Military parachutists Verbund-Ostarrichi

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The military parachutist composite Ostarrichi (short MILF-O ) is an established in 2008, largely supported by soldiers, civil association in Austria .

Club activity

The MILF-O was founded in 2008 as a comradeship of like-minded people , largely active or former soldiers of the Federal Army , and is based in Kaprun . The connection to the Armed Forces enables the association to work closely together, for example organizing shooting exercises together with the Austrian Army Sports Association . According to the club newspaper Adlerauge , the club is also active in military sports in Germany. The association is also a member of the Union of European Paratroopers . In 2012 the association had around 500 members in Austria, the first president was Josef Paul Puntigam . On the first of September 2019, Daniel Englisch , Colonel of the higher military service and legal scholar at the Federal Ministry of Defense , took over the presidency of the association, but resigned from his office at the end of November.

According to its association statutes, the MILF-O is dedicated to the following goals:

  • Promotion of military skydiving.
  • Promotion of the military readiness of Austrian citizens.
  • Maintaining and strengthening the comradeship between members and other people with the same disposition.
  • Promotion of soldierly sentiments and virtues.
  • Events for the purpose of further training in defense policy.
  • Cooperation with military agencies, executive branches, authorities, blue light organizations, associations relevant to defense policy for the purpose of positive defense policy.
  • Participation in military and non-military parachute jump sporting events worldwide.
  • Worthy commemorations in memory of exemplary sporting and military achievements.

Since May 25, 2018, the MILF-O has enjoyed the status of an association recognized in terms of military policy at the Federal Ministry of National Defense . A first request in this regard to Defense Minister Norbert Darabos ( SPÖ ) was withdrawn in 2012, and under Defense Minister Mario Kunasek ( FPÖ ) the request was finally granted. This status officially enables the association to use the infrastructure of the armed forces. Army employees are allowed to work for the association while they are on duty. The annual club activities include a high mountain march with target practice near Kaprun and the so-called Nibelung march around Pöchlarn in Lower Austria .

Controversy

His close connection to the Austrian Armed Forces and right-wing extremism that has increased over the years has repeatedly brought the military parachutist Verbund-Ostarrichi into the spotlight of media controversies. In 2012, the association and its then president Josef Paul Puntigam were criticized for taking part in relevant "hero celebrations" for fallen soldiers of the Wehrmacht on various occasions . A club member was the organizer of so-called Crete celebrations in memory of the conquest of Crete by parachutists of the Wehrmacht. According to a Bundeswehr soldier at the time , German and Czech right-wing extremists, mediated by the MILF-O, would have the opportunity to train with the Austrian armed forces. After the allegations, the armed forces publicly distanced themselves from the association and announced that members of the army in uniform were prohibited from participating in MILF-O activities. The unclear relationship between the armed forces and the MILF-O, expressed for example by the association's posters in training rooms and on army vehicles, was consequently part of a parliamentary question from Albert Steinhauser ( Greens ) to the then Defense Minister Darabos.

The recognition of the association by the Ministry of Defense in 2018 was the occasion of a parliamentary question by Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic ( Greens ), in the course of which Defense Minister Kunasek had to justify his “affection for MILF”. In 2019 it became known that members of the Hannibal network , led by Bundeswehr soldier André S., had participated in the Nibelung March in 2017 as well as in target exercises privately organized by members of the MILF-O. At the end of 2019, a dossier allegedly written by anonymous employees of the Austrian Abwehramt emerged , according to which investigations against the MILF-O had been systematically hindered and played down by the Abwehramt's sympathizers.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b "Ostarrichi Verbund": Army distances itself. ORF Salzburg, August 30, 2012, accessed on November 25, 2019 .
  2. ^ A b c d Nina Horaczek : Federal Army: Right network in Austria's barracks . In: The time . Hamburg August 27, 2012 ( zeit.de [accessed November 25, 2019]).
  3. ↑ a b Excitement over the military parachute club. ORF Salzburg, August 29, 2012, accessed on November 25, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Announcements. Military parachutist Verbund-Ostarrichi, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Articles of Association. Military parachutist Verbund-Ostarrichi, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  6. ↑ a b c Fabian Schmid, Laurin Lorenz: Members of the "Day X" network were in Austria to shoot - derStandard.at. In: derStandard.at. March 23, 2019, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  7. ^ Fabian Schmid: Ministry of Defense: Secret privileges for 147 clubs. In: derStandard.at. January 28, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2019 .
  8. ^ High mountain march. Military parachutist Verbund-Ostarrichi, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Nibelungen March. Military parachutist Verbund-Ostarrichi, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  10. ↑ Inquiries regarding defense associations. Austrian Parliament, October 23, 2012, accessed on November 26, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Inquiry regarding affection for MILF. In: Austrian Parliament. December 6, 2018, accessed November 26, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Secretary of Defense receives inquiry about MILF. In: Vorarlberg Online. December 13, 2018, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Serious allegations against Abwehramt. In: ORF.at. November 22, 2019, accessed November 25, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Reports: Abwehramt insiders warn against right-wing extremist network. In: Kurier.at. Retrieved November 25, 2019 .