From May 17, the new special exhibition "Von Flusspiraten und Wandervögeln" will complement the exhibition area of the Erwin Hymer Museum in Bad Waldsee. The special exhibition takes visitors back to the roots of the camping movement in Germany and is dedicated to a pioneer who has been unjustly forgotten: Hans Berger. He founded the Sportberger company exactly 100 years ago.
Numerous exhibits ranging from folding boats, tents and camping accessories to caravans show how the camping movement in Germany developed from the Wandervogel and water hiking and why Hans Berger played a major role in this. Berger, who had been manufacturing folding boats since 1919, founded a company in 1924 to produce camping articles and accessories. Hans Berger recognized the need for small and lightweight caravans early on. He found his customers among the numerous water hikers who made his first folding caravan "Haus dabei", one of the first mass-produced caravans, a success. Within a very short time, Sportberger grew to become the most successful manufacturer of caravans before the outbreak of the Second World War.
"The exhibition not only shows original exhibits. It also tells of young people's escape from the industrial city, the desire for a piece of freedom, community and the wildness of nature," says exhibition curator Isabell Eisenbarth. The exhibits include a Sportberger L4 Lux, one of the last caravan models produced by Sportberger. The model on display is privately owned by the daughter of the company founder. The special thing about the L4 Lux is that it served as a vehicle for her honeymoon in 1967. The exhibits also include two original Sportberger folding boats from the 1930s and a copy of the famous "Haus dabei" tent trailer.
A Sportberger K4, the further development of the best-selling caravan of the pre-war period, will be on display for the first time. Numerous historical images and film material, magazines, brochures and contemporary reports allow visitors to immerse themselves in the era of the pioneers of caravanning. Many interactive and playful elements as well as a craft activity for children make a visit to the special exhibition an exciting excursion for the whole family. The special exhibition is accompanied by numerous educational museum programs and workshops.
The Sportberger company withdrew from the caravan business in 1966 and refocused on camping accessories. Hans Berger may never have realized his influence on the camping movement in Germany. Tragically, he died on the day the last caravan was delivered. Until the company was sold in 1995, his daughter Margarete Holbe-Berger managed the fortunes of the camping pioneer's company.
The opening date of May 17 was not chosen at random. Hans Berger, born in 1897, would have had his birthday on the same day. The exhibition is expected to run until September 2024. Admission to the special exhibition is already included in the museum admission price. The special exhibition "Of River Pirates and Migratory Birds" is integrated into the main exhibition of the Erwin Hymer Museum.
Further information can be found on the Erwin Hymer Museum website.
