50 years of community service: heroes of peace tell their stories

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Erfahren Sie mehr über die ersten Zivildiener in Österreich, die 1975 ihren Dienst beim Roten Kreuz antraten. Ihre Geschichten von Mut und Engagement sind heute aktueller denn je.
Find out more about the first civil servants in Austria to start service at the Red Cross in 1975. Your stories of courage and commitment are more topical than ever today. (Symbolbild/DNAT)

50 years ago, an important era for young men in Austria began when they had the choice to either go to military service or to choose community service. On April 1, 1975, the first civil servants started their service in Graz after the Civil Service Act was issued in 1974. This law was the result of a long struggle that offered many an alternative to military duty.

Max Aufischer, Wilhelm Kolar, Rudolf Lantschbauer and Walter Perl were the first four civil servants who received their civilian numbers 1, 7, 8 and 9. Your decision to refuse military service was not without difficulty. They were both hostile as a "traitor" as well as encouraging encouragement, such as "great that you dare to do it!". Such reactions were part of a greater social change that took place in the 1970s.

an important step in history

Community service is not only a personal decision, but also a profound cultural change. The first civil servants remember the challenges they had to overcome during their service. They contributed to promoting the concept of service to the community and thus opened up new generations of men the opportunity to serve their service without weapons. This has not only shaped their personal lives, but also the social perception of service and duty.

In the following decades, the perception of community service has developed. Many young men today opt for community service instead of taking advantage of military service, which continues to show that this path in society is respected and accepted. The contribution of these first civil servants remains anchored in history, and their stories are invaluable for understanding this institution.

The experiences and challenges that the first civil servants ran through are not only a look back at another time, but also an inspiration for today's youth. Your stories invite you to reflect on what it means to take responsibility and how personal beliefs can become reality.

In a time when decisions like this are a matter of course for many people, it is important to appreciate and understand the roots and the fights that have made this progress possible.