Andrew Carnegie's European Hero Funds

On September 21, 1908, just over four years after the establishment of the Pittsburgh-based Hero Fund, Andrew Carnegie expanded the concept to his native land with the establishment of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust in Dunfermline, Scotland. Carnegie's intention to export his model of honoring civilian heroes to foreign countries was revealed in a letter from him to Charles Taylor, president of the first Hero Fund. "I got the idea this morning in bed listening to the organ. Why not extend Hero Fund to my Native Land Britain & Ireland. Make the Dunfermline Trust take charge of it." In a postscript he wrote, "Im [sic] very happy over this revelation this morning." In the three years following its creation, he established hero funds in France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Italy.

Following is a list of the European hero funds with a brief description of their history and activities, as available:

Photographs of medals courtesy of Section of Anthropology Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Carnegie Hero Fund Trust (United Kingdom) recognizes voluntary acts of heroism that involve risk to the rescuer's lifeperformed in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the surrounding territorial waters. Those selected forrecognition receive a leather-bound certificate and citation, and in cases of outstanding heroism involving repeated efforts to save a life, a bronze medallion is awarded.

The fund also provides financial assistance, if necessary, to heroes who have suffered physically or financially, or to the families of heroes who have been killed in their act. The name of the hero or heroine is also inscribed in the Trust's Roll of Honor, which is kept in the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dunfermline.

Fondation Carnegie (France). In a letter dated February 9, 1909, Carnegie offered to France the gift of an initial investment of $1 million, which was intended to honor and reward those who perform acts of civilian courage, and to aid the widows and orphans of rescuers who die. French President Armand Fallières accepted it on July 23, 1909.

The Fondation receives articles from a newspaper clipping service that describe acts of bravery performed on French territory. Following investigations, medals of bronze, silver, and vermeil, as well as certificates, are awarded to those who deliberately risked their lives to save human life. In addition, a cash grant may be awarded to the rescuer. From its founding to the present day, the Fondation has made awards to more than 12,000 people.

Carnegie Stiftung für Lebensretter (Germany) was founded in late 1910 after Andrew Carnegie presented his intention to Kaiser Wilhelm II.  The Kaiser acclaimed the proposal as a "noble idea" and by the end of the year gave permission for the fund's startup.  Its first meeting was held Jan. 20, 1911, and the fund operated until its takeover by the Nazi regime in 1934. 

No activity was recorded until 2005, when a Mannheim city employee, Andreas Huber, took it upon himself to resurrect the organization.  German authorities recognized Huber's efforts as the only legitimate heir to the original fund, and on April 15, 2006, the first meeting of the re-formed Stiftung für Lebensretter was held, Huber being elected president.

Carnegie Heltefond for Norge (Norway) was established on March 21, 1911. The fund grants awards to people who, on Norwegian territory, perform voluntary acts of civilian courage to save the lives of others "in peaceful pursuit and surroundings." For a heroic act to be recognized, it must involve risk to the rescuer's life.

Stichting Carnegie Heldenfonds (The Netherlands). In a letter dated March 23, 1911, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carnegie expressed his pleasure that The Netherlands had agreed to establish the Heldenfonds. He endowed the fund with a gift of $200,000, saying that he felt the amount would "meet the cost of maintaining injured heroes and their families during disability of the heroes, and the widows and children of heroes who may lose their lives..." The Heldenfonds awards silver and bronze medals, together with a certificate. The number of heroic acts awarded has averaged 45 in recent years.

The Carnegie Rescuers Foundation (Switzerland) was established on April 28, 1911, shortly after the Federal Council accepted Carnegie's gift of $130,000. The Foundation grants awards to people who, on Swiss territory, risk their lives in peaceful endeavors to save the lives of their fellows. For an act of heroism to be recognized, the rescuer must have exposed his life or health to a real danger. Persons recognized by the Foundation receive a certificate; engraved bronze, silver, and gold medals are also awarded, as are wristwatches and monetary grants to the rescuers and their families.

Carnegie Hero Fund (Belgium). On April 17, 1911, Carnegie informed the Belgian government of his donation of $230,000 in government bonds, the interest of which was to be used to support heroes of peace and the families of those who lost their lives as victims of their helpfulness. The fund was adopted by royal decree on July 13, 1911.

The Fondazione Carnegie Per Gli Atti De Eroismo (Italy). In a letter dated June 17, 1911, Carnegie expressed his satisfaction that the Italian government had accepted his offer of $750,000 to establish a fund in Italy to undertake work similar to that of the hero fund in the United States. The fund was recognized under Italian law on September 25, 1911. In addition to awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to heroes and heroines, the fund also makes monetary grants in exceptional cases. In recent years, the number of awards has averaged about 30 a year.

Carnegiestiftelsen (Sweden) was established on October 6, 1911, in response to a letter Andrew Carnegie had written to the King of Sweden at the beginning of that year offering $230,000 for a hero fund. The fund awards individuals who voluntarily, or otherwise beyond what may be deemed to be their duty, have, by some gallant action in the peaceful walks of life, risked their lives in order to save human lives in the territory of Sweden and on Swedish ships.

Carnegies Belønningsfond for Heltemod (Denmark) Carnegie initiated the establishment of this fund on December 30, 1911, in a letter from him to King Frederik VIII. Royal Assent by the King affirmed the fund, endowed with $125,000 on February 24, 1912. It recognizes outstanding acts of selfless heroism performed in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, or in their territorial waters.

The award consists of a diploma and 10,000 Danish crowns, or more in special cases, and in cases where the rescuers lose their lives, the fund may grant financial assistance to the surviving dependents. A medal may also be awarded in recognition of certain heroic acts. Awards are announced once a year, in December. For the past several years, the number of awards made annually has ranged from 15 to 30.