MILITARY CPP TRAINING COURSE AT THE NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY

From 9 to 13 September 2025, Deputy Secretary General Anna Puhr participated in the training course for Military Cultural Property Protection (CPP) officers and civilian experts at the Austrian National Defence Academy. The course focused on the destruction of cultural property as an element of psychological warfare, the legal framework with a particular focus on the 1954 Hague Convention, and civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) at the national level. A visit to the Federal Monuments Authority provided valuable insights into national heritage conservation and cultural property protection. 

The programme featured contributions on UNESCO’s role in cultural property protection, the work of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in times of war—particularly in Ukraine—and by a lecture of Anna Puhr the role of national Blue Shield Committees in safeguarding cultural heritage in crisis situations.

A highlight of the course was the "CPP map exercise," which emphasized key aspects of CIMIC. It underscored the importance of cultural professionals understanding military responsibilities and limitations in crisis preparedness, the necessity for military CPP officers to be aware of relevant civilian actors in their area, and the overall significance of cultural property protection, even when it is not a primary military objective. The exercise also reinforced the need for joint training to establish a common understanding and effective collaboration. Austria has a long tradition in military cultural property protection, with the first CPP officers trained as early as 1976.

++ Photos: ÖBH; Anna Puhr ++