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THE ROTARY CLUB OF MUNICH

http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/DxProgramHome/programhome.aspx?cid=5378&pid=35804&sid=51469

The Munich Germany Rotary club was founded in 1928 and was the 4^th club established in Germany.

The most famous member was Thomas Mann. He was a novelist that won the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature. When his club marked the event, Mann used the occasion to express his support for the mission of Rotary.

However, it was only 4 years later (1933) when he and several other Jewish members were removed from membership for views unacceptable under Nazi rule.

For several years  the Nazi Party had made no secret of its aversion to the Rotary movement. In 1933, several German Clubs  disbanded because of this. For several years, after that, certain other clubs tried to negotiate a coexistence with the Nazi’s.

However, In 1937, after four years of negotiations, the Nazi party prevailed. All Clubs, then knew it was time to  dissolve , including Munich.  

Immediately,  all German Rotary files were confiscated by the Gestapo.  These files were found by the Red Army, in 1945 and they were brought to Moscow.  They were eventually returned to East Germany in the 1950 and 60’s and later to Berlin after reunification.

Meanwhile, members of the Munich club met privately during the 1937-1948 period. The club was “permitted” to exist in 1948 and was comprised of several former members as well as some newer members.

In 1949,  R.I.  renewed the  charter. The club has since expanded and flourished.

The club had its first woman member in 1991.

They currently have 74 members . Meetings are held at the Hilton Hotel on Monday evening at 8 PM

The Jan 28^th meeting will have a speaker from the Ohel Jakob Synagogue. This new Synagogue was opened on Nov 9, 2006 on the 68^th anniversary of the destruction of the old Synagogue during Kristallnacht, when windows of Jewish owned stores were smashed and Synagogues burned throughout Germany and Austria.

This seems to complete a major transition, for the Club.