Peacekeeper”

Upper Österreichischer Vereinigung “

AssociationtheofAustrianPeacekeepers of Chronicle the Group Regional ANDESLEITER L STV STEIERMARK Chronicle • MAY 2000 – Establishment of the Regional Group St. MICHAEL with parts of and AIGEN

‹ 1st Regional Leader: WO I HASLER Leo ‹ Deputy Regional Leader: WO I SPIEL Günter

At this time only a second regional group has been established (KORNEUBURG).

With the implementation of the new Province Leader for Styria, LtCol H. KREUZWIRTH, the Regional Group Upper Styria has been restructured:

• February 2011: MURTAL / MÜRZTAL and ENNSTAL Regional Leader for Upper Styria (-/MÜRZ-/ENNSTAL) and Deputy Province Leader for Styria: WO I G. SPIEL

Members: currently approx. 100 people Awarding Ceremonies since February 2011

Knight’s Cross in Gold Association of the Austrian Peecekeepers Association of the Austrian Peacekeepers • WO I SPIEL Günter e Austrian Peacekeepers Awarding Ceremonies since February 2011

• Awarding of the Commemorative Medal for the Nobel Peace Prize 1988 • WO I BANKO Gilbert • DÖRFLINGER Augustin • MSgt FRITZ Johann • WO I FUCHSHOFER Franz • WO II. GELTER Karl • Chaplain Mag. Dr. GROßRUCK Johann • WO I GRUBER Anton • WO I JARITZ Bruno • Col PAYER Helmut • Col RANZER Wolfgang • WO I REHSCHÜTZECKER Heinz • WO I SARTORY Alexander • WO I SAUEREGGER Peter • WO I SCHINNERL Josef Awarding Ceremonies since February 2011

• Medal for Merit in GOLD

• WO I BÄCK Harald WO I ULRICH Othmar • WO I FUCHSHOFER Franz Col Dr. Prof. WEISSENBACHER Manfred • MSgt FRITZ Johann WO I WILDING Heinz • WO II GELTER Karl • WO I GRASSER Josef BGen ZÖLLNER Heinz • 1./Cpl GRUBER Alois Col GRUBER Johann • WO I HÖBLINGER Franz Col HOFER Manfred • WO I HOLZMÜLLER Helmut • LtCol Mag. KREUZWIRTH Helmut „GLOGGI & SCHICHO“ • WO I MAYER Gerhard SCHICHO Friedrich • WO I PERTL Rainer VOLLMANN Winfried • WO I ROBLYEK Bernd • WO I SCHATZL Bernhard • WO I STEINER Andreas • WO I THAUSES Otmar • WO I THÖRINGER Herbert Awarding Ceremonies since February 2011

• Medal of Merit in SILVER • 1./Cpl GRUBER Alois • WO I EBERHARTINGER Walter • WO I MÖSSL Norbert

• Medal of Merit in BRONZE • 1./Cpl GRUBER Alois • WO I RAUTENBERG Nikolaus Newly recruited Members since February 2011

• WO I BANKO Gilbert Honorary Member 12 05 2012 • MSgt FRITZ Johann Archbishop of SALZBURG • Chaplain Mag. Dr. GROßRUCK Johann Mag.Dr. LACKNER Franz • WO I GUSTERER Gottfried • 1./Cpl GUSTER Thomas • 1./Cpl KOINI Norbert • LAbg KOLAR Gabi, Vice-Mayor of • WO I JARITZ Bruno • Col. RANZER Wolfgang • WO I REHSCHÜTZECKER Heinz • Col RIESZLAND Gerd • WO I RÜBENBAUER Siegfried • WO I SARTORY Alexander • WO II SARTORY Gerald • WO I SAUEREGGER Peter • WO I SCHINNERL Josef • WO I SONNLEITNER Johann • Mrs. Mag.Dr. SPIEL Silke Denise • MSgt WINTSCHNIG Uwe • Mir ZARFL Hannes Past Events/1.

