"Harmonica interlude"

After tunnel fire: soldiers honored for civil courage

With a spontaneous harmonica serenade, the two trainee military policemen calmed down the angry people during the evacuation of the main tunnel.(Bild: Bundesheer)

Honorary promotion for two young military police officers who calmed people down with a spontaneous harmonica performance during the evacuation of the main tunnel portal in Katschberg at the beginning of August.

Winfried Kautz from Vienna and Karl Watschinger from Salzburg showed civil courage par excellence on August 6, when a car burst into flames in the Katschberg tunnel and more than 170 people had to be evacuated to safety(as reported by the "Krone").

Harmonica interlude in the tunnel crossing
The two prospective military police officers from the Schwarzenberg barracks in Salzburg were on their way back from a short vacation in Carinthia at the time.

Kautz calmed the frightened people with the piece "Auf der Autobahn".(Bild: Bundesheer)

With a spontaneous harmonica serenade, the two trainee military policemen calmed down angry people during the evacuation of the main tunnel.(Bild: Bundesheer)

And together with other people - including some children - they saved themselves in a cross-passage of the tunnel. Kautz picked up his harmonica, which he happened to have with him, and calmed the frightened people with the piece "Auf der Autobahn".

And this musical effort was more than successful: "People clapped along and the situation was more relaxed," the dedicated soldiers recall.

Now they have successfully completed their cadre candidate training, have been promoted to platoon leaders and have been honored accordingly!

The dedicated duo now have a good chance of being voted "Soldier of the Year".