. The coat of arms consists of a silver helmet, black-wine-red-gold crest and mantling, and a quartered shield. The upper half of the shield shows the colors of ADB! Germania and the Hessian lion. The lower half shows the seal with the founding date of ADB! Germania and an image of Germania. In the center, the four areas are united by the Zirkel of ADB! Germania on a white background.

• 1964

  Haus Kaiser again serves as fraternity house of ADB! Germania.

• 1962

  Reconstruction of Haus Kaiser began.

• 1961

  Wirtschaftsverband re-entered as owner of Haus Kaiser in the land register.

• 1955

  Split over compulsory Bestimmungsmensur; two associations formed.

• 1952

  Bought the Fey brewery house at Alexanderstraße 23 for Germania.

• 1949

  Active operations resumed in rented rooms of the Fey brewery.

• 1948

  Fraternity brothers reunited after the war.

• 1944

  Haus Kaiser severely damaged in bombing raid on 11 September.

• 1943

  Kameradschaft Friedrich Friesen bought Haus Kaiser from the Wirtschaftsverband.

• 1937

  Old members' association merged with Kameradschaft Friedrich Friesen.

• 1936

  Dissolution ordered by resolution on 24 February.

• 1935

  From winter semester 1935/36, forced to continue as Kameradschaft Germania.

• 1925

  Sold "Zum Gutenberg" and bought Haus Kaiser at Alexandraweg 6.

• 1891

  Since October, permanent home in rented rooms of the inn "Zum Gutenberg."

• 1871

  First Mensur on the colors of ADB! Germania fought by August Föppl on 10 May.

• 1869

  Founded on 2 November as Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germania at the polytechnic school in Darmstadt.

Traditional student fraternity emphasizing lifelong friendship, democratic values, and academic fencing.

1. 1ADB! Germania – Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterlandadbgermania.de
2. 2Alte Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germaniade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Alte Darmstädter Burschenschaft Germaniawikidata.org