„Mountain Warfare against Hitler“ & Launch of Online Portal on Austrians in the 10^th U.S. Mountain Division

In the wonderful architectonical setting of the Quartier Leech in Graz, Florian Traussnig and Robert Lackner told the pictorial and biographical story of Austrians in the famed 10^th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army during World War II: Mostly refugees from National Socialism—about one hundred Austrians, among them skiers and mountaineers—served with the only unit in the Army specialized in mountain and winter warfare. Their experiences, from training in a high valley in the Rockies of Colorado, to combat duty against the German Wehrmacht in Italy, were shown in a travelling pop-up photo exhibition, entitled So it was that we trained in this valley shrouded with smoke. Mainly through the interpretative lens of a (Jewish) refugee soldier, the exhibition presented with the viewers a story of „flight and fight“, and of resistance in exile, but also of mountains and myth. Traussnig and Lackner also presented the outcome of their extensive archival and biographical research and launched the new bilingual online portal on Austrians in the 10^th U.S. Mountain Division in World War II

The Volunteers: Mountain Rescue Brings Us Home (Die Freiwilligen: Beheimatet mit der Bergrettung)

In his essayistic documentary, a historian and law professor considers how mountain rescue offers a model for building a better society. Two mountain rescue organizations—one near Seattle, Washington, the other in Tyrol, Austria—are linked by a surprising connection. Thus, Scholar Mark S. Weiner embarked on a journey from North America to Austria and back again. „Both groups have grown from a strong sense of place … because before you can save a stranger, you first must love your home“, said Weiner. As film-maker he was grateful for the „warm, appreciative, and knowing reception“ at Quartier Leech. He was also „glad to have screened alongside the opening of a wonderful exhibition about Austrian refugees who joined the 10^th Mountain Division during World War II“ and would very much welcome a „possible future collaboration with this great team.“

Förderer der Veranstaltung: US-Botschaft in Österreich (Ausstellung) & Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies (Film); In Kooperation mit Österreichisch-Amerikanischer Gesellschaft für Steiermark, Zentrum für Inter-Amerikanische Studien (C.IAS) der Uni Graz, Chapter International Summer School Seggau (GUSEGG) der Alumni Community der Uni Graz und Fulbright Austria Alumni Chapter Styria