Thüringerwald-Verein

The Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V. is a German hiking and voluntary association dedicated to the Thuringian Forest. It was founded on 29 August 1880 in Ilmenau and was among the founding members of the Verband der Deutschen Tourismusvereine, established in Fulda in May 1880. At its founding it comprised 22 branch associations with 1,665 members. Its stated purpose was to unite all efforts aimed at awakening and nurturing love for the Thuringian Forest and at facilitating and promoting visits to it. Its activities included placing signposts, creating and improving paths, opening new viewpoints, establishing rest areas and shelters, recommending routes and travel plans, and monitoring inns, guides and carriage traffic to protect tourists from disadvantage. The association grew rapidly. By its 25th anniversary it had around 103 branch associations with roughly 12,000 members, and under the long leadership of Karl Lincke, an Amtsgerichtsrat from Eisenach who took over the main chairmanship on 1 April 1893 and led the association for 45 years, it reached 159 branch associations with about 16,200 members. It organised major German hiking days (Deutscher Wandertag) in Eisenach in 1889, in Coburg in 1897 and 1913, and again in Eisenach in 1936. From 1 April 1893 it published the "Thüringer Monatsblätter" as its association magazine. Between 1933 and 1945 it was a member of the Reichsbund für Leibesübungen. The association was forcibly dissolved by order 126 of the Soviet Military Administration in December 1945. It was re-founded on 22 September 1990 as Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V. Today it has its seat in Tabarz and is entered in the register of associations at the Amtsgericht Gotha (VR 140954). According to its official website it has around 1,850 members and is one of 58 hiking associations in the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e.V., as well as a member of the Landesverband Thüringer of the Deutsche Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e.V. Wikipedia reports 36 branch associations with about 2,500 members. Several branch associations have received the Eichendorff-Plakette, including Coburg (1984), Bad Blankenburg (1998), Tabarz (1998), Lauscha (1999), Asbacher Berge und Umgebung (2000), Wanderfreunde Pößneck (2011), Lehesten (2013) and Leutenberg (2014).

The Thüringerwald-Verein was founded on 29 August 1880 in Ilmenau. When the Verband der Deutschen Tourismusvereine was founded in Fulda in May 1880, the Thüringerwald-Verein was among its founding members alongside 14 other main associations. At that time it had 22 branch associations with 1,665 members. Its purpose was to unite all efforts directed at awakening and nurturing love for the Thuringian Forest and at facilitating and promoting visits to it. Its activities included placing signposts and creating and improving paths, opening new viewpoints and establishing rest areas and accommodation, recommending routes and travel plans and distributing reliable guidebooks, maps and panoramas, and monitoring inns, guides and carriage traffic to protect tourists from disadvantage. Its association magazine was the "Thüringer Monatsblätter", published from 1 April 1893. In 1889 the association organised the 3rd Deutscher Wandertag in Eisenach, then still held as the main meeting of the federation among like-minded hiking friends. The 10th and 26th hiking days followed in Coburg in 1897 and 1913. By its 25th anniversary the number of branch associations had risen to around 103 with roughly 12,000 members. On 1 April 1893 the Amtsgerichtsrat Karl Lincke from Eisenach took over the main chairmanship. Under his leadership the association flourished, growing to 159 branch associations with about 16,200 members. He guided the association for 45 years and is still held in high esteem among hiking friends today. Under his direction the 45th Deutscher Wandertag took place in Eisenach in 1936, where he was awarded the federation's Golden Badge of Honour. From 1933 to 1945 the association was a member of the Reichsbund für Leibesübungen. Despite all efforts, the forced dissolution of the Thüringerwald-Verein could not be prevented. By order 126 of the Soviet Military Administration in December 1945 the association was dissolved. It was re-founded on 22 September 1990 as Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V. Today its seat is in Tabarz, and it is entered in the register of associations at the Amtsgericht Gotha (VR 140954). According to its official website it has around 1,850 members and is one of 58 hiking associations in the Verband Deutscher Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e.V., and a member of the Landesverband Thüringer of the Deutsche Gebirgs- und Wandervereine e.V. Wikipedia reports 36 branch associations with about 2,500 members. Several branch associations have received the Eichendorff-Plakette: Coburg (1984), Bad Blankenburg (1998), Tabarz (1998), Lauscha (1999), Asbacher Berge und Umgebung (2000), Wanderfreunde Pößneck (2011), Lehesten (2013) and Leutenberg (2014).

• 2014

  Zweigverein Leutenberg received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 2013

  Zweigverein Lehesten received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 2011

  Zweigverein Wanderfreunde Pößneck received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 2000

  Zweigverein Asbacher Berge und Umgebung received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 1999

  Ortsgruppe Lauscha received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 1998

  Branch associations Bad Blankenburg and Tabarz received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 1990

  Re-founded on 22 September as Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V.

• 1984

  Branch association Coburg received the Eichendorff-Plakette.

• 1945

  Forcibly dissolved by order 126 of the Soviet Military Administration in December.

• 1936

  Organised the 45th Deutscher Wandertag in Eisenach; Karl Lincke awarded the federation's Golden Badge of Honour.

• 1933

  Became a member of the Reichsbund für Leibesübungen (until 1945).

• 1913

  Organised the 26th Deutscher Wandertag in Coburg.

• 1905

  By its 25th anniversary the association had around 103 branch associations with roughly 12,000 members.

• 1897

  Organised the 10th Deutscher Wandertag in Coburg.

• 1893

  Karl Lincke took over the main chairmanship on 1 April; the "Thüringer Monatsblätter" began publication on 1 April.

• 1889

  Organised the 3rd Deutscher Wandertag in Eisenach.

• 1880

  Founded on 29 August in Ilmenau; among founding members of the Verband der Deutschen Tourismusvereine in Fulda in May 1880.

A traditional, membership-based hiking and heritage association focused on the Thuringian Forest, part of Germany's organised hiking movement.

• Thüringer Monatsblätter

  Association magazine published from 1 April 1893.

• Hiking trails and waymarking

  Signposting, path creation and improvement, viewpoints, rest areas and shelters.

1. 1Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V. - Homethueringerwaldverein.de
2. 2Thüringerwald-Verein 1880 e.V. - Vereinsgeschichtethueringerwaldverein.de
3. 3Thüringerwald-Vereinwikidata.org
4. 4Thüringerwald-Vereinde.wikipedia.org