Germany’s THW Celebrates 75 Years of Lifesaving Volunteer Work in 2025
Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) will mark its 75th anniversary in 2025. The volunteer-based organisation, known for its technical and humanitarian aid, has played a key role in emergencies since its founding. Celebrations will include special events, a commemorative coin, and a postage stamp.
The THW was established on August 22, 1950, under Interior Minister Gustav Heinemann and Otto Lummitzsch. Hans A. de With led the organisation as its first president. Over the decades, it has grown to nearly 88,000 volunteers across 669 local branches, supported by full-time staff and federal volunteers.
The northernmost regional association covers Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Schleswig-Holstein. With 59 local branches and around 6,000 volunteers, it has responded to major crises, including storm surges, floods, and COVID-19 vaccine logistics.
Looking ahead, the THW is focusing on modernisation. Plans include digital upgrades, new emergency response technology, and stronger civil defence measures. The organisation also aims to boost youth involvement and increase the number of women in volunteer roles.
Anniversary celebrations will feature a €10 coin, a special postage stamp, and a mural crafted from retired operational gear. On August 22, Bonn will turn blue, with landmarks lit up and streets decorated with posters and banners.
Jörg Behling, deputy regional director, thanked volunteers, their families, employers, and partner organisations for their support. The THW’s 75th anniversary highlights its long-standing commitment to emergency response and community service. Preparations for the future ensure it remains ready for new challenges.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
