The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The anniversary is accompanied by numerous events and activities aimed at raising awareness of the work of the relief organization. These include a ceremony in May and various projects throughout the country, as reported in a press release on August 11.
Other activities include cities decorated with blue banners, a ten-euro commemorative coin, and a special stamp that has been available in branches and the online shop of Deutsche Post since August 7. THW
President Sabine Lackner explains:
“The THW stamp is a special tribute to 75 years of dynamic missions and moving stories surrounding civil and disaster protection. Even if it's not the 'Blue Mauritius,' the ultramarine THW stamp is still a special splash of color in any stamp collection.”
The commemorative stamp, valued at 95 cents, focuses on 75 years of disaster relief and civil protection worldwide. The design is by the Rogger team from Biberach, who had also designed a special stamp for the 50th THW anniversary. Central to
the design is the bright yellow back label of the THW emergency clothing.
With the special stamp, Deutsche Post aims to honor the efforts of about 88,000 volunteers and 2,200 full-time staff who have made THW a reliable partner in emergencies over 75 years.
Since its founding on August 22, 1950, by Otto Lummitzsch, THW has been active in numerous national and international operations—from natural disasters such as storm surges, floods, and earthquakes to incidents like those in Lengede or Eschede. THW also provided technical and logistical assistance
during the COVID-19 pandemic, after the storm "Bernd" in the Ahr Valley, and in over 140 countries worldwide.
Up until the anniversary on August 22, the THW press office will be releasing weekly communications highlighting different aspects of THW's history.
THW is the volunteer-based operational organization of the federal government. Around 88,000 volunteers nationwide are the foundation for civil protection. THW also supports international aid measures on behalf of the federal government, including operations as part of the European Union's disaster protection procedure and on behalf of UN
