Michael Sexl takes over as commandant of the Partenkirchen fire department.
Usually a nice moment.
But his predecessor Klaus Straub is giving up the post for health reasons.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- It should be a happy day.
Usually it is one.
Afterwards you drink a beer together, celebrate.
But that day people cried.
Klaus Straub too.
Michael Sexl swallowed hard.
From Straub, he took over the post of First Commandant at the Partenkirchen Fire Brigade.
“It's all very emotional.” He's happy to be involved in this position, no question about it.
But that's not how, he says, you become a commander.
Not because the predecessor has to stop for health reasons.
Klaus Straub has changed.
He has become quiet.
And thin.
His fight eats him up.
Nobody can tell him exactly where it will lead him.
But nobody told him that a blood clot would block a vessel.
In summer 2019. Nobody told him how to come to terms with the fact that from one minute to the next life would no longer exist.
Nobody gives him a panacea for dealing with setbacks.
Many support him.
Klaus Straub receives countless wishes for wellbeing
Straub received countless wishes.
“A huge number,” says Sexl.
Cards from people who think of him, wish him the best with all their hearts.
Sexl emphasizes that he was very happy about every greeting.
Some have visited Straub again and again and still visit him if Corona allows.
To show him: he is not alone.
Straub himself goes his own way. Straightforward, pragmatic, realistic.
The 57-year-old is completing his therapy in Bad Tölz.
And wants regular conditions.
That's why he decided: His position as commander at the Partenkirchen fire brigade has to be taken over by someone else.
Defense is far too important to him, he wants it to be in the best of hands.
Michael Sexl is sure to be his dream candidate.
Sexl and Straub have been a "top team" at the Partenkirchen fire brigade for seven years
The two have formed a management duo for seven years, when Sexl became deputy commandant.
“And I think we were a top team.” The 33-year-old compares the relationship with a good marriage.
As with your wife, you spend a lot of time together.
“You see and experience a lot of crap together.
And you help each other. "
Straub was only confirmed in office for another six years in April 2019.
Then in early summer the stroke, the consequences of which continue to restrict him physically.
So much so that he has to retire as an active man for the time being.
Klaus Straub: Decades of work for the fire service
Straub lived the fire brigade.
From 1998 he was vice chairman, then chairman.
He stayed that way even when he became commandant in 2007.
Straub has taken off all badges of achievement that can be taken.
As a machinist, he was also able to operate every vehicle in the fleet.
This task is now taken over by the new deputy Martin Simon.
Sexl is at the top and knows the responsibility.
He now compares a fire brigade with all its legal, safety and training-related areas with a company - in his case with 150 men and women.
And Sexl is the new boss.
Exceptionally high turnout: 130 out of 152 active members vote by mail
The election was time-consuming, the regulatory office of the community where the fire brigade is located took over the procedure: in mid-October, slips of paper were first sent to the members on which they could note their candidates.
They had two weeks to propose their election.
Then the administration printed the ballot papers and everything was sent to the post office again.
These had to be filled out and returned to the town hall by November 15th.
The turnout: extraordinary.
130 of 152 active members returned their documents, most of them wanted Sexl.
Now officially taking up the position with such backing - he took it on a provisional basis a year and a half ago - he feels an honor.
Straub will always remain part of the team.
His comrades from the fire brigade show him this with small and large gestures, helping where Straub needs their help.
Likewise, Sexl will seek Straub's support and advice in the future.
Straub taught him everything that the 33-year-old knows about fire fighting technology.
Sexl calls him his teacher.
Where he can rely on: “I always get an honest answer.” That is precisely why “I will always ask him”.