Culture of memory in the election campaign: Who protects the Nazi victims?

Culture of memory in the election campaign: Who protects the Nazi victims?

On March 7, 2025, a significant debate on the responsibility of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for the victims of National Socialism. The Freedom National Council MP Markus Tschank emphasized the need for a lively culture of remembrance as well as the reparation to the victims and their descendants. "It is not only a lively culture of remembrance, but also a reparation to the victims and their survivors and descendants," said Tschank and pointed out the central role of the National Fund, which also the National Council President Dr. Walter Roskranz is the heart, such as APA-OTS reported.

In the context of the upcoming Bundestag election, the historical positioning of the parties was also critically examined. A guest contribution by Jens-Christian Wagner notes that the examination of National Socialist crimes and other forms of injustice, such as the SED dictatorship and colonial offenses, is fundamental to democracy. The analysis of the election programs shows significant differences in terms and content. Parties such as CDU/CSU and AfD rely on a national conservative point of view, while Tschank emphasizes that anti -Semitism is not assumed by the FPÖ, but is promoted above all by uncontrolled migration, so Volksverpetzer .

memory culture in focus

The critical examination of the culture of remembrance is not only a sign of the ethical appreciation of the victims, but also a yardstick for respect for the teachings of the history, which form the foundation of democracy. Tschank warned against instrumentalizing the memory and the culture of memory politics, as this could lead to a division of society and undermine the democratic values. The call for cooperation with the Jewish community underlines the importance of a common memory in the political landscape of Austria.