To mark its 75th anniversary, Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (Technisches Hilfswerk, THW) is celebrating its long-standing service with a series of events, large-scale exercises, and campaigns throughout the year. One of the highlights was a festive ceremony held on May 17 in Bonn, which officially launched the nationwide anniversary activities and was met with great enthusiasm.
THW was founded on August 22, 1950, by Otto Lummitzsch, who was tasked by then Federal Interior Minister Gustav Heinemann to establish a civilian emergency service. Originally created to address the consequences of World War II, THW has continuously adapted to new challenges: from supporting disaster relief in the federal states after the Cold War to responding to the effects of climate change – such as the 2021 floods caused by storm “Bernd” – to coordinating its largest logistics operation in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Today, with over 88,000 committed volunteers, THW is an indispensable pillar of civil protection—powered by volunteerism that achieves remarkable things both in Germany and abroad.
Read the full article in German language here.
(Image Source: THW)