Bayern THW Commemorates 75 Years: A Decade-Long Commitment to Public Safety: THW Bayern marks its anniversary by reflecting on its emotional past, characterized by seven and a half decades of safeguarding the populace.
Celebrating 75 Years of Service: The THW Marks a Milestone in Bavaria
The Technisches Hilfswerk (THW), a crucial part of Germany's emergency response system, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Established on August 22, 1950, with an agreement between Gustav Heinemann and Otto Lummitzsch, the THW has grown from humble beginnings to become a formidable force in disaster management.
The first foreign mission for the THW was a storm surge in the Netherlands in 1953. Since then, the organisation has expanded its reach, becoming a sought-after supporter for fire departments, police, aid organisations, and others, and is deployed worldwide on behalf of the federal government.
In the 1950s, there were only around 20 local associations in THW Bavaria with approximately 1,000 volunteer personnel and a few professional employees. Today, the scene is vastly different. Around 16,000 people volunteer in their free time for the THW in 111 local associations in Bavaria. Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Hof are among the oldest local associations, having been founded in 1950.
The THW has been instrumental in responding to key deployments, such as the flood disaster in southern Bavaria caused by the low pressure system "Orinoco" in 2021, and the Ahr Valley flood disaster in 2021. The organisation's high-performance pumps can pump out up to 15,000 liters of water per minute, making them invaluable in such situations.
The THW's focus has adapted over time, from protecting the population from the effects of war and clearing up World War II aftermath, to supporting disaster protection of the federal states and expanding competencies in emergency supply and emergency restoration. In 1953, the THW became a federal institution after receiving an establishment decree from the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Otto Lummitzsch, the founder and first director of the THW, laid the foundation for the organisation's success. Today, only around 300 people work full-time for the THW in Bavaria, with the majority being volunteers. 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 civil defense capabilities of the THW have gained significance due to Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. The THW in Bavaria has special forces for foreign deployments, specialized in preparing polluted drinking water and pumping out large quantities of water in flooded areas. The THW also provides technical assistance abroad, such as rebuilding destroyed bridges and restoring roads, as demonstrated in Slovenia in 2023 after heavy rainfall.
To commemorate this significant milestone, a reception for around 350 THW members is being held in Munich today. As the THW continues to evolve and adapt to new challenges, its commitment to protecting the population remains unwavering.
