German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons) is a membership organisation in Germany.

In 2019 it saved 81 lives, rescued 270 persons from critical situations and carried out 373 medical transports.

Writer and honorary member Nikolai von Michalewsky has immortalized the DGzRS in his series of science fiction novels by taking it as the model for his "Independent Society for Saving Spacewrecked".

A different organisation is the German Life Saving Association which primarily wants to prevent swimmers from drowning.

A feature of the cruisers is that all but the 20-m class carry a fully equipped small lifeboat on deck which can quickly be released through a gate in the aft for conducting operations in shallow waters.