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Since the first mountain rescuers were awarded the “Green Cross” by the Austrian Alpine Club in 1923, the awarding of this honor has been considered the highest award that can be received for special commitment to alpine rescue and recovery. On October 21, 2023, this honor was bestowed upon three mountain rescuers at the annual general meeting of the Austrian Alpine Club.
There are currently more than 12.600 mountain rescuers and 200 search dogs in Austria, spread across 291 local locations. Every day they rush to help others and expose themselves to alpine dangers in their service. Thanks to their intensive training, they can professionally help people who are in distress in the Alps. This naturalness and commitment with which they expose themselves to danger results from a solidarity towards their fellow human beings that deserves great recognition.
“The Austrian Mountain Rescue Service is an indispensable and powerful organization that enjoys a very high reputation in our country,” emphasizes Alpine Club Vice President Dr. Wolfgang Schnabl in his laudation at the annual general meeting of the Alpine Club in Rankweil. “Alpine Association and mountain rescue – this is a respectful and grateful coexistence with diverse relationships. The 'Green Cross' is and remains an important sign of our solidarity and appreciation,” continued Schnabl.
Development of mountain rescue by the Alpine Club
In 1902, a comprehensive development of reporting points and support points for rescue units in the Alpine region began. The Alpine Club was of great importance, as it was the founder, operator and responsible for the rescue service right up to the time of the Second World War. With the end of the Second World War there was a fundamental restructuring for both the Alpine Club and the mountain rescue service. In 1938 all clubs in Austria were dissolved. After the war, it was again possible to form clubs and, in consultation with the Alpine Club, the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service was founded with its own, independently operating clubs.
As a special example of the solidarity between mountain rescue and the Alpine Association, the “Green Cross” has been awarded annually since 1923. In this way, the Alpine Club expresses how important the work of rescue from mountain distress continues to be to it. Although mountain rescue has been organized independently since 1950, the Alpine Club decided when it was founded to continue awarding awards for exceptional achievements in connection with mountain rescue operations.
Green Cross as the highest honor
Since the first mountain rescuers were awarded the “Green Cross” 100 years ago, the awarding of this honor has been considered the highest award that can be received for special effort. The prerequisite for this is “repeated, extraordinarily difficult alpine rescues or rescues, whereby the average fulfillment of duty must be clearly exceeded”. In the 100 years since the Green Cross was introduced, 516 people have been awarded it.
