(everything you need to know about)
Vegetarianism in Germany
German Culture Project
By Annie Camara
(Anja)
vegetarian
what does it mean?
a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating
meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases*, any food derived from
animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables,
fruits, nuts, grain, etc.
*in those cases, the person is called vegan, and also doesn’t use (or condones
the use) of leather and fur.
history
of vegetarianism in Germany
In 1867, Eduard Baltzer from Liepzig founded the Deutsche Verein
für natürliche Lebensweise (German Natural Living Society). One
year later, Gustav von Struve founded the Stuttgart Vegetarian
Society, which expanded 10 years later to become Southern
Germany’s Vegetarian Association.
Between 1877 and 1908, the International Vegetarian Union was
founded and their first international meeting was held in Dresden.
In 1913, the first Women’s Vegetarian Society (Verein
Vegetarischer Frauen) was founded by Martha Förster.
Germany’s current
vegetarian societies
Currently, there are a number of vegetarian societies in Germany.
• Welt Vegan Tag (web-based)
• Vegetarier-Bund Deutschlands (based out of Hannover)
• Vegetarische Initiative e.V.
history
of vegetarianism in Germany (continued)
The International Vegetarian Union held more meetings in the
next couple of decades, until 1935 when independent societies were
made illegal and were forced to either join the Nazi Living Reform
Movement or close. The members of the Deutcher Vegetarier-Bund
conducted a ballot of their members and they voted to close. On
February 18, 1935 the Bund (federation) was dissolved.
In 1945 the Vegetarians re-established themselves and, after
various reorganizations and name changes, became the VegetarierBund Deutschlands (Vegetarian Federation of Germany) in 1985.
This was to become a vegetarian federation for the entire country.
Famous German
Vegetarians
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Albert Einstein
Albert Schweitzer
Martin Luther
Nina Hagen
Adolph Hitler
Arthur Schopenhauer
Farin Urlaub
Alexander Dargatz
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was indeed a vegetarian,
although not for a significant amount of time
About three years before his death, he wrote
the following in a letter to his friend: "I have
always eaten animal flesh with a somewhat
guilty conscience.”
One year later, in a letter to the same friend,
he wrote "So I am living without fats, without
meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well
this way. It always seems to me that man was
not born to be a carnivore."
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer was a strict vegetarian and animal lover.
He was a German theologian, musician, philosopher and physician.
It is obvious in the musings of people who were around him for prolonged
periods of time that Schweitzer was compassionate towards animals and people
.
James Camerson wrote: "The Doctor eats only fruits and vegetables - but
considerably great quantities of mango, avocado, and soya bean, and above all,
a specially huge species of boiled banana. The Doctor has no illusions about
modern civilization and that is why he advocates a new one built upon
Reverence of Life. He believes that modern civilization with its atomic bombs is
based wrongfully on destruction of life."
Martin Luther
Martin Luther is said to have been a vegetarian.
He was a German theologian, Augustinian
monk, and an important ecclesiastical reformer.
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a well-known German punk-rock
singer and musician from Berlin
She and her daughter are vegetarian.
Adolf Hitler…
Adolf Hitler is said to have been a
vegetarian, but not for any long
period of time.
At 22 years old, he first tried
being vegetarian in an attempt to
cure a stomach ailment. In a 1911
letter, he wrote .. It was nothing
but a small stomach upset and I
am trying to cure myself through
a diet of fruits and vegetables.
Hitler’s secretary in 1942 reported
that he always avoided meat, but
Author Rynn Berry maintains that
he was in no way an ethical
vegetarian. Although he did
reduce his meat intake, it’s never
been proven that he stopped
eating it completely for any
significant length of time.
…was he really vegetarian?
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher.
He was vegetarian, but not many people were aware of it.
He urged that, ethically, we should all become vegetarians.
Farin Urlaub
Farin Urlaub is best known as being the guitarist/lead singer of
the German punk band Die Ärzte. He is a vegetarian and is said
to be active in the animals right community.
Alexander Dargatz
Alexander Dargatz is a German body-builder who won the
World Champion Body Builder title in 2005
Alexander is vegan and contributes his body-building
success to his diet
He has been a vegetarian for for five years, having become
one overnight in 2000.
Vegetarian German Cuisine
Asparagus, especially white asparagus
known as Weißspargel, is popular in
Germany, as a side dish or main course.
Restaurants will even devote an entire
menu to nothing but Spargel, when it is the
right season. Spargel season is
traditionally set to the month before St.
John's Day (June 24th).
Vegetarian German Cuisine
Frühstück was always included at the hotels where we stayed,
but it was only partially vegetarian friendly.
“Most German Frühstück buffets include bacon, sausage,
eggs, cereals, fruit, cheeses, yogurt, juice, coffee, tea, bread
and fish.”
Thankfully for vegetarians and vegans alike, the bread, cereals and fruit
are more than enough to tide us over until lunch.
Vegetarian German Cuisine
Vegetables are usually served in the form of vegetable soups or
stews. Cabbage, carrots, spinach, turnips, peas, beans, are very
common. Fried onions are a common addition to many meat dishes
throughout the country, and potatoes, while a major part of the diet,
are usually not counted among vegetables by Germans.
Personal Vegetarian Experience
in Germany
Difficult without research on
vegetarian food prior to visiting
Most of our time was spent in
Bavaria (the largest state, in the
Southeast of Germany), which,
unfortunately, is not very
vegetarian friendly
I made some exceptions when I
was starving, such as eating
Spätzle (a type of egg pasta)
For two weeks, my fellow travelers’
diet consisted of the following:
A house salad consisting of radicchio,
spinach, carrots and cucumber.
German Veggie Resources
Website with German vegetarian restaurant information http://www.v-label.info/
Gasthaus Schillinger - Completely vegetarian restaurant in
Großmugl, Austria
European Vegetarian Union website - http://www.euroveg.eu/
Works Cited
• Wikipedia.org
• IVU.org - International Vegetarian Union
• euroveg.eu - Europäische Vegetarier Union
• buzzle.com
• godsdirectcontact.org.tw/eng/news/163/vg2.htm