This group is responsible for the education and training of lifeguards, swiftwater rescuers and rescue swimmers.

Each active rescue diver of the Wasserwacht is required to undergo a dive-medical investigation annually.

In order to accomplish these tasks the Wasserwacht educates interested people with qualified technical abilities from the other departments of the German Red Cross.

The Bavarian city Regensburg is considered to be the birthplace of the lifeguard service of the German Red Cross.

After World War II, the Wasserwacht, as a government organization, was forbidden by the allied military administration.