Sbor Recap
On September 15, 1945, the druzhina “Nizhniy Novgorod” began its existence in the Displaced Persons (DP) camp in the city of Regensburg. At the Christmas tree celebration on January 8, 1946, twelve boys gave the Scout Oath as razvedchiki, and eight volchata joined.
In 1946, an international committee of DP Scouts was formed in Regensburg, which included Ukrainians, Russians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Belarusians, and Poles, and in 1948, also Germans. The committee (with Viktor Rosenberg appointed as the Russian representative) revived scouting activities: competitions were organized, international kostry with performances were held, and scouts participated in all festive events of camp life, marching in parades and reviews.
That same year, a summer camp was held in Alling. On August 8, 1946, the druzhina took part in the first international hike-competition. It should be noted that there were far fewer Russians than Ukrainians, and far fewer Belarusians than Russians.
The competitions ended with a kostyor where each group performed songs, dances, and skits. Folk dances were especially popular, and here the Russians always excelled, as almost all the girls had ballet training.
By the end of 1946, the druzhina numbered 40 members. In addition to camps and competitions, they held 4 two-day overnight hikes and 20 one-day hikes.
In 1947, activities began with a Christmas tree celebration and caroling. On February 9, an international competition took place. The hike was difficult, as half the route had to be covered through deep snow. There were many scouting challenges in tracking, signaling, and so on. Out of 100 possible points, the razvedchiki scored 86, sharing first place with the Latvians. The Ukrainian girls’ patrol took first overall with 88 points, just four ahead of the Russians.
In May of that year, an international competition for leaders was held. The tasks were not hard but had to be completed within a strict time limit, otherwise they counted as incomplete. The Russians solved all the tasks and expected congratulations for their victory, only to learn that the Poles had also completed everything, but in 12 minutes less, thus taking first place, with the Russians in second.
That evening a ceremonial kostyor was held with performances on a specially built stage. The Russian girl razvedchitsy were the only group to perform folk dances. “It was good that the Russians showed their national art,” people later said.
In 1947 there were two overnight hikes and 14 one-day hikes. In August, the druzhina attended the “Legau Camp.” By then it became impossible to gather all Russian Scouts in one place, and so druzhiny spent from two to three weeks in camp. The Nizhniy Novgorod druzhina camped with druzhiny from Passau and Schleissheim, staying four weeks because there was no transport to take them to the train station.
That same summer in Mittenwald, a five-day jamboree was held with five nationalities participating. The Russians fielded a combined patrol, which included Nizhniy Novgorod members, while Rosenberg served as one of the judges.
In this year, the druzhina published a brochure by “Lone Wolf” titled The Pathfinder. The headquarters was set up and decorated, and two tables were built—one for ping pong and one for novus (a kind of billiards). By the end of the year, the druzhina numbered 55 members.
1948. The ranks of the druzhina thinned. Many new DP groups were emigrating abroad, taking their scouting experience and knowledge with them. That year saw several competitions, but the druzhina lacked strength because many experienced members had left, while new ones were not yet trained. At major competitions, scouts from nearby cities could gather in larger numbers, but the Russian Scouts were farther away, and getting to Regensburg was difficult.
As usual, one of those days ended with a ceremonial kostyor. The Russians presented one of the most successful performances of all the international kostry.
They staged a “film” called Surgery. Spectators watched a white sheet lit from behind by a bright bicycle lamp—this was the “screen” where the shadow play unfolded. The “patient” (Gennady Chernopyatov) comes to the doctor (Kirill Zaporozhan) complaining of stomach pain. The doctor begins treating him: pulling out rope and nails from his mouth, then sawing open his stomach and removing a hammer, chain, pliers, axe, and more. Finally, with a huge needle and cord, he stitches the stomach closed, and the patient leaves completely healthy. The audience saw only shadows, but it was performed so well that everyone laughed for a long time.
In 1948 only a handful went to summer camp. A drought struck. The Danube’s water level dropped sharply, turning black. An epidemic of poliomyelitis began. The DP camp was surrounded with barbed wire and placed under quarantine. Nobody was allowed out for entire days. School classes began with a one-month delay.
The DP camps emptied. Some were closed, and the remaining inhabitants were moved elsewhere. At the end of the year, the Russian camp from Passau, which had a strong druzhina, was transferred to Regensburg. The newcomers were not as experienced as the Regensburg scouts, but they had a remarkable razvedchik spirit and strong unity, especially the girls. On hikes to competitions, they marched energetically and in full numbers. By the end of the year, the druzhina had 64 members.
1949. An anniversary slët took place in Schleissheim to mark the 40th anniversary of Russian Scouting. More than 500 people gathered, including over 40 leaders. The druzhiny were judged not only by competition results, but also by behavior, participation in camp work, and preparation for the slët.
“Nizhniy Novgorod” took second place, while “Kiev” from the French Zone won first. “Kiev” continues its work in San Francisco. In 1950, the Regensburg DP population was moved to Ingolstadt, and the druzhina ceased activity.
In July 1949, Rosenberg left for the USA. Under his leadership, a scout druzhina arose in Los Angeles, and it was named:
– «Нижний Новгород».
—A. Aristova, from the notes of V. Rosenberg