20th October 2011 – Provincial Meeting STYRIA in ZELTWEG

• Visit of the Military Aviation Exhibition and EUROFIGHTER–Troop Meeting with lunch and cordial conclusion at the Officers‘ Mess FlH HINTERSTOISSER

• Participants: 65 Peacekeepers with relatives

• Photo with EUROFIGHTER Past Events/2. 12th/13th May 2012 :

•Execution of the Federal Assembly of the ASSOCIATION of the AUSTRIAN PEACEKEEPERS

• Photos with Gen GREINDL, Auxiliary Bishop Dr. LACKNER, WO I SPIEL etc. Pictures: Federal Assembly 2012 Past Events/3.

12th May 2012: • Annual General Assembly and Gala at the military training area SEETAL

13th May 2012: • Visit of the Military Aviation Exhibition and lunch at FLH HINTERSTOISSER in ZELTWEG • Participants: 150 Peacekeepers • Photo: Military Aviation Exhibition Past Events/4.

22th November 2012: „1st ZELTWEG PEACEKEEPERS ROUND TABLE“:

• Presentation of WO I Harald BÄCK, Leader of the Round Table in ST.MICHAEL, on his mission to the Chad.

• Awarding of the Medal for Merit in GOLD to the cabaret artists GLOGGI & SCHICHO in honour of their 20 th support for the troops in different missions of the Peacekeepers, and to honoured members of our Association and Awarding of the Commemorative Medal for the Nobel Peace Prize 1988 to WO I BÄCK Harald.

• Appointment of the new Round Table Leaders ‹ for ZELTWEG : WO I DRIUSSI Alois ‹ for ST.MICHAEL: WO I BÄCK Harald

• Snacks and cordial conclusion of the meeting

• Participants: approx. 40 Peacekeepers Past Events/5.

15th February 2013:

„1. PEACEKEEPERS ROUND TABLE Landwehrkaserne ST.MICHAEL“:

• Welcome of the participants by LtCol BACHER • Presentation of WO I Harald BÄCK, Leader of the Round Table in ST. MICHAEL, on his mission to the Chad, part 2 • Awarding of the order of merit to the Association of the Austrian Peacekeepers • Conclusion with refreshment

• Participants: 25 Peacekeepers Past Events/6. 6th June 2013: „2nd ZELTWEG PEACEKEEPERS ROUND TABLE“:

• Welcome of the participants by vice leader styria and regional leader WO I Günter Spiel • Handing over of the Round Table Banner to • WO I DRIUSSI, Round Table Leader Zeltweg • Presentation of WO I Johann FRIML on the mission site GOLAN HEIGHTS from a different angle: – „The Rift-Valley“ starting with the Jordan Valley down to the Southern tip of Africa The presentation dealt with the part of the Austrian mission site. • Awarding of the order of merit to the Association of the Austrian Peacekeepers

• Participants: 35 Peacekeepers Past Events/7.

14th June 2013 • Awarding of the Commemorative Medal for the Nobel Peace Prize 1988 to WO I JARITZ Bruno by CO, Col Edwin PEKOVSEK and by vice leader Styria and regional leader WO I Günter SPIEL during a formal ceremony in front of the lined-up aviation battalion/FlABataillon 2 at FlH HINTERSTOISSER ZELTWEG Past Events/8.

28th/29th June - AIRPOWER13

• Information desk of our Association with the Vice President WO I ROBLICKA Richard, WO I HEINDL Alois, WO I MAYER Gerhard and Armin ROBLICKA • Among numerous visitors we also had the pleasure to welcome LtGen Günther HÖFLER. Past Events/9.

5th September 2013 - 2nd Provincial Meeting STYRIA in ZELTWEG

• Visit of the Military Aviation Exhibition and EUROFIGHTER-Troop meeting with lunch and cordial conclusion at FLH HINTERSTOISSER in ZELTWEG

• Participants: 45 Peacekeepers with relatives Past Events/10.

