German-Baltic student associations

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German connections in Dorpat, Riga and St. Petersburg (1931)

The German-Baltic student associations are the student associations of the Baltic Germans at the University of Dorpat , the University of Latvia , the University of Saint Petersburg and the Lomonossow University . After the resettlement in 1939 and the Second World War, German-Baltic student associations formed in Hamburg , Göttingen , Munich , Marburg , Frankfurt am Main and Tübingen .

Baltic Germans at German universities

The sons of these families have always studied at universities in the German-speaking area. For example, a national union of Baltic Germans at a German university has been handed down since the 17th century. In Göttingen, for example, a “Landsmannschaft der Kurländer” can be traced for 1772, 1778 and 1780. Even then, the Kurlanders were distinguished by a color-coded uniform. In Göttingen they wore a blue skirt with red petticoats, with a yellow collar, skirt and waistcoat. The cockade was white. Even later, numerous compatriots from the Liv and Kurland countries can be identified as student associations in Germany.

When the first student associations in today's sense emerged with the Corps around 1800 , a Curonia ("Kurland") was formed at the University of Jena on December 4, 1801 and at the Georg-August University of Göttingen in the winter semester 1804/05. The first Curonia, called "Corps Curonia", existed in 1810 at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg . Other universities in which Courland corps are documented for the 19th century were Berlin and Bonn. At all of these universities the Kurlanders wore the colors green-blue-white, whereby in Jena the colors were read from below according to local tradition. The Latvian motto Tam draugam draugs was also widely used by these corps . (TDD).

In Göttingen in the first half of the 19th century a total of six convents named "Curonia" existed one after the other. Pastor Franz Oehme writes in his "Göttingen Memories" (published in Gotha 1873) about the period from 1824 to 1826 (time of the V. Göttingen Curonen-Conventes):

“The Kurlanders are at the top. Only small in number, but distinguished by their noble demeanor. No Kurlander has committed excesses by which a rebuke could fall on the connection. When it came to student honor with the bat in hand, the Kurlander did not step back against anyone ... In their association there were not those who stood out, who were famous, who dressed themselves strikingly, or who showed that they were rich nobles - and yet recognized everyone acknowledged their worth and was happy to be in touch with them. But it cannot be denied either; they had something closed. "

From this fifth Göttingen Curonen Convent, which existed from 1823 to 1827, a list of members with 31 names has been preserved. On this list are 26 nobles, including 19 barons, 4 counts and a Russian prince.

There are family ties to the Green and White Corps , especially Guestphalia Heidelberg and Franconia Jena .

Baltic universities

In 1802 the Imperial University of Dorpat , located in the Livonia Governorate , was (re) founded by the reform-minded Tsar Alexander I. This time based on their own approaches by the Estonian knighthood , i.e. the land- owning Baltic German nobility. As a result, in 1808, a Curonia was formed in Dorpat as a connection between students from the Kurland Governorate . A few years later, the Estonian, Livonian and Rigan national teams, the Estonia , the Livonia and the Fraternitas Rigensis , were founded.

Its members included a number of students who had also been members of a Curonia in Germany before. They had precise ideas about how to organize student life. As a result of these relationships, connections based on the German model also developed in the Baltic States. In particular, the Göttingen Comment and the Göttingen fencing style were adopted.

When a technical university, the so-called Baltic Polytechnic , opened in Riga in 1862 , various corps were also founded here, such as the Fraternitas Baltica (1865), the Concordia Rigensis (1869), the Corps Rubonia (1875) and the Fraternitas Marcomannia ( 1902), which later moved to Moscow . When the students were founded in Riga, the ethnic origin of the students no longer played a role. This was followed by further new foundations, renaming and relocations in Dorpat and Riga over the next few decades.

Since 1847 there was also a German-Baltic Corps in Saint Petersburg called Nevania, whose tradition was transferred to the Corps Concordia Rigensis in 1970. The Hyberborea Fraternity was also founded in St. Petersburg in 1909, which then moved to Dorpat as the Fraternitas Normannia in 1918.

