Performing Calisthenics at a Gymnastics Festival (June 6-9, 1911) This photograph by the Haeckel brothers shows athletes performing calisthenics at a gymnastics festival in Gotha (Thuringia) in which teams from various universities took part. In Germany, clubs and societies came together around various interests, including gymnastics. Public sports and gymnastics festivals, such as the one shown here, created a sense of community and solidarity among participants. They brought Germans from various regions together, strengthening the country’s vibrant associational culture. Photo: Gebrüder Haeckel.