Hi all,
I found this object among my grandparents' things.

Doing some online research, I discovered it was a decoration used by German student associations. I did not knew anything about this tradition, and now I'd like to understand how it came to them (they're Italian).

If I understand correctly, it's a Zipfel (Couleur), and the colors and monogram should identify the association, but I couldn't figure out where it came from, not even looking at the list on Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_Zirkel_von_Studentenverbindungen

  • Do you have any information that could help me with my research?
  • Do you know any subreddit that can help me?

by dicaeffe

4 comments

  1. Greetings! If you know where your grandparents came from/studied, we can narrow down the searching area. Most Zirkel still exist today, even if they used to be in East Prussia and Silesia. I’m that case they probably moved to another big city, Cologne has a lot of those eastern Zirkel for example.

  2. Looks like a Chargenzipfel or some kind of friendgroup Zipfel.
    They exchanged the Zipfel in summer semester 1929. The owner has the nickname ‘Klapper’. The nicknames of his friends are listed one after the other, followed by “to his beloved friend Klapper”.

  4. I focused on the colors.
    There are 3 fraternities that use the colors green white red.
    Examples of connections with the colors green-white-red: 
    Google says:

    KStV Suevia Cologne: A Catholic connection in Cologne.

    Frankonia Gießen fraternity: A fraternity in Gießen.

    Corps Montania: A connection that carries these colors in Aachen.

    Meaning of the colors:

    Color: The colors of a fraternity are referred to as the color. 

    Color-wearing: When a fraternity is color-wearing, it means that its members wear garments in those colors, such as hats or ribbons (color students). 

    Symbolism: The colors are used for identification and often symbolize the values ​​and principles of the association.

    Picture 3 stylized symbolizes the motto of the fraternity.
    Might help with identification.

    Edit: This is called a (beer) zip.
    The colors of the connection could also be red-white-green

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