Wilhelm Pieck Pioneer Republic ( German: Pionierrepublik Wilhelm Pieck ) is the central pioneer camp of the Ernst Thalmann Pioneer Organization in the German Democratic Republic .
The first pioneer camp in the German Democratic Republic - the "Pioneer Republic" - was created in 1950 at the first congress of the Free German Youth Union in Wulheide Park in Berlin. The experience gained there was subsequently used to organize the Wilhelm Pieck Pioneer Republic in Altenhof on Lake Verbellins following the model of the Artek All-Union Pioneer Camp in Crimea .
On July 16, 1952, Wilhelm Peak attended the opening ceremony of the pioneer camp. By 1989, the pioneer camp occupied an area of 1.1 square meters. km., on which, in addition to the main building, a nursery, a school, gyms, a cafe and even a Mongolian yurt were built .
The total number of pioneers vacationing in the camp is estimated at 400,000. Children from other socialist and capitalist countries came to the Pioneer Republic. Vacation trips (usually lasting six weeks) to the Pioneer Republic were distributed by the Friendship Council operating in schools. Holidays in the Pioneer Republic named after William Peak was considered a great reward.
In 1989, the complex of buildings of the Pioneer Republic was privatized, it is currently used for children and youth events and family vacations and is under state protection as a historical monument. The new name of the institution is “The European Center for Recreation and Youth Meetings on Verbellins” ( German: Europäische Jugenderholungs- und Begegnungsstätte Werbellinsee GmbH ).