Hermann Martin, President from 1982 to 1994
My father died far too soon on 5 September 1996, at the age of 59,
during his tenure as the sixth President
of the Association of German Shepherd Dog clubs of Germany (SV).
 

The position of President passed to Hermann Martin, attorney from Viernheim, more than a decade after Dr. Rummel had taken on the post. Thanks to his personality, professional competence and leadership, Hermann Martin was able to implement major reforms in the SV during the 1980s. His farsightedness and open-mindedness, his close contact with the association's members and of course his own outstandingly successful breeding efforts with his kennel "vom Arminius" fuelled its enormous upswing during the ensuing twelve years of his presidency.

As Federal breed warden, he had already contributed towards extending the blood base on the bitches side and now continued this work with the male dogs during his presidency.

His breeding efforts have established the German Shepherd as the Number One working dog worldwide and assured its high reputation. During his presidency, membership rose to over 100,000 members at times.

Hermann Martin's sovereign negotiating skills also ensured that the country's reunification in 1989 proceeded equally smoothly within the association.

As a result, the association was reunited and its position as the world's largest pedigree dog breeding club strengthened at the same time.

The WUSV perpetuates the memory of Hermann Martin, for its foundation in 1974 and its development as a global organization are due to his personal commitment, conviction and persuasion. Hermann Martin was elected President of the WUSV in 1985. Even today, the WUSV World Championship remains the top event of the year throughout the world.

The SV's expansion is not only indissolubly linked with the name of Hermann Martin, but also symbolized by the new headquarters "An der Steinernen Furt" built in Augsburg in 1989. Under the management of Clemens Lux, a graduate in industrial economics, the association's headquarters with its full-time staff of almost 70 men and women rapidly grew into a medium-sized management company with the most up-to-date corporate structures. A public relations department with new SV club magazine was introduced and this work also helped to improve the dog's standing in society.

On 10 July 1990, Hermann Martin was awarded the Federal Service Cross on Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Hermann Martin was elected Vice-President of the VDH in 1992.

In 1994, the newly constituted Federal Assembly, the association's highest decision-making body, appointed Hermann Martin its honorary president.

My father attached particular importance to breeding efficient animals full of typical character. His attention focused above all on the length and position of the scapula, although the individual dogs' family background was also a matter of importance to him. And his success proves him right.

After his death, his daughters Iris and Tina Martin were able to achieve a number of outstanding successes for the kennel "von Arminius", including the following, among others:

- 1996 World Champion Visum von Arminius

- 1997 Vice-Champion Karly von Arminius

- 1998 Vice-Champion Karly von Arminius

- 1998 Breeding group winner, kennel von Arminius

- 1999 World Champion Saskia von Arminius and VA9 Zambia von Arminius

- 2003 VA7 Quantum von Arminius

- 2004 VA6 Quantum von Arminius

- 2005 Vice-Champion Quantum von Arminius

- 2006 Vice-Champion Quantum von Arminius

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