Wadersloher Schützenfest: A reminder of courage against the Nazi regime!

Wadersloher Schützenfest: A reminder of courage against the Nazi regime!

This weekend a festive spectacle is being celebrated in Wadersloh: the traditional shooting festival. This year the festival has a special touch, as it not only serves to celebrate, but also to intensively examine the history of the shooting club, which was forced to disband in the 1930s under pressure from the Nazi regime. On Sunday morning, as part of the festival, a memorial hour will take place at the cenotaph near Selhorst (Stromberger Straße/Kopernikusstraße), which commemorates this dark time. Mario Wachsmann, the officer of the anniversary company, gave a moving speech as part of the celebrations, which began with a humorous approach, but quickly turned into a thoughtful review of the club's history.

In his speech, Wachsmann referred to the concerns that led the leadership of the shooting club to consider a self-imposed withdrawal. In 1933, when the National Socialists came to power, the situation worsened dramatically: Colonel Dr. Robert Leineweber and Mayor Gerhard Mense rejected membership in the Nazi Reich Association for Physical Exercise and thus entered into open resistance, which ultimately led to the association's self-dissolution in 1937. This step was a courageous stance at a time when many clubs were submitting to political conformity.

Club history and remembrance work

The memory of the Jewish shooting king Louis Gutmann, who reigned in 1925, was also mentioned in Wachsmann's speech. His name, which is often barely mentioned in regional history, should not be forgotten. The call for tolerance, diversity and minority rights emerged as a key message to ensure that the atrocities of the past are not repeated.

The Schützenfest, which takes place from June 14th to 16th, 2025, offers a lot of attractions for all ages. From children's entertainment to parades and a dance floor, entertainment is provided. The 2024/2025 royal couple, Olaf Neumann and Diana Brinkmann, are also an essential part of the event. It is particularly worth mentioning that the jubilee company is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

Community and tradition

A novelty this year: The internal structure of the marquee has been optimized and the shooting fair will be broadcast via live stream for the first time in order to be accessible to a wider audience. An exciting connection is also visible in the friendship with the Obing music club from Bavaria, which was invited to celebrate 25 years of friendship.

The Wadersloh shooting club currently has 1,382 members and has placed the task of recruiting members in the hands of everyone. In addition to the celebrations at the shooting festival, the King's Cup shooting event is also on the program, in which 21 former majesties take part. Bernhard Schniederjohann will be honored as the 2025 King's Cup winner. Registration for the cup shootout for the local clubs is required by September 6, 2024.

The memorial hour and the festivities not only represent togetherness in the community, but also the assumption of responsibility in the culture of remembrance. With the conscious examination of the past and the commemoration tied to it, the Wadersloh shooting club shows a strong sign of community that should last for generations. In this way, a festival of entertainment also becomes a festival of remembrance and responsibility for the future.