As of: March 30, 2024, 11:00 a.m
By: Clarissa Höschel
Comments
Press
Split
Josef Niedermaier made this portrait from 1984 available to the Warriors and Soldiers' Association for the commemorative publication of the flag consecration. To the right is the flag ribbon donated by him as patron and mayor. © Repro: Höschel
The Ringstrasse in the new Wörth Süd II development area honors the special achievements of Josef Niedermaier. So far it is the only street in the municipality that bears the name of a mayor.
Wörth – Josef Niedermaier was born as the third child and only son in 1924 at the Dannerhof in Teufstetten. Father Georg, born in Moosinning, married there in 1908 and went to war after the birth of his first child. After his return, the Wörther War Memorial was built and inaugurated in 1921, under his aegis as chairman of the Wörther Warriors and Reservists Association.
Son Josef was just 15 years old when the Second World War broke out. Like many of his contemporaries, he was drafted during the war and paid for this with the loss of a lower leg, which he had to replace with a wooden prosthesis. After the war, Niedermaier joined the Wörther Warriors and Veterans Association (as it was called at the time) at the age of 23; He should remain loyal to the club for the rest of his life.
His local political career began in 1956 when the 32-year-old was elected mayor without having previously been on the local council. Two months later he married and moved into his newly built home in Wörth. As mayor, Niedermaier was quickly confronted with the challenges of the post-war period: apartments and schools had to be built with modest resources, and there was also a dilapidated infrastructure that had to be adapted to the new requirements.
The citizens actively helped with all of these tasks; Awarding a contract to a third party, even with a prior tender, as is common practice today, was unthinkable at the time for cost reasons. During his term of office, which lasted more than three decades, three new schools were built (Hörlkofen 1960, Wörth 1962 and 1983), various new development areas, the expansion of the transport network, the comprehensive water and wastewater supply, the connection to the MVV and the land consolidation.
Josef Niedermaier's declaration of joining the Wörther Warriors and Reservists Association on April 1, 1947. © Höschel
His fifth re-election in 1984 fell in the year of the flag consecration of the Wörther Warriors and Soldiers' Association, to which he had been a member for almost four decades. Unlike his father Georg, Josef Niedermaier never held any office. His commitment to the club was quiet, but no less valued. At the same time, as mayor, he was present at all important events, including the inauguration of the newly renovated war memorial in 1971, when he gave the ceremonial speech alongside District Administrator Simon Weinhuber.
Three years later the club celebrated its 100th anniversary. Niedermaier was also present here as mayor and keynote speaker. Ten years later the new flag was consecrated. Mayor Niedermaier became the patron, and of course he also played an active role behind the scenes.
Two years later, in 1986, he was able to celebrate his own anniversary: he had been in office as mayor for 30 years - longer than any other mayor before him. He had led his community through the difficult post-war period and paved many paths to a better future.
My news
Meloni takes action: Italy cancels the “super bonus” read
F-16 fighter jets shot down: Putin threatens to attack NATO airfields
After rocket attacks on Ukraine, Poland launches fighter jets in the middle of the night
NATO fighter jets rise: Russian planes intercepted over the Baltic Sea
Europe wants to invest massively in nuclear power – the Greens react calmly: “Our energy supply is secure” read
Quake in the construction industry: Read the bankruptcy of a large German real estate company
He was honored for his services at the 1986 citizens' meeting. At the same time, the next major event was already casting its shadow: at the end of his term in office, the now 66-year-old was expecting the 1200th anniversary celebrations of his community, which, with a year of celebration, was the highlight of his own career.
But even after his withdrawal, Niedermaier continued to be actively involved in community life and did not hold back his opinion, especially in public discussions. He also continued to be active in the soldiers' club and was increasingly found among the honored members, most recently in 2007, when he was honored for 60 years. Shortly afterwards, in February 2008, the veteran and former mayor Josef Niedermaier died - like his father Georg, at the age of 83.
How would Josef Niedermaier see the world today? And like the club he belonged to for so long? If you take a look at his greeting for the 1984 commemorative publication, his view at the time seems surprisingly current: “In the age of atomic armament, there are no longer any heroes to worship [...] Nevertheless, a warrior and soldier's association still has a place today […] his very special task. […] as a vigil that always reminds us that the world can only thrive and live under the sun and the warmth of peace.” Even today in 2024, one could hardly put it better.
Sources
Archive of the Wörth Warriors and Soldiers Association, contemporary witness reports, chronicle of the Wörth community.