German-Thai Society

The Deutsch-Thailändische Gesellschaft e.V. (DTG), or German-Thai Society, is a German voluntary association headquartered in Cologne and founded in 1962. Its stated purpose is to cultivate and deepen the relations between Germany and the Kingdom of Thailand. It is a membership organization that brings together friends of Thailand in Germany and maintains a range of cultural, informational and scholarship activities. The DTG publishes a members' magazine, the Thailand-Rundschau, whose archive is available on its website, and since 2014 it has offered members a digital monthly newsletter, DTG Aktuell. The society also runs a scholarship program for young people from Thailand who study German as a major or minor subject, known as the Drewes-Stipendium after Carl Werner Drewes. It maintains several regional groups and organizes events, lectures and exchanges related to Thailand. The association is led by a president; the incumbent since 2009 is Frauke Kraas. The respective ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand in Germany serves as honorary president. The DTG celebrated its 64th anniversary in 2026 according to its website, and its office is located in Cologne. It is a non-profit, member-based organization rather than a commercial company, but it operates as a brand-like entity with its own publications, events and membership services.

The Deutsch-Thailändische Gesellschaft (DTG) was founded on 2 May 1962 by seven founding members, among them the publisher Hellmut Girardet with his son Michael Girardet and Gerta Tzschaschel. The association is based in Cologne and its purpose, according to its statutes, is to cultivate and deepen the German-Thai relations between Germany and the Kingdom of Thailand. The DTG has held annual general meetings and has established several regional groups. Its presidents have included Hellmut Girardet (1962–1973), Kurt Daniel (1973–1977), Gerta Tzschaschel (1977–1987), Hans Christian Lankes (1987–1997), Helmut Eggers (1997–2003), Karl Weber (2003–2009) and Frauke Kraas (since 2009). The respective ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand in Germany is honorary president of the society. Since 1981 the society has run a scholarship program for young people from Thailand who study German as a major or minor subject, known as the Drewes-Stipendium after Carl Werner Drewes. In June 1988, on the initiative of Johann Christian Lankes, the first issue of the members' magazine Thailand-Rundschau was published. Lankes also promoted the exchange with other German-Thai cultural associations, including an information exchange with the Siam-Journal and Thai temples in Germany. A DTG publication series was also launched. From 2014, the digital newsletter DTG Aktuell was offered to members, focusing on event notices for Germany and Thailand, activities of the German-Thai community in both countries, news from embassies, consulates and bilateral organizations, cultural topics and internal DTG news. The association celebrated its 62nd anniversary in 2024 and its 64th anniversary in 2026 according to its website. It continues to operate from its office in Cologne, publishing the Thailand-Rundschau and DTG Aktuell, organizing events and maintaining its scholarship program.

• 2026

  Association celebrates its 64th anniversary according to its website.

• 2024

  Association celebrated its 62nd anniversary.

• 2014

  Digital newsletter DTG Aktuell introduced for members.

• 1988

  First issue of the members' magazine Thailand-Rundschau published in June.

• 1981

  Scholarship program (Drewes-Stipendium) established for Thai students of German.

• 1962

  Founded on 2 May 1962 by seven founding members in Cologne.

Non-profit membership association for German-Thai cultural and educational exchange.

• Thailand-Rundschau

  Members' magazine first published in June 1988, with an online archive.

• DTG Aktuell

  Digital monthly newsletter for members, offered since 2014.

• Drewes-Stipendium

  Scholarship program for Thai students of German, running since 1981.

1. 1Deutsch-Thailändische Gesellschaft - Willkommendtg.eu
2. 2Deutsch-Thailändische Gesellschaftde.wikipedia.org
3. 3Deutsch-Thailändische Gesellschaftwikidata.org