The Truth About Youth Hostels

In August 1909 the German teacher Richardin further countries, like Poland, Holland, France,
Schirrmann had been caught in a violentEngland, and Switzerland, more than 600 youth
thunderstorm on an eight day migration with hishostels were already opened.
pupils and found accommodation in a barn by aOn October 20th, 1932 in Amsterdam in presence
farmer.by land agencies from Switzerland,
While the pupils were sleeping, Schirrmann wasCzechoslovakia, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway,
laying awake the whole night.Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and
The thought attacked him suddenly, "One wouldBelgium, the International Youth Hostel Federation
have to create places, at which move-joyful(IYHF) was created.
young people and pupils receive a safe andThe federation has its seat today in Welwyn
inexpensive overnight stay".Garden City near London. Richard Schirrmann was
He published this idea for the first time in 1910 inselected as the president. Conference language
an essay about "Voksschuelerherbergen"was German.
("elementary school pupil lodgings"),On the following conference in 1933 also Isabel
"...also the boys and girls of the common manand Monroe Smith from the USA participated.
must practice fresh merry moving asWithin one year they could open thirty youth
counterweight for the room stool time of theirhostels in the United States. Also in 1933 the
school years... how do I imagine now appropriatenational socialists arrived in Germany at power.
and sufficient lodgings for the enormous army ofAll political and religious youth combinations were
the elementary school pupils?... each city anddissolved and replaced by a system of obligatorily
nearly each village has an elementary school,university-formed youth organization, under the
which almost waits in holidays with empty areasline of the "realm youth guidance". Richard
for it, into a sleep and a dining hall forSchirrmann must withdraw as a chairman of the
move-merry children to be transformed. TwoGerman youth hostel factory.
classrooms are sufficient, one for boys, one forHe let himself impress by the idealistic elements
girls. The banks are set partly one above theof the new movement and became honorary
other. That gives free area for the list of 15 beds.president of the realm federation for German
... each camp place consists of a tautly with strawyouth hostels. A decision which he should bitterly
plugged bag and cushion, 2 sheets and a blanket...repent later.
each child is stopped to bring its camp place backIn 1936 for political reasons it had come to the
in order finely neat... "break with the international youth hostel
After publication of this essay in the "Koelnischefederation. In 1947 after the end of the world
Zeitung" (Cologne Newspaper) numerous moneywar, 247 youth hostels with 1,158,500 overnight
and gift contributions in kind and support offersstays were counted again in Germany.
came from whole Germany.From 1949-1990 also in the GDR were an
In 1912 the first youth hostel was opened in theextensive network of youth hostels developed.
Altenia Castle, GermanyInitially still led as federations, these later had
The first youth hostel was arranged according tobecome to state led institutions of the youth. The
Schirrmann's plans: 2 sleeping halls with 3-storiedexisting federations were dissolved. In 1960 were
solid wood beds, a dayroom, kitchen, wash andthe most youth hostels in the Federal Republic.
shower rooms. First hostel warden was RichardMore than 720 houses realized 11,300,312
Schirrmann. He lived directly above the hostelovernight stays.
rooms. In the same year Schirrmann alsoIn 1990 after the end of the GDR also in the new
published the first hostel listing with approximatelyLands of the Federal Republic youth hostel
140 addresses.federations were created. In November these
In many of these lodgings however were notfederations joined the German youth hostel
even basics of accommodations, e.g. for girlsassociation.
were nothing at all.Youth hostels today
In 1913 were already 301 youth hostels in citiesWorld-wide there are more than 4,000 youth
and villages. One year later one counted alreadyhostels in 65 countries, whereby more than 600
535.alone in Germany.
In 1920 the first expenditure of the "youth hostel"The youth hostels in Germany offer to their
magazine appeared, and with approximately 700guests far more than an inexpensive overnight
addresses the first manual with addresses bystay. Beside small cosy old buildings or the
youth hostels were published.experience in castles and residences you also find
From 1924-1929 with the first lottery in favour tomany houses in scenic delightful environments as
the youth hostels 1.5 million realm Marks werewell as in large cities. For more details go to
gained. In 1932 had already been 2,123 youthThis true story was published in German language
hostels in Germany. More than 4.5 million overnightby the German Youth Hostel Association, and
stays took place. But at the end of the twentiestranslated by Marcus Hochstadt.