Around the middle of the 19th century, students from other nations represented in the Baltic States founded student associations based on the German-Baltic model. This resulted in connections between the Estonians (the Vironia, 1900; the Fraternitas Estica, 1907), the Latvians (the Lettonia, 1870; the Selonia , 1880), the Poles (the Polonia, 1828; the Arkonia , 1879; the Welecja , 1883). and the Russians (the Fraternitas Arctica 1880).

Baltic peculiarities

Scale length in Dorpat with the typical leather helmet (1820s)

The peculiarity compared to the development in Germany was that the type of connection based on the early Corps studenthood, initially oriented towards country teams, fully established itself in the Baltic States and later developments could not gain a foothold here. This was mainly due to the clear situation in the Baltic States. The number of students and the families they came from were limited, they knew each other, and there was no room for all kinds of connections.

The Baltic fraternity is also considered by student historians to be the "island of tradition" of early customs and traditions in Germany. As there are sometimes gaps in the research of student customs due to the poor source situation due to the many bans, Baltic traditions from later times are often used to explain older German phenomena.

The Baltic student associations had no part in the increasing formalization of the student pub . To this day, people sit together casually, with the senior sitting as the leader among the participants.

In the case of the Mensur , student fencing with sharp weapons, there was no development in the Baltic States in the direction of “determination mensur ”, in which fights are only used to develop personality without any previous insults. Up until 1939, only honor disputes were fought in the Baltic States with the racket , and if necessary with the dueling pistol. The equipment and the implementation of the fencing corresponded to the status as it was common in Germany around the middle of the 19th century until 1939. Those who claimed to be “anti-duelers” did not need to face anyone with sharp weapons.

On the other hand, however, completely different customs and forms of communal life emerged, which are to be regarded as typical Baltic developments. Beer, a common drink in student bars, was hard to come by in the Baltic States. The students switched to the local vodka, which was enjoyed in connection with small dishes ( see also: vodka ) and is still used today. A samovar , from which tea is served, is still part of a Baltic student pub to this day.

There are still special features to this day with the Couleur , the distinctive signs in connecting colors. The student cap , known as the “lid” in the Baltic States, is usually embroidered on top with a star, the so-called Baltic star . New members, the so-called foxes , do not wear a chest band in some Baltic connections (this is still common today). The “lid” of the foxes does not show any connection colors either and is completely black in some Baltic connections.

Further Baltic peculiarities exist in the terminology. The Seniors' Convent in the Baltic States is called “Chargierten-Convent”, abbreviated “Ch! -C!” With exclamation marks instead of dots as abbreviations. The fox major is called "Oldermann" and the corporation house is called "Conventsquartier" ("C! Q!").

After the First World War

300th anniversary of Dorpat University (1932)

After the end of the First World War and the establishment of the independent Baltic States, the Baltic German connections had to relocate from Dorpat to Riga. At the same time, the first connections of the Baltic type were established in Germany, as many students now continued their studies elsewhere. In 1922, a branch convent of the Curonia was established in Jena, which maintained close relationships with the local corps and lasted until 1934. From 1921 to 1931 there was a subsidiary convention of the Fraternitas Academica Dorpat in Berlin and from 1924 a subsidiary convention of Rubonia Riga in Munich . From 1922 to 1930 the Fraternitas Dorpatensis existed in Danzig and the Baltonia in Hanover. About 800 Philistines in Germany came together in the Baltic Academic Delegate Convention (D! C!).

During the independence of the Baltic states between the world wars, the great times of the Estonian and Latvian student associations began. In the 1920s in particular, many associations of this kind were established, which saw themselves as institutions for the care of the national identity of the Baltic peoples, although they followed the traditions developed by the Baltic Germans. It was interesting that a lot of women's associations ( sororitates ) were founded, which also largely took over the traditions - with the exception of student fencing.

After the Second World War

After the resettlement in 1939 due to the German-Soviet border and friendship treaty and the political upheavals of World War II, the end of the Baltic fraternity seemed sealed. But soon after 1945 voices rose up urging a re-establishment. Of course, that was only possible in the then newly formed Federal Republic of Germany. The Corps Concordia Rigensis and the Curonia Goettingensis soon formed in Hamburg and Göttingen. You were accepted into the Kösener SC Association .

