Richard Schirrmann facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Schirrmann
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Statue of Richard Schirrmann in Altena, Germany.
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| Born | 15 May 1874 Grunenfeld (today Gronówko), Province of Prussia (modern Poland)
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| Died | 14 December 1961 (aged 87) Taunus, Germany
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| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Known for | Founder of the first hostel |
Richard Schirrmann was a German teacher who started the very first youth hostel. He was born on May 15, 1874, and passed away on December 14, 1961. His idea was to create affordable places for young people to stay while traveling.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Richard Schirrmann was born in a place called Grunenfeld. This area was part of Prussia back then, but today it is in Poland. His father, August Schirrmann, was also a teacher.
Becoming a Teacher and Starting Hostels
In 1895, Richard Schirrmann finished his teacher training. He started teaching in different schools. He loved to take his students outside for lessons whenever he could. In 1903, he moved to a school in Altena, Germany. There, he met Wilhelm Münker, who would later help him a lot with his ideas.
The Idea for Hostels
In August 1909, Richard Schirrmann had a great idea. He was on a school camping trip when a big thunderstorm hit. The students needed a safe and cheap place to stay. This made him think about creating affordable places for young travelers. He got a lot of support for his idea. At first, he even opened a simple hostel for hikers right in his school building.
The First Youth Hostel
On June 1, 1912, Richard Schirrmann opened the world's first official youth hostel. It was located in Altena Castle in Germany. Today, the original rooms of this hostel are a museum.
World War I and Peace=
During World War I, Richard Schirrmann served as a soldier. He was stationed in the Vosges Mountains, very close to the French troops. He saw the terrible effects of war, with shattered trees and land destroyed by bombs.
He wrote about a special event during Christmas in 1915. German and French soldiers stopped fighting and met in the middle. They shared food and drinks, like wine and ham. This friendly meeting lasted even after Christmas.
This experience made Schirrmann think deeply. He wondered if young people from different countries could meet and get to know each other. He believed that hostels could be "bridges of peace." They could help people from different nations understand each other better and prevent future wars.
After the War: Building a Movement
In 1919, Richard Schirrmann started the German Youth Hostel Association. This group helped create more hostels across Germany. In 1922, he stopped teaching to work full-time on his hostel project.
In 1925, he created a special children's village called "Staumühle." It was built on an old military training ground. Every summer, until 1931, he organized school camps there.
From 1933 to 1936, he was the president of the International Youth Hostelling Association. This group is now called Hostelling International. However, the Government of Nazi Germany forced him to leave his position. The hostels were then taken over by the Hitler Youth.
After World War II, Richard Schirrmann worked hard to rebuild the German youth hostel association. For his efforts, he received a special award in 1952 called the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In 1946, an American friend flew him to a youth hostel conference in Scotland. This made him the first German civilian to enter Britain after World War II.
Richard Schirrmann lived in Grävenwiesbach, Germany, from 1937 until he passed away in 1961.
Family Life
Richard Schirrmann married Gertrud in 1903, and they had one daughter. Later, he married Elisabeth, who shared his passion for youth hostels. They had six children together.
See also
In Spanish: Richard Schirrmann para niños
