UK schoolboys’ fatal hike remembered in Black Forest 90 years on
Summary
Ninety years ago, a group of London schoolboys got trapped in heavy snow while hiking in Germany’s Black Forest. Local villagers helped rescue most of them, but five boys died. The event was later used by the Nazis for propaganda, but recent memorials honor both the boys and the villagers who saved them.Key Facts
- On April 17, 1936, 27 London schoolboys and their teacher were trapped in deep snow on Schauinsland mountain in Germany’s Black Forest.
- Two boys managed to reach a farmhouse and alert locals, who then organized a rescue despite dangerous weather.
- Five boys died in the accident, known locally as the Engländerunglück (English Misfortune).
- The Hitler Youth used the rescue event for Nazi propaganda, presenting themselves as heroes.
- The boys’ teacher, Kenneth Keast, was criticized for poor preparation and ignoring weather warnings but faced no charges.
- British relatives and German villagers held a ceremony on the 90th anniversary to remember the event and honor the rescuers.
- A modest stone cross near the accident site marks the true memorial, originally altered under Nazi pressure.
- Family members of the boys have worked to tell the full story, correcting earlier misconceptions.
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