The Baltic Corporation Fraternitas Dorpatensis in Munich was more in the old independence. In 1947 the Corona Dorpatensis was created in Marburg and in 1954 the Hanseatia Dorpatensis in Frankfurt am Main . In Tübingen, the AV Contubernium Dorpatense existed from 1951 to around 1970 . The so-called Dorpatensen, which temporarily formed a joint senior citizens' convention with the Fraternitas Dorpatensis in the 1950s, either became too liberal in the late 1960s (in Marburg) or had their character like this by abandoning their Baltic peculiarities (in Tübingen) changed that they soon found no more offspring.

The Philistines of the Baltic connections re-established in Germany are organized in the Baltic Philistine Association (B! Ph! V!). Founded in 1951, it sees itself in the tradition of the Curonia from 1808 and wants to keep alive and promote the traditions and ideals of the Baltic boyhood.

The Fraternitas Arctica was re-established in 1990 in Riga as the only Russian student union .

Baltic independence

In 1964 the tradition of the Baltic Völkerkommers was established in Heidelberg , which has developed into a weekend event lasting several days, during which a ball and a ceremony take place in addition to the actual Kommers . Since the independence of the Baltic states in 1991, the event has been held alternately at German (Hamburg, Göttingen, Munich) and Latvian connections - in close cooperation and coordination with the Estonian and Latvian connections that were established at the end of the 19th century and returned from exile after the fall of the Wall (Riga), Estonian (Tallinn, Tartu) and Polish universities (Gdansk, Warsaw). In 2001, the Baltic People's Committee was organized on Polish territory for the first time. More than 53 Baltic corporations took part in the 40th Baltic People's Com- mer in 2003 in Tartu . The following venues were Riga (2004), Hamburg (2005), Tartu (2006), Riga (2007), Göttingen (2008), Tartu (2009), Riga (2010), Warsaw (2011), Munich (2012), Tartu ( 2013), Riga (2014), Danzig (2015), Hamburg (2016), Tartu / Dorpat (2017), Riga (2018), Warsaw (2019). Heidelberg is planned as the venue for 2020.

In order to create networks between Estonian, Latvian and German corporations, German-Baltic Corps students founded the Bridge to the Baltic States Sponsorship Group , which is now a member of the European Leonardo da Vinci educational program at the Riga Technical University . The FKB would like to make a contribution to the integration of the Baltic States into the European Union. For example, internships are arranged for Baltic students, the interns are looked after on site and social connections are offered; But visits by students who want to study in Germany are also supported. The schools receive donations for teaching material.

