Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

A Zirkel is a symbol used in Central European student societies (Studentenverbindungen).

A Zirkel consists of interwined lines, mostly followed by an exclamation mark. The lines mostly show the first letters of the name of the Studentenverbindung and / or the letters v,c,f or e,f,v.

Examples:

Zirkel of Corps Hubertia Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany

Zirkel of Corps Germania München () in Munich, Germany

Zirkel of Corps Altsachsen in Dresden, Germany

Zirkel of Corps Gothia Innsbruck () in Innsbruck, Austria

Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli Jena () in Jena, Germany

Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania zu Köln () in Cologne, Germany

Zirkel of Frankfurt-Leipziger Burschenschaft Arminia () in Leipzig, Germany

Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen, Germany

Zirkel of Sängerschaft Hohentübingen () in Tübingen, Germany

Zirkel of K.V.H.C. Zuid-Oost-Vlaamse () (de ZOV) in Leuven, Belgium

Meaning of v-c-f:

Meaning of e-f-v:

The exclamation mark means that the society is still active and alive.

The members of the Studentenverbindung use the Zirkel as sign on Couleur or other things e.g. beer glasses etc. If a member signs in affairs of its Studentenverbindung it places the Zirkel after its signature. This use is similar to the use of postnominals in Anglo-Saxon countries.

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