Warriors and soldiers camaraderie Höhenkirchen in crisis – Munich district

The Hohenkirchen Warriors and Soldiers Association always meets for the annual general meeting on Epiphany – actually. This Friday, however, the veterans will stay home; the meeting was postponed indefinitely. The reason: the traditional association founded in 1921 needs a new chairman, but has not yet found a candidate. “And inviting to the meeting without at least being able to submit proposals to the members makes no sense from the point of view of the board,” says a statement.

At least Fritz Schatz is confident that the warrior and soldier comradeship will soon be able to elect a new leadership. “I have a candidate in mind that I still have to convince,” says the acting chairman. After more than 20 years on the board, he himself wants to step down and no longer be in the front row. “I now lack the necessary drive,” explains Schatz. “Besides, I don’t want to have to be on hand all the time.” After all, in an association in which only a few people volunteer, a lot depends on the chairman. “At Christmas, for example, we packed parcels for all members, which I then delivered,” says the 72-year-old. “I was away for three days.”

However, Schatz is not afraid that the difficult search for a new chairman could threaten the existence of the traditional association. The warrior and soldier comradeship Höhenkirchen also has to struggle with the same problems that concern many of the approximately 30 warrior clubs in the district – above all the old age of their members and a lack of young people. As a result, many groups have opened up for the unserved and women, including the Hohenkirchen Warriors and Soldiers Association. In the meantime, Fritz Schatz even toyed with the idea of ​​changing the name of the traditional club to sound less martial and possibly attract new members. But he ultimately rejected this idea, says the current chairman and laughs. “Otherwise the elders would have lynched me.”

The pandemic was particularly difficult for the warriors and soldiers comradeship Höhenkirchen. It not only brought club life to a standstill, but also thwarted plans for a big anniversary celebration to mark the 100th birthday of the club and the local war memorial. In the meantime, however, events have been organized again, reports Fritz Schatz. Last year, the association invited to a morning pint on Father’s Day and to the traditional Christmas brass band on Christmas Eve. And even the age structure of the approximately 75 members could be rejuvenated – thanks to several new members from the local boys’ club. It is not least in them that the chairman places his hopes when he thinks about the future. And especially in times when war is raging again in Europe, a club like the Hohenkirchen Warriors’ and Soldiers’ Association is more important than ever, Fritz Schatz believes – “as a reminder for peace.”

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