List of German Baltic Corporations

Surname Duration Colours Albums
Curonia Göttingen 1805-1829

Dorpat 1808–1918
Riga 1921–1938
Jena 1922–1934

Curonia goettingensis (coat of arms) .jpg
Green-blue-white
Curonorum album. Directory of members of Curonia 1808–1883 ( Alexander Bernewitz ). Mitau 1885. [1]
Album Curonorum (Wilhelm Raeder and E. Bettac). Jurjew (Dorpat) 1903.
Album Curonorum 1808-1932 (Wilhelm Raeder). Riga 1932. [2]
Addendum Bovenden . 1954.
Album Curonorum II . o. O. 1978.
Curonen offspring (Walther Prechtel). Hildesheim 1986
Baltic Corporation Estonia Dorpat Dorpat 1821-1939
Coat of arms Estonia Dorpat.jpg
Green-purple-white
Album Estonorum (Axel von Gernet). 2nd edition St. Petersburg 1896.
Album Estonorum . 3rd edition 1910. [3]
Album Estonorum . 4th edition Tallinn 1939. (Reprinted 1961).
Addendum (Ernst von Mühlendahl). 1955.
Addendum (Gert Mechmershausen). Bovenden 1961.
Addendum o. O. 1976.
Baltic Corporation Livonia Dorpat Dorpat 1822-1939
Livonia Dorpat (coat of arms) .jpg
Red-green-white
Directory of the compatriots of Livonia ( Alphons Thun ). 1873.
Album Dorpato-Livonorum ( Theodor Beise ). Dorpat 1875. [4]
Album Dorpati Livonorum (Alexander Ammon). Dorpat 1890. [5]
Addendum . Jurjew (Dorpat) 1897.
Album Dorpato-Livonorum (Reinhard Ottow). 1908. [6]
Album Dorpati Livonorum. Addendum 1908–1924 ( Heinrich Laakmann ). 1925. [7]
Album Livonorum, Dorpat 1822-1939 (Wilhelm Lenz). Otterndorf 1958.
Addendum . Otterndorf 1960.
Addendum . Otterndorf 1964.
Album Livonorum ( Wilhelm Lenz ). Lübeck 1972
Baltic Corporation Fraternitas Rigensis Dorpat Dorpat 1823–1919
Riga 1921–1938
Fraternitas Rigensise vapp.png
Blue-red-white
The compatriots of the Fraternitas Rigensis from January 21, 1823 to January 21, 1873 .
Album of the compatriots of the fraternitas Rigensis 1823–1887 ( Arend Berkholz ). 1888. [8]
Album of the compatriots of the Fraternitas Rigensis (1823–1898) (Arend Berkholz). 2nd edition Riga 1898. [9]
Album fratrum Rigensium (1823-1910) (Arend von Berkholz and Wolfgang Gaethgens). 3rd edition Riga 1910. [10]
Addendum (Winfried Behling). Riga 1924.
Album fratrum Rigensium (1823–1939) (Otto Hentzelt). Hamburg 1963.
Addendum (W. Th. Gaehtgens). Hamburg 1965.
Album fratrum Rigensium 1823–1979 (Robert Gross and Heinz Meyer-Eltz). Hechthausen 1981.
Fraternitas Baltica Riga 1865
Fraternitas Baltica Riga.jpg
Red-green-gold
Album of the compatriots of the Fraternitas Baltica 1865–1900 (Max Rosenkranz). Riga 1900.
Album of the compatriots of the Fraternitas Baltica 1865–1910 (Max Rosenkranz and Eugen Stieda). 2nd edition. Riga 1910. [11]
Album of the compatriots of the Fraternitas Baltica (Werner Fahrbach).
3rd edition Aschaffenburg 1961.
Addendum . Mainaschaff 1972
Concordia Rigensis Riga 1869–1939
Hamburg since 1956
Coat of arms of Concordia Rigensis.jpg
Blue-gold-red
Theodor Pernaux, Alexander Grosse, Arved Pussel: Album Concordiae Rigensis 1869–1909 , Riga 1909.
Concordia Rigensis. 11/29/1869-29/11/1969. Festschrift: Chronicle, Album, Statistics . Hamburg 1969.
Frat. Pharmaceutica Dorpatensis Dorpat 1872-1932
Frat.  Pharmaceutica Dorpatensis.jpg
Black-blue-red
Album Baltorum et Gotonorum 1872-1976 (W. Seidel). Hamburg 1977.
- as Gotonia Riga 1921-1938
- as Baltonia Dorpat 1932-1939
Baltonia vapp.jpeg
Corps Rubonia Riga 1875–1938
Munich 1923–1931
Rubonia coat of arms.jpg
Light blue-white-black
Album of the compatriots of Rubonia 1875 to 1900 (Oscar Fischer). Riga 1900.
Album Rubonorum 1875-1910 (Herbert Balk). Riga 1910.
Album Rubonorum 1875–1957 (Ernst Kühnert). Lübeck 1957.
Album Rubonorum 1875–1972 (Woldemar Helb). 1972.
Neobaltia Dorpat 1879-1939
Corps Neobaltia Dorpat (coat of arms) .jpg
Blue-white-orange
Album of the compatriots of Neobaltia 1879–1904 (Georg Schnering) [12]
Album Neobaltorum 1879–1956 (Bruno von Lingen and Georg von Rieder). o. O. 1956
Nevania St. Petersburg
Nevania St. Petersburg.JPG
Light blue-white-dark blue
Album Nevanorum 1847-1897 (Bruno Hinze). 1897.
Album Nevanorum 1847–1908 (Erich Hesse). 2nd edition Dorpat 1909. [13]
Frat. Academica Dorpat 1881–1939
Berlin 1921–1932
Frat.  Academica Dorpat.jpg
Violet-blue-white
Album Fratrum Academicorum (Johann Brockhausen). Weidenau / Sieg 1960.
2nd edition Munich 1971.
3rd edition Munich 1981.
Frat. Marcomannia Riga 1902–1915
Moscow 1915–1917
Marcomannia Riga (coat of arms) .jpg
White-red-gold
Walter Lange : The corps list of the Fraternitas Marcomannia zu Riga (1902-1918) and its members of the general association (fencing bodists) . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 23 (1978), pp. 215-230.
Teutonia Dorpat 1908–1914 (?)
Tübingen 1919–1933 / 34
Teutonia Dorpat (coat of arms) .jpg
Green-white-pink
Harald Seewann: Teutonia Dorpat / Tübingen - a union of German colonist sons studying from Russia (1908–1933) . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 34 (1989), pp. 197-206.
Frat. Hyperborea St. Petersburg 1909–1918 Dark blue-silver-orange
Frat. Normannia St. Petersburg (1909) –1918
Dorpat 1920–1938
Reval 1931–1934
Normannia Dorpat (coat of arms) .JPG
Red-silver-blue
Album Normannorum St.Petersburg-Dorpat ( Georg von Rauch ). Munich 1968.
Frat. Dorpatensis Free City of Danzig 1922–1930
Frat.  Dorpatensis Danzig.jpg
Green-white-blue
Baltonia Hanover 1922–1929
(Baltic Corps)
Baltonia (Hanover) .jpg
Black-light blue-white
Corona Dorpatensis Marburg since 1947 Black-white-black (no cover) Corona Dorpatensis Marburg. Album Fratrum 1947–1967 ( Alfred Schönfeldt ) [attachment: Hanseatia Dorpatensis Frankfurt ]. o. O., o. J.
Frat. Dorpatensis in Munich Munich since 1948
(Baltic Corporation)
White-black-white
FDM coat of arms.jpg
Album Fratrum Dorpatensium (Patrick von Glasenapp and Hermann Walter). Munich 1963.
2nd edition (Peter Baron von der Howen). Munich 1973.
3rd edition (Torsten Keil). Munich 1993.
4th edition (Günther von Bünau.). o. O. 1998.
5th edition (Michael Baron von Grotthuss). Munich 2010
Contubernium Dorpatense Tübingen since 1951 Black-white-blue (no cover) Contubernium Dorpatense Tübingen: Album Fratrum 1951-1966 . o. O., o. J.
Hanseatia Dorpatensis Frankfurt am Main 1954–1966 Red-black-white (no cover) s. Corona Dorpatensis Marburg
Curonia goettingensis Göttingen Seniors' Convention since 1959
Curonia goettingensis (coat of arms) .jpg
Green-blue-white
Hans-Dieter Handrack : Göttingen album Curonorum . Osterode 2018.
Theological Association Album of the Theological Evening and Arminia 1850–1900 (Theodor Pfeil). Jurjew (Dorpat) 1902.
Album of the theological association in Dorpat-Jurjew ( Alfred Seeberg ). Dorpat-Jurjew 1905. [14]
Addendum . Dorpat 1929.

