To mark the 175th anniversary of the Bürgermiliz, this year’s general rapport was held in Sipplingen and organised by the Bürgermiliz. The Bürgermiliz Sipplingen was also made a member of the UEHMG at this year’s general rapport. As many of the participating groups had travelled long distances, they arrived during the course of the Thursday. To welcome everyone, the citizens’ militia had invited them to a “meet and greet” in the Rathauskeller. Here, the participants were able to greet each other and cultivate cross-border camaraderie.
After a long but wonderful evening in the Rathauskeller, a visit to Her Imperial Highness Margravine Valerie von Baden in Salem was on the agenda on Friday morning. Margrave Bernhard von Baden, who had invited the participants of the General Rapport to Salem, was unable to attend the parade due to an unforeseen stay abroad. The various groups lined up and marched under the command of Lieutenant Colonel iTR Adrian Staiger through the monastery grounds to the castle, where the gates were already open for the march into the Sternenhof. Lieutenant Colonel iTR Adrian Staiger reported to Her Imperial Highness, who had the Count von und zu Bodman with her as a wing adjutant to support her. The President of the UEHMG, Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc, from Vienna, walked down the ranks with Her Imperial Highness and Count Bodman and each group introduced itself to the Margravine.
The units from Austria were particularly excited to meet a Princess of Austria. This resulted in a real photo shoot, as every group wanted to be photographed with the Margravine and Count Bodman. The brother of the late Margrave Max von Baden, Prince Ludwig von Baden, and his wife Marianne Princess von Baden also attended the parade, which led to some great conversations between the participants and their Highnesses. The time flew by and Lieutenant Colonel iTR Adrian Staiger ordered the formation to line up again. As the formation signed off, he thanked the Margravine for the invitation and presented her with a commemorative gift. Count Bodman expressed her thanks for the visit on behalf of the Margravine.
The formation marched out of the castle and was then invited by the margravial family to a small drink in the Torkel. After a short stay in the Torkel at Salem Castle, it was straight back to Sipplingen, as the General Rapport was scheduled for 2 pm. The participating groups lined up on the town hall square and Vice President Colonel iTR Hajo Böhm reported to President Major General iTR Michael Blaha, MSc. In the festively decorated historic Bürgersaal of the town hall, all participants were skilfully welcomed by the deputy mayor Clemens Beirer and in his welcoming address he spoke about the history of the Bürgermiliz Sipplingen. The General Rapport itself ran harmoniously and the participants were able to relax in their accommodation before dinner, which took place in the assembly hall of the primary school. The dinner served by butcher Rico Zickmantel was highly appreciated by all. The celebrations and camaraderie continued well into the night.
On Saturday afternoon, everyone met again in the school yard and formed up to march to the cemetery. At the cemetery, a wreath was laid in the war memorial chapel. A communal Lord’s Prayer was said in memory of the fallen of the wars and the deceased members of the UEHMG. Major General iTR Blaha and Colonel iTR Böhm laid the wreath to the sound of the song of the Good Comrade, performed by the trumpeter of the Milizkapelle Aaron Biller. From the cemetery, the formation marched through the village to the dock, from where they travelled by boat to Bodman.
Count and Baron Bodman had also invited the UEHMG to Bodman Castle. To the sound of the Milizkapelle, the participants marched to the castle, where Lieutenant Colonel iTR Adrian Staiger reported to Count Bodman. Here, too, the groups introduced themselves to the count’s family. Count Bodman, who dedicated a Count Bodman medal to the 175th anniversary of the Bürgermiliz Sipplingen, handed it out to the members of the Bürgermiliz Sipplingen. With a concluding triple salute from the historic muzzle-loading rifles, the event moved on to the informal part.
After a few glasses of Bodman wine, the groups lined up again. Lieutenant Colonel iTR Adrian Staiger called the formation off to the Count von und zu Bodman and thanked him for the invitation and also presented him with a souvenir gift. To the sounds of the Milizkapelle Sipplingen, we returned to the landing stage in Bodman, where the ship was waiting for us. A wonderful and eventful General Rapport 2024 came to an end with dinner together on the ship and a tour of Lake Überlingen. On Sunday, the participants then set off on their – in some cases very long – journey home. The Bürgermiliz Sipplingen and the UEHMG would like to thank all members and external persons who helped to make the General Rapport a success!