Alpine Peace Crossing 2007

June 28-30, 2007

Executive Summary Alpine Peace Crossing 2007

In the summer months of 1947 thousands of Jewish "displaced persons" – in groups of 150 to 200 people – fled across the 2,634m high Krimml Tauern mountains to South Tyrol and from there on to Genoa, their final destination being Palestine. At the end of the 2nd World War Austria, and more specifically Salzburg, became the focal point of an exodus for 200,000 Jews from central and eastern Europe. The border with Italy was closed to them. The footslog of ten hours across the Hohe Tauern mountains (15 hours from Krimml) was the most strenuous and spectacular flight route for 5,000 men, women and children. Nevertheless, it has become an almost forgotten chapter of Austrian post-war history.

With this in mind, Ernst Loeschner has initiated the Commemorative Crossing, sponsored by his bank BNP Paribas S.A., the Regional Government of Salzburg and the National Fund of the Republic of Austria, – on the 60th anniversary of this flight – in honour of these refugees and those who helped them to flee. The basic idea: to retrace step by step the same route as those frightened but determined people. And so the project Alpine Peace Crossing was born. The Project Management Team (Ernst Loeschner, Friedl Geisler, Hans Lerch, Hans Rieder, Sabine Aschauer-Smolik) wanted, however, to emphasise an essential link to the present: the Commemorative Crossing should not only remind people of the past, it – and all future commemorative crossings – should also be an occasion to highlight the plight of present-day refugees across the globe. The essence of our project is thus an international Appeal for Peace... read full story

Slideshows

Unveiling of a Memorial Stone in Saalfelden 2007
Peace Hike 2007
Krimmler Peace Dialogue 2007

See Also

Organising Committee 2007
Honorary Patrons and Honorary Committee 2007
Sponsors 2007