Members of Baltic corporations studying in Germany (1924–1928)

Yearbook of the Baltic Germanness in Latvia and Estonia 1930

corporation WS 1924/25 SS 1925 WS 1925/26 SS
1926
WS 1926/27 SS
1927
WS 1927/28 SS 1928 WS 1928/29 SS 1929
Curonia 12 12 9 11 11 12 18th (15) (15) (15)
Estonia 4th 3 3 5 6th 8th 2 3 3 5
Livonia 7th 8th 6th 7th 9 13 13 11 13 18th
Fraternitas Rigensis 4th 8th 5 6th 8th 3 5 5 7th 4th
Fraternitas Baltica 12 13 10 8th 3 8th 5 3 5 5
Concordia Rigensis 4th 3 1 3 0 0 0 0 2 2
Rubonia 5 8th 13 11 14th 12 11 13 10 12
Neobaltia 6th 6th 5 4th 3 3 4th 2 3 2
Fraternitas Academica 17th 17th 20th 19th 14th 19th 16 18th 19th 20th
Gotonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4th
Fraternitas Pharmaceutica Dorpat 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fraternitas Dorpatensis 19th 17th (15) (15) 15th (11) 11 10 6th 5
Baltonia 0 0 8th 7th 5 4th 4th 4th 5 2
Association of German Female Students 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Association of German-Baltic female students 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fraternitas Normannia 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
All in all 90 95 95 99 87 93 89 84 91 93

