die  Verwaltungsgemeinschaft

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈvaltʊŋsɡəˌmaɪ̯nʃaft/

🤝 What is a Verwaltungsgemeinschaft?

A Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (often abbreviated as VG) is a form of interkommunale Zusammenarbeit (inter-municipal cooperation) in Germany. It involves several legally independent Gemeinden (municipalities) within a Landkreis (rural district) joining forces to handle certain administrative tasks collectively. One of the municipalities, often the largest or most centrally located one, acts as the erfüllende Gemeinde ('fulfilling municipality') and manages the administrative affairs for the other member municipalities.

The goal is to make administration more efficient and cost-effective, especially for smaller municipalities that might not be able or willing to afford their own fully equipped administration.

🚨 Important: The exact structure and name can vary depending on the Bundesland (federal state). For example, similar concepts are called Amt in Schleswig-Holstein or Brandenburg, or Samtgemeinde in Lower Saxony. The term Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in this specific sense is primarily found in Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt.

Since the base word Gemeinschaft (community, partnership) is feminine, the article is die.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar & Declension: Die Verwaltungsgemeinschaft in Detail

The word Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Example Sentences

1. Die Gemeinden beschlossen die Gründung einer Verwaltungsgemeinschaft.
   (The municipalities decided to found an administrative partnership.)
2. Die Aufgaben der Verwaltungsgemeinschaft sind klar definiert.
   (The tasks of the administrative partnership are clearly defined.)
3. Viele kleine Orte profitieren von ihrer Mitgliedschaft in der Verwaltungsgemeinschaft.
   (Many small towns benefit from their membership in the administrative partnership.)
4. Die Geschäftsstelle der Verwaltungsgemeinschaft befindet sich im Rathaus der größten Mitgliedsgemeinde.
   (The office of the administrative partnership is located in the town hall of the largest member municipality.)

🏢 Usage in Context: When to Use It

The term Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is primarily used in the context of local politics and public administration (*Kommunalpolitik und öffentliche Verwaltung*) in the relevant German federal states.

• Official Documents: In statutes, agreements between municipalities, official announcements.
• Political Discussions: In debates about municipal reforms, administrative efficiency, or inter-municipal cooperation.
• Local News: Reports on decisions or projects of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft.
• Citizen Information: When explaining which authority is responsible for which services (e.g., the registry office or building authority of the VG).

In general conversation outside these specific contexts, the term is rather uncommon. People might speak more generally about Zusammenarbeit von Gemeinden (cooperation between municipalities) or gemeinsamer Verwaltung (joint administration).

⚠️ Distinction: A Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is not a higher-level territorial authority like a Landkreis (district), nor is it an Eingemeindung (incorporation), where municipalities lose their legal independence. The member municipalities continue to exist but delegate parts of their administrative tasks.

💡 Mnemonics for die Verwaltungsgemeinschaft

Article Mnemonic: Focus on the ending: -schaft. Words ending in -schaft in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of die Freundschaft (friendship), die Gesellschaft (society), and thus die Verwaltungsgemeinschaft.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine several small town halls (Verwaltung = administration) holding hands to form a strong chain (Gemeinschaft = community/partnership) to share the workload and be stronger together.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Sounds similar, but different: A Wohngemeinschaft (WG) means a shared flat or house and has nothing to do with administration.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Bürgermeister den anderen: "Wie schafft ihr es nur, mit so wenig Personal auszukommen?"
(One mayor asks another: "How do you manage with so few staff?")

Antwortet der andere: "Ganz einfach! Wir sind in einer Verwaltungsgemeinschaft. Wir teilen uns nicht nur die Arbeit, sondern auch die Schuld, wenn mal was schiefgeht!" 😉
(The other replies: "Easy! We're in an administrative partnership. We not only share the work, but also the blame when something goes wrong!")

✍️ Poem about Community

Fünf Dörfer, klein und fein,
wollten nicht mehr ganz allein
die Aktenberge tragen,
an allen Wochentagen.

Drum gründeten sie, klug und schlicht,
ein neues, starkes Gleichgewicht:
Die Verwaltungsgemeinschaft,
teilt Arbeit, Last und Leidenschaft.

Ein Rathaus für die ganze Schar,
so wird die Arbeit planbar, klar.
Effizient und Hand in Hand,
fürs ganze kleine Land.

Five villages, small and neat,
No longer wanted, on their own two feet,
To carry stacks of files so high,
As all the weekdays hurried by.

So they founded, wise and plain,
A balance, new and strong again:
The administrative community,
Shares work, and load, and energy.

One town hall serves the entire crew,
Making work clear, planned, and true.
Efficiently, and hand-in-hand,
For all the small and local land.

❓ Who or What Am I?

Ich bin kein Dorf, ich bin kein Kreis,
doch helfe ich auf meine Weis'.
Gemeinden tun sich in mir zusammen,
um Verwaltungsaufgaben zu entflammen -
nein, um sie gemeinsam zu bestreiten,
die Kosten und die Arbeitszeiten. In Bayern und Thüringen kennt man mich gut,
ich gebe kleinen Orten neuen Mut.

Wer bin ich?

I'm not a village, not a district sphere,
But help in my own way, it's clear.
Municipalities join within my frame,
To tackle administrative game –
No, rather, tasks they jointly face,
The costs and working time and space.
In Bavaria and Thuringia, I'm well known, you see,
I give small places new vitality.

Who am I?
Solution: Die Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (The administrative partnership)

⚙️ Word Details & Trivia

Word Composition:

The word is a compound noun (Kompositum), made up of:

• Die Verwaltung: Refers to administration, the management of public affairs.
• Die Gemeinschaft: Refers to a community, group working together, or association with shared interests.

Together, the meaning is: a community (Gemeinschaft) that handles administrative tasks (Verwaltung) jointly.

Regional Prevalence:

As mentioned before, the specific term Verwaltungsgemeinschaft is used in particular German federal states:

• Bavaria (Bayern)
• Saxony (Sachsen)
• Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
• Thuringia (Thüringen)

In other states, similar structures exist but have different names (e.g., Amt, Samtgemeinde, Verbandsgemeinde, Gemeindeverwaltungsverband).