EFA & the village
European Forum Alpbach
Since its foundation in 1945 by Otto Molden and Simon Moser as the “International University Weeks”, the European Forum Alpbach has been inextricably linked to the Tyrolean village of Alpbach. The aim of the early events was to promote the intellectual renewal of Europe after the Second World War - young people from the resistance against National Socialism came together in Alpbach to conduct dialogues on democracy, peace and European cooperation
As early as 1949, the format was given the name “European Forum Alpbach” and established itself as an interdisciplinary platform - science, politics, business, culture - in the middle of the village.
You can find out more about Alpbach's leading role and the forum's moving history on the official website of the European Forum Alpbach:
Otto Molden & Simon Moser
The Viennese student Otto Molden and the philosophy lecturer Simon Moser from Jenbach in Tyrol, who had emerged from the resistance against the Nazi state in Tyrol at the end of the war, founded the “International University Weeks” of the Austrian College in Alpbach in the summer of 1945. The first event, under the overall direction of Moser and Molden, took place from August 25 to September 10, 1945.
The book “A Window to the World” by Maria Wirth, published in 2015, traces the history of the European Forum Alpbach from its beginnings to the present day and provides an outlook for the near future.
Photo: Otto Molden in Alpbach in 1945, photo credit: Maria Wirth, Ein Fenster zur Welt, Studien Verlag, ISBN: 978-3-7065-5481-7, p. 17
Between yesterday and tomorrow: Alpbach & EFA
Wordrap -Markus Bischofer, Mayor of Alpbach
In what way does the EFA influence the village of Alpbach and the locals throughout the year?
The EFA has an impact on the village far beyond the summer - through year-round meetings and planning, the intensive cooperation around the accommodation of the participants and the organizational responsibility that the CCA, for example, takes on. At the same time, the regular mention of the forum in national and international media ensures a strong advertising value - for Alpbach as a place of dialog as well as for the people who support it.
What do you wish for the European Forum Alpbach - in one sentence?
That the trusting cooperation between all those involved continues in the future - for a lively and sustainable EFA."
Karin Duftner, Alt- und Landwirtin (farmer) of Böglerhof
“Alpbach, the village of thinkers” is the title the media have given us. I often ask myself, what does this mean as a responsibility?"
Karin Duftner, daughter of Mayor Alfons Moser, has tried to create a place of silence directly above the Böglerhof as a symbol for reflection.
Wordrap - Robert Prosser, Alpbacher, Artist amd author
How does the European Forum Alpbach influence the people in the village and vice versa, how does the village of Alpbach influence the participants of the European Forum Alpbach?
In each case as a kind of offer: both the locals and the participants have the opportunity to get to know a different, very interesting world for a short time.
Which people immediately come to mind in connection with the European Forum Alpbach and why?
Through the research for the play Kchwant (A Play about Alpbach), first and foremost the author and journalist Arthur Koestler. A controversial, ambivalent character - due to his participation in the Forum in the 1950s also a resident of the village, similar to Erwin Schrödinger - who is dealt with in the play and with whom I therefore dealt quite intensively.
What do you wish for the European Forum Alpbach - in one sentence?
A stronger focus on art and culture, not just as an accessory and evening event, but as a stimulating aspect.
Fritz P. Molden, Austrian resistance fighter, journalist, author, publisher and diplomat
... Finally, lecturer Robert Muth pointed out to his friend Otto Molden the mountain village of Alpbach, situated in a side valley of the Unterinntal. ... Simon Moser was also able to confirm this, as his brother Alfons was a farmer and landlord there in the ancient Böglerhof and, more recently, mayor of the village of 1500 souls...
...The Tyrolean governor at the time, Karl Gruber, made the realization possible: "Without further ado, he took a piece of paper on which he wrote down an instruction to the director of the Schwaz tobacco factory: 50,000 cigarettes were to be given to the bearer free of charge. “With that,” said Gruber, “you should get by if you exchange it properly.” The tobacco director reluctantly, but nevertheless handed over the fifty thousand cigarettes, the Alpbach mayor took them into his care and distributed them so skillfully in the village that the college was able to pay all the costs not only for the first event in 1945, but also for the second meeting in 1946 without any problems."...
Source: The Forum Alpbach 1945-1994, Ibera Verlag, ISBN:3-900436-11-8
