Alpine Peace Crossing

Our GEDENKDIENST-Volunteer Laurenz joined the Alpine Peace Crossing (APC) in Krimml to cross the Austrian Alps in remembrance of the thousands of Jews who fled the antisemitism that was still rampant in Europe after 1945. Laurenz welcomed the team to Jachymka a few weeks ago. 

„Verein für aktive Gedenk- und Erinnerungskultur – Alpine Peace Crossing” (APC) is an Austrian memorial association which focuses on Jewish escapes after 1945 and adjacent topics. The central event of their work is the escape of thousands of Jews in 1947. On their way to present-day Israel, they had to cross the Krimmler Tauern. They fled from antisemitism which was still rampant in Europe. For some, Austria was the starting point of their escapes, others crossed the country in transit. They commemorate these escapes with a yearly hike in Salzburg’s Krimml. 

The Event was held over 2 days this weekend. The first day introduces the yearly focus of the APC which was "Denied - Silent - Forgotten. Unheard nazi victims in the collective memory" in the form of a dialogue forum. 

Elke Rajal, who currently works at the University of Passau, researching and publishing in the intersections of politics, contemporary history and education held a fascinating talk on the history of persecution of people as “asocials” and explained how this terminology was constructed. 

Andreas Brunner, head of the queer research centre QWien, delved into the persecution of people due to their sexual orientation, or so-called “Pink triangle prisoners”. 

Their captivating lectures were completed by music by Sanna van Elst and Bobby Rootveld (Duo Nizh) who are specialized in music mixed with theatre and comedy, Klezmer, Yiddish songs, and the restauration of music composed during the Shoah.  

These four people then finished the dialogue forum with a panel discussion, providing their unique insights and approaches to remembrance and adjacent topics. 

On day two of the event, we started the commemoration hike before sunrise, leaving picturesque Krimml to arrive at the Tauernhaus at half past 6, located at 1631 meters above sea level. This would have been one of the stops along the treacherous route that the refugees took in 1947. 

The hike was also accompanied by an interesting program as we stopped at the remembrance pyramids that the APC has placed along the historic route before crossing the Alps at the Krimmler Tauern Pass at 2634 meters. 

It was a very interesting way to learn about the history and a novel way of communicating history. Laurenz would like to thank the team at APC for their hospitality and we look forward to further cooperation. 

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• "It is our responsibility to remember their fate." – Josef Rosensaft: Excursion to Bergen-Belsen
• A visit from the Austrian Cultural Forum in Prague