Pursuit of an 'Unparalleled Opportunity'
The American YMCA and Prisoner of War Diplomacy among the Central Power Nations
during World War I, 1914-1923.
by Kenneth Steuer

Appendix 6d

Engländer Ruhleben: Official Opening of the YMCA Hall, Friday, the 24th of December 1915 at 2:30pm

image This program is an example of an official inauguration of a YMCA building. The ceremony at the British civilian internment camp at Ruhleben in Brandenburg did not merit the same enthusiasm as the Association inauguration in Göttingen eight months earlier. This two-page program outlines the musical program and addresses on the front and the words to the hymns used in the ceremony on the back. Conrad Hoffman, the Senior American YMCA Secretary in Germany, presented the keys of the YMCA hall to the prisoners. Rittmeister von Brocken, the camp commandant, gave a short address to the prisoners and L.G. Beaumont, representing the Hall Control Committee, accepted the keys and opened the building. Officially opening the Association on Christmas Eve 1915 undoubtedly provided the British civilians holiday cheer during a dark time in their lives.1

Notes:

Note 1: Engländer Ruhleben: Official Opening of the YMCA Hall, Friday, the 24th of December 1915, at 2:30pm. December 1915. Armed Services Records Box 53, Folder: "Prisoner of War Work for Germany-1914-1915," Kautz Family YMCA Archives, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. back