The Kohte [ˈkoːtə] is the typical tent of German Scouting and the German Youth Movement. It has several unusual features, including its distinctive black colour and its design to allow a central fire.
Around 1930, Eberhard Koebel developed the kohte as a variation of the Sami lavvu and it quickly became popular within the Bündische Jugend. In 1935, its use was banned throughout Germany by Hitler Youth official Arthur Axmann; groups still using it were considered "cultural bolshevists" and prosecuted.
After World War II, the kohte was reintroduced and it became the most used type of tent in German Scouting.
There are several distinctive features of the kohte:
It is constructed from four identical, uniquely shaped, roughly triangular or trapezoidal pieces of heavy canvas, called kohtenblatt, each about 2 kg/4 lbs in weight. Because the pieces are separate, they can be distributed among the members of a camping party during travel. Black fabric is almost always used.
The tent is suspended from an external A-frame of only two long poles and secured to the ground with eight pegs, all of which are commonly sourced from local wood rather than carried around by campers.
The canvas tarpaulins are fastened together using a loop and grommet system, or a loop-strap system, depending on the manufacturer.
A fire can be used inside the tent, with the design incorporating a covered smoke hole.
Variants and extensions
Smaller shelters can be made from one or two individual kohte segments.
A larger tent, the Jurte (yurt) is made using six kohte segments for the roof, and adding high vertical walls.