literature

Sorted by publication

  • Wolfgang Wachtsmuth : Nature, structure and importance of the former German-Baltic student corporations . Once and Now, Yearbook of the Association for Corporate Student History Research , Vol. 1 (1956), pp. 45–52.
  • Manfred Schummer: Active in Riga (Latvia) from 1921–1924 . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 1 (1956), pp. 53-60.
  • Schack-Steffenhagen: The Convents of Curonia at the universities of Germany 1801-1803. In: Festschrift der Curonia. Bonn 1958.
  • Karlis D Zirkalis: The Latvian Corps then and now . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 9 (1964), pp. 91-103 with illustration after p. 104.
  • Baltic Society in Germany (ed.): Baltic Burschentum. The student corporations of the Baltic Germans, Estonians and Latvians then and now , edited by Hans von Rimscha. Heidelberg Gutenberg printing house 1968.
  • Walter Lange : A student letter from 1866 from Riga . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 22 (1977), pp. 151-155.
  • Otto Kraus: German-Baltic Corps , in: Handbuch des Kösener Corpsstudenten , Vol. I, Würzburg 1985.
  • Harald Seewann : The Fraternitas Hanseatica in Graz , in: The Baltic student associations in Graz (= Volume 14 of the series of publications by the Styrian Student Historians Association. Graz 1988), pp. 30–37.
  • Harald Seewann: Burschentum in St. Petersburg and Moscow. An overview of the corporations formerly founded in these cities . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 43 (1998), pp. 157-178.
  • Harald Seewann: The academic association "Nord-Club" at the Bergakademie Freiberg / Sa. 1902 to 1935 . Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 43 (1998), pp. 251-260.
  • Roland Seeberg-Elverfeldt: The Baltic genealogy . In: Georg von Rauch (Hrsg.): History of Baltic German historiography . Böhlau Cologne Vienna 1986. pp. 164–168: University and students . [all albums of the student associations are included]
  • Dietrich G. Kraus: Baltic boyhood in Dorpat and Riga . Yearbook of the Baltic Germans, Vol. XLV (1998).
  • Otto von Grünewaldt : Baltic boy life - memories of the student days in Dorpat , WJK-Verlag, Hilden 2003. ISBN 3-933892-60-0 .
  • Kurt U. Bertrams (ed.): Student in Dorpat . WJK-Verlag, Hilden 2004. Vol. I ISBN 3-933892-67-8 , Volume II, ISBN 3-933892-68-6 .
  • Holger Schwill: Baltic pub in the capital. Old men in the capital experienced student life in the Baltic Sea region. Corps Magazin 2/2008, p. 33.
  • Kristin Lillemäe, Malle Kuum, Reet Bender: 50 aastat Balti Rahvaste Kommersse / 50 Years of Baltic Commerses. Tartu: Korporatsioon Indla (2013), 263 lk.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Hans Becker von Sothen: The Göttingen connections and their colors 1800 to 1833. Represented on the basis of two pages in the register , in: Einst und Jetzt. 1994 yearbook of the Association for Corporate Student History Research, Stamsried 1994, page 191.
  2. German "To the friends friend!"
  3. Michael Garleff , Jürgen von Hehn , Georg von Rauch, Wilhelm Lenz, Baltic Historical Commission: History of Baltic German Historiography, Böhlau, Cologne 1986, 166
  4. Jasper von Altenbockum: Baltic Völkerkommers. Ex est! Schmollis! Fiducite! In: Frankfurter Allgemeine June 16, 2008
  5. 29-31 May 2015 ( Memento of the original from May 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / knb2015.pl
  6. Bridge to the Baltic States
  7. ^ Association of German Colonists Students
  8. Evangelical Congregation in Tartu
  9. ↑ dissolved on May 16, 1929
  10. ↑ dissolved on May 10, 1929