12th December 2013: „3rd ZELTWEG PEACEKEEPERS ROUND TABLE“:

• Welcome of participants by round table leader WO I DRIUSSI Alois and vice leader and regional leader WO I Günter Spiel. • Presentation of KONRAD Alfred on the situation of AUSBATT/UNDOF during the last days until the withdrawal of the battalion back to . This very interesting presentation provided much material for discussion on the pros and cons of the withdrawal of Austrian‘s troop on the GOLAN HEIGHTS. • Under the Christmas tree at the officers‘ mess, the Round Table was – as always – concluded with great food and drink and the best wishes to all members and relatives for the upcoming Christmas holidays and the turn of the year. Participants: 28 Peacekeepers Past Events/11.

Awarding of the Medals of Merits

• The awarding ceremony of the medals of merits of the Association of the Austrian Peecekeepers was held at the FlH FIALA FERNBRUGG in AIGEN embedded in a gorgeous surrounding. Right in front of an ALOUETTE III the peacekeepers were awarded with the medal of merits while unfortunately – in the background – the Grimming (the great landmark of the Ennstal) was hidden beneath grey clouds. Nonetheless everybody enjoyed the ceremony very much.

• LtCol Klaus MARINGER who actively supported the ceremony was welcomed as military representative.

• GOLD WO I Herbert THÖRINGER • SILVER WO I EBERHARTINGER Walter WO I MÖSSL Norbert Past Events/12.

4th December 2014 PEACEKEEPER MEETING

• Welcome of the Peacekeepers and the Province Leader for Styria, LtCol Mag.Helmut KREUZWIRTH, by the Deputy Province Leader.

• Heartful thanks to Hans ENZINGER , one of the „SCHNÜRER BUAM“, in the name of our Association for the regular troop entertainment in the areas of operation GOLAN, LIBANON, BOSNIEN with a certificate and the book „Keep Peace“.

• The evening was concluded by an outstanding presentation on the „TIMLA NATIONALPARK in ISRAEL“ by our WO IJohann FRIML.

Participants: 25 Peacekeepers Past Events/13.

• Congratulations in March 2015

WO I Heinz WILDING celebrating his 70th and WO I Peter PRIPFL celebrating his 67th birthday.

A nice surprise present was a gorgeous chocolate cake (Sachertorte) with our logo. Past Events/14.

SEPTEMBER 2015

Awarding cermony of the medal of merits in GOLD

For his services rendered to the Assocation of the Austrian Peecekeeper, WO I DRIUSSI Alois was ceremoniously awarded with the medal for merit in GOLD . Past Events/15. 24th September 2015 PEACEKEEPER MEETING

In September, the tasty motto for the invitation to the Round Table at the Fliegerhorst in Zeltweg was „Schnitzel variation day“.

Although we met on a Thursday around midday many peace keepers found their way to the event.

WO I KONRAD made a thrilling presentation on the mission in the KOSOVO.

Participants: 22 Photos: Peacekeeper Meeting on 24thSept 2015 Past Events/16. 3th December 2015 End of year 2015 - Peacekeepers Styria/North After welcoming the participants and this time also being able to welcome base commander Col Edwin PEKOVSEK, a moment of silence was held for our comrades who died this year: WO II Karl, Col. Rieszland Gerd and WO I Thöringer Franz. Our thoughts are with their families.

• Report of the base commander and CO FlAB 2, Col Edwin PEKOVSEK, on the current situation of our Armed Forces. His details on the missions of our soldiers in the middle of the ongoing refugee crisis were an impetus to discuss our own missions, especially in Syria.

• Heartfelt thanks to all peacekeepers and friends of the Association of the Austrian Peacekeepers for the lively and constant participation in all of our events – hopefully, we can continue this tradition in the future!