Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia Bonn

The Katholischer Studentenverein Arminia (Catholic Students Society Arminia) is one of Germany's oldest Catholic male student societies.

History

Arminia is a student corporation founded on 6 November 1863 at the University of Bonn. The name was chosen in dependence on Arminius, the chief of the Cherusci who drove the Romans out of Germany and became a symbol of the - not yet unified - fatherland in the 19th century. As a Catholic student corporation "Arminia" was in 1865 a founder of the Kartellverband katholischer deutscher Studentenvereine (KV), Germany's oldest umbrella organisation of Catholic male student societies.

Based on the Roman Catholic faith, "Arminia" strictly refuses academic fencing. Its members do not wear couleur. "Arminia's" motto is "Treu, frei!" (English: "Loyal, straightforward!"). "Arminia's" principles are (Latin) religio, scientia and amicitia.

Because of its history and its large number of prominent members "Arminia" is one of the most distinguished student corporations. As all German student corporations "Arminia" is much smaller than American fraternities use to be, it has approx. 350 members, including "Aktive" (students) and "Alte Herren" (alumni).

Famous members

German Chancellors

* Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967), first German chancellor, German Minister of Foreign Affaires, Father of the House (Bundestag), President of the Parliamentary Council, President of the Prussian Council of State

* Georg Count Hertling (1843-1919), Chancellor of the German Empire, Minister President of Prussia, Foreign Minister of Prussia, Minister-President of Bavaria

* Wilhelm Marx (1863-1946), Chancellor of the German Empire, Minister President of Prussia, Minister of Justice of the German Empire

Others

* Adolf Fritzen (1838-1919), Archbishop of Straßbourg

* Karl Trimborn (1854-1921), Secretary of State of the Ministry of the Interior of the German Empire

* Hans Müller (1884-1961), President of the Federal Finance Court of Germany

* Joseph Schneider (1900-1986), first President of the Federal Social Court of Germany

* Ludwig Pastor Baron Camperfelden (1854-1928), one of the most important Catholic historians, ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Holy See

* Rainer Ludwig Claisen (1851-1930), famous German chemist

* August Everding (1928-1999), outstanding German opera director and administrator of the 20th century, whose productions were seen in all the major international houses

* Karl Albrecht, director of Aldi, son of Karl Albrecht (b. 1920), the wealthiest man in Germany

* Heinrich Weitz (1890-1962), President of the German Red Cross

A number of members participated in the Widerstand (English: resistance) against Nazi Germany; two of them, Leo Trouet and Benedikt Schmittmann, were arrested and killed.

Quotation

"Last week Adenauer's college days became a topic of national discussion. Addressing a nostalgic reunion of Alte Herren (old grads) (note: at "Arminia's" hundredth anniversary celebration), the Chancellor defended Germany's tradition of fraternities, which are widely accused of fostering authoritarianism. Though at 87 Adenauer has seen most if not all of his old fraternity classmates die, he is still a loyal member of "Arminia". ... Adenauer is supposed to confine himself to being ... the oldest surviving member of "Arminia"." ("Time, The Weekly News Magazine", July 26, 1963, Atlantic Edition)

External links

* [http://www.kstv-arminia.de K.St.V. Arminia-homepage]
* [mailto:[e-mail] [e-mail]]
* [http://couleurkarten.ooecv.at/Deutschland/Arminia-Bonn.htm Arminia's postcards since 1896]