German Ankylosing Spondylitis Association

The Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V. (DVMB), known in English as the German Ankylosing Spondylitis Association, is a non-profit patient self-help organization based in Schweinfurt, Germany. It represents and supports people living with spondylitis ankylosans (Morbus Bechterew, also called ankylosing spondylitis) and related inflammatory spinal conditions known as spondyloarthritides. Founded on 19 April 1980 in Schweinfurt on the initiative of Herbert Hümmer, the DVMB has grown into the largest self-help organization for Morbus Bechterew patients in Germany, with more than 16,000 patient and supporting members. The association is organized as a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) and is structured into local groups, 14 state associations (Landesverbände), and a federal association (Bundesverband). It is run exclusively by affected persons and is led by an eight-member honorary board. Its headquarters and main office are in Schweinfurt, where full-time staff work, while several state associations maintain their own offices. The DVMB is a member of the Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfe, the Deutsche Rheuma-Liga Bundesverband, and the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation (ASIF). The DVMB pursues a broad set of goals: improving the physical and mental health, vitality, and working capacity of those affected; providing information on medical, social, and insurance-law questions; advising members and their relatives; fostering exchange of experience and a sense of community; representing patients' interests to society and legislators; cooperating with physicians, therapists, and similar organizations; and promoting scientific research into the disease and communicating research findings to patients. It offers exercise programs to preserve mobility and prevent deterioration or stiffening, and motivates members to perform learned exercises at home. Communication and community are central to the DVMB's work. Its member magazine, the Morbus-Bechterew-Journal, first appeared in June 1980 (then called the Bechterew-Brief) and has been published quarterly ever since, informing members about new medical and psychological findings, social-law developments, patients' experiences, and activities in the state associations and local groups. The association also organizes in-person and online events, runs an Instagram Live series, and marks occasions such as World Rheumatism Day and the International Ankylosing Spondylitis Day. It also awards the Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis, a journalism prize for outstanding media coverage of Morbus Bechterew. As a patient organization rather than a commercial enterprise, the DVMB operates in the health and social sector, funded through membership and support, and is dedicated to advocacy, information, and mutual aid for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in Germany.

The Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V. (DVMB) was founded on 19 April 1980 in Schweinfurt, Germany, on the initiative of Herbert Hümmer. Its creation was preceded by the formation of a local group in Schweinfurt in 1979, whose members had contacted the Swiss Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (Schweizerische Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew, SVMB) for advice. A statistical survey among about 500 members of the Swiss association had revealed that many people with Morbus Bechterew suffered not only physical complaints but also psychological problems and even emotional distress: 28% had worries at the workplace, 25% reported difficulties in private and social life, 39% admitted major problems within their own family, and 69% struggled with themselves over loss of strength, appearance, loss of contacts, and declining joy in life. Since similar problems were known to exist in Germany through the experiences of the existing local groups in Schweinfurt and Warendorf, the founding of a German association became a goal from 1979 onward. At the time of its founding, associations of Morbus Bechterew patients already existed in the Scandinavian countries, France, England, and Switzerland, some for many years. The DVMB thus joined an international movement of patient self-help. In the four decades since, the DVMB has developed into the largest self-help organization for Morbus Bechterew patients in Germany. It is organized into local groups, 14 state associations (Landesverbände), and a federal association (Bundesverband), with its head office in Schweinfurt, where full-time staff work. Several state associations maintain their own offices. The association is run exclusively by affected persons and is led by an eight-member honorary board. Leadership has evolved over time. Franz Gadenz served as chairman until the federal delegates' assembly on 16–17 June 2012, after which Peter Hippe became chairman. Ludwig Hammel has served as managing director (Geschäftsführer). The association has more than 16,000 patient and supporting members, making it one of the largest patient organizations in Germany. It is a member of the Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Selbsthilfe, the Deutsche Rheuma-Liga Bundesverband, and the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation (ASIF). It maintains sister organizations in the German-speaking area: the Schweizerische Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew and the Österreichische Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew. A key instrument of the DVMB's work has been its member magazine. The Morbus-Bechterew-Journal first appeared in June 1980, immediately after the association's founding, under the name Bechterew-Brief. It has been published quarterly ever since, informing members about new medical and psychological findings (often through translations of important English-language articles or rendering of scientific papers into patient-friendly language), developments in social law, the experiences of fellow patients in living with the disease, and activities in the state associations and local groups. The magazine is produced by patients themselves. The DVMB also awards the Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis, a journalism prize for outstanding media coverage of Morbus Bechterew and those affected. The prize is awarded in the categories Print/Online and Radio/Television, each endowed with 2,500 euros, and aims to raise public awareness of the disease. In 2014 the prize was awarded in June, with an independent jury including physicians, journalists, and former health officials. Past prize winners include Emily Paersch (2006), Carola Welt and team (2006), Anna-Lena Roth (2011), and Antje Büll (2011). Over the years the DVMB has continued to expand its activities, offering both in-person events at various locations and online events, running an Instagram Live series, and marking occasions such as World Rheumatism Day and the International Morbus Bechterew Day. It also engages in advocacy, for example demanding that health insurance reform safeguard care for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and drawing attention to long diagnostic pathways and their consequences. The association honors long-serving members with the Ehrennadel in Gold and the Ehrennadel in Gold mit Diamant, and grants honorary membership to individuals who have rendered outstanding service.

• 2025

  Ehrennadel in Gold awarded to Wilhelm Frings and Joachim Walzer.

• 2024

  Ehrennadel in Gold mit Diamant awarded to Ludger-Maria Kochinke.

• 2014

  Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis awarded in June with an independent jury.

• 2012

  At the federal delegates' assembly on 16–17 June, Peter Hippe becomes chairman, succeeding Franz Gadenz.

• 2011

  Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis awarded to Anna-Lena Roth and Antje Büll.

• 2006

  Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis awarded to Emily Paersch and to Carola Welt and team.

• 1980

  Founding assembly of the Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V. held on 19 April in Schweinfurt.

• 1980

  First issue of the member magazine (then Bechterew-Brief) published in June.

• 1979

  Local group formed in Schweinfurt; contact established with the Swiss Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (SVMB).

Non-profit patient self-help organization and advocacy group for people with ankylosing spondylitis and related inflammatory spinal diseases in Germany.

• Morbus-Bechterew-Journal

  Quarterly member magazine, first published in June 1980 as Bechterew-Brief, produced by patients.

• Local groups and state associations

  Network of over 330 local groups and 14 state associations offering meetings, exercise, and peer support.

• Exercise and movement programs

  Programs to preserve mobility and prevent deterioration or stiffening.

• Herbert-Hümmer-Medienpreis

  Journalism prize for outstanding media coverage of Morbus Bechterew, awarded in Print/Online and Radio/Television categories.

1. 1DVMB | Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V.bechterew.de
2. 2Vereinsgeschichte | Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V.bechterew.de
3. 3Gruppengründungsgeschichte aus dem Aller-Leine-Tal | Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V.bechterew.de
4. 4FAQ | Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterew e.V.bechterew.de
5. 5Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterewwikidata.org
6. 6Deutsche Vereinigung Morbus Bechterewde.wikipedia.org