// The Austrian Service Abroad

The Austrian Service Abroad, called “Gedenkdienst“, is an alternative to the compulsory military service in Austria. The members work for institutions worldwide, which are dedicated to the memory of the Nazi crimes.

The Austrian Service Abroad was founded by the political scientist Dr Andreas Maislinger in Innsbruck. He was inspired by the German “Aktion Sühnezeichen” (“campaign of atonement signs”), where he took part as volunteer in the museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

In 1991 the Austrian national assembly passed a law, which says that Dr Maislinger is justified to establish the memorial service. The service acts as an independent association and is funded by the state to a large part. The intention is to remind of the Nazi crimes and to take on responsibility.

The Austrian Service Abroad is an international network, which supports museums and archives all over the world. Since 1992 there have been more than 100 volunteers, who took the chance to study and to conserve the history of the system of the concentration camps.

The Austrian DAAD, the head organisation, is authorised by the Austrian government to send the volunteers to partner organisations all over the world.

In this context the foundation welcomes young Austrians since many years, who add to their work and the activities.

For further information: http://www.auslandsdienst.at/en/aktuelles/

Work

• Support for the research about the internment and the deportation of the French during the German occupation
• Conserving and advancement of the relations between the foundation and other institutions all over the world
• To carry on the heritage of memory of the deportees (especially for institutions of education!)

Contact

Founder of the Austrian Service Abroad
Dr Andreas Maislinger
Hutterweg 6, A-6020 Innsbruck

Phone: +43 664 100 83 61
Mail: maislinger@hrb.at

Volunteers

The foundation can make demands on the work of volunteers to satisfy certain exercises. Then they get a written order with details on the type, length and conditions for the realisation of the exercises.

For further information please contact  

Cyrille Le Quellec
Phone: 01 47 05 81 26
Mail: communication@fmd.asso.fr