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In 1968, Hohenlinden saw the first women in active fire service

2022-05-24T11:41:24.967Z


In 1968, Hohenlinden saw the first women in active fire service Created: 05/24/2022, 13:31 By: Joerg Domke A historical recording. The Hohenlinden fire brigade in 1921. © kn Firefighting is no longer just a man's job. Especially not in Hohenlinden, where there was already an active women's group in 1968. Hohenlinden – “The Hohenlinden Volunteer Fire Department was founded on June 29, 1872. Fi


In 1968, Hohenlinden saw the first women in active fire service

Created: 05/24/2022, 13:31

By: Joerg Domke

A historical recording.

The Hohenlinden fire brigade in 1921. © kn

Firefighting is no longer just a man's job.

Especially not in Hohenlinden, where there was already an active women's group in 1968.

Hohenlinden – “The Hohenlinden Volunteer Fire Department was founded on June 29, 1872.

Firefighters were compulsory for every adult male.

To fight the fire, a mobile hand-operated sprayer was purchased, which required eight men to operate.

Unfortunately, many farms went up in flames because there was no water to extinguish the fire.

To prevent this, extinguishing water reservoirs were built in Kreith and Hohenlinden.

In Kronacker, Kaging and Birkach, fire-fighting ponds were laid out along the streams.

In the event of a fire, every farmer with a team of horses had to transport water to extinguish the fire.

At that time, a large number of firefighters were already being trained on courses and training courses lasting several days and were designated to increase.

During the summer months, a fire brigade exercise was held every two months..."

This is what it says on the Internet homepage of the Hohenlinden fire brigade under the heading "History".

When you read it, you immediately notice that 150 years ago, when it came to the topic of fire brigades, men were the only people to talk about.

Certainly the norm at the time.

Heinrich Mittermeier remembers

Today, on the other hand, this distribution of gender roles has long been outdated.

Especially with the fire brigade in Hohenlinden, because it was one of the first local fire brigades in Bavaria to also send women on assignments, of course with the necessary performance badges.

The whole thing happened at the time when Bartl Wandinger was the first commander.

Heinrich Mittermeier can remember this time well.

He was already with the Hohenlinden fire department at the age of 16.

Not least because his father also worked as a volunteer in the team as an equipment manager.

Heinrich Mittermeier, who now lives in Forstern, later became a machinist and instructor.

And almost at the same time as that nine-person women's group (group leader was Loise Ortner) she received the bronze performance badge.

Log book since 1949

Incidentally, there is a handwritten entry in a log book or book on contemporary history that the former commander Paul Irl created in 1949.

Since then, all significant events have been noted very accurately: Courses and resolutions of annual general meetings, minutes, lists of active members, payment of contributions (from 1953 an association contribution of one mark was charged).

Later, pictures were also pasted into the chronicle.

Or newspaper article.

Book #1 ends in October 1992. There is a follow-up book that was kept in an analogous manner until 2006.

After that, digital technology also found its way here.

Back to the first women's group of a local fire brigade in Bavaria: Heinrich Mittermeier knows that some of the men in the team looked pretty good back then.

After all, the women's group, in contrast to the men, was well equipped in terms of clothing.

Back then, says the 69-year-old, the equipment wasn't the same as it is today.

Mittermeier himself was later, from 1987 to 2003, district fire chief in the field of respiratory protection: and one of those who were responsible for the respiratory protection route in the fire brigade equipment house in the district town of Ebersberg.

In 2011, he finally retired from active service due to illness, but remained connected to the fire brigade, especially the one in “his” Hohenlinden, of course.

“Once a fire brigade, always a fire brigade” is his creed.

Young woman (18) is secretary in the association

An attitude to life that could possibly also apply to Elena Philipp at some point.

The 18-year-old has been with the Hohenlinden Wehrer since December 2018.

Entry at the age of 15.

Not an ordinary step for a teenager of this age, even today.

Friends would have motivated her, says the administrative employee in training at the district office in Ebersberg.

Grandfather was at least as motivating.

A grandpa whom the young woman unfortunately never got to know because he died young.

But in the family it was said again and again how committed Lorenz Kern was to the fire brigade in neighboring Buch am Buchrain.

That's how she wanted to be, says Elena Philipp with a smile.

The young woman from Hohenlinden is not yet a firefighter, meaning her rank.

But for almost a year the secretary in the club.

Back then, in July 2021, when she was elected at the Annual General Meeting, she probably had no idea what specific tasks could be associated with this honorary position if the said local fire brigade also had to organize an anniversary such as its 150th anniversary.

Not only that Elena Philipp currently has a lot to do, to digitally log everything that was decided in advance and is still being decided.

Social media is also her specialty at the moment.

The Hohenlinden fire brigade has long been advertising the upcoming festive season on Facebook and Instagram just as naturally as it does in conventional media.

Just a few days ago, a short video was made again on the fairground, in which the firefighters drew attention to the Eicher vintage car meeting on Thursday, June 16, from 8 a.m. with the Eicherfreunde Forstern.

In general, advertising is once again a big topic for the people of Hohenlinden this year.

According to club chairman Anton Speckmaier, a campaign had recently started quite satisfactorily.

Six new members have been recruited in the last few weeks and months.

A picture of the current women's group was used to advertise.

It currently also consists of nine members, although not all of them could be photographed for the advertising image with a new LF 20 fire engine in the background due to Corona and scheduling difficulties.

Still looking for active members

According to Anton Speckmaier and Elena Philipp, the firefighters will also use the holidays after Pentecost to inspire young people, men and women, but also career changers, to take up active service.

Anton Speckmaier and Elena Philipp © jödo

Of course, the two are not the only protagonists when it comes to preparing for the festival week starting Tuesday, June 14th.

Since October 19, 2020, a festival committee has been formed, which essentially consists of a good 20 participants who take care of the planning in three groups.

If possible, everything should run perfectly: Not only because Hohenlinden was also awarded the contract to host the district fire brigade day in the anniversary marathon of the fire brigades in the Ebersberg district.

The group of women posed for a photo for the local newspaper in 2003 © Dziemballa

In general, the Hohenlinden fire brigade is traditionally closely associated with the organization of a folk festival that takes place once a year.

The celebration of the 100th anniversary in 1972 was also the starting signal for organizing these folk festivals almost every year.

That is why not only the anniversary of the fire brigade will be celebrated in June this year, but also looking back on 50 years of folk festivals.

And by the way, also to the 150th anniversary of the warrior and reservist comradeship.

You can read more news from the Ebersberg region here.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-05-24

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