Remember in Klagenfurt: memorial against racism and violence
Remember in Klagenfurt: memorial against racism and violence
in Klagenfurt, a monument to the connection of Austria to the German Reich in 1938 is reminiscent of an event that should not be forgotten in the history of the country. In her new book, the scientist Nadja Danglmaier indicates the continuing forms of discrimination and racism, which are particularly popular in today's times. Particularly worrying is the increase in anti -Semitic incidents, which are often related to the inability to recognize the relationship between past and the present.
The Night of November pogroms 86 years ago is a formative example of the wave of violence that Adolf Hitler unleashed against the Jewish population in Germany and Austria. Jewish shops and apartments were desecrated during these nights, and many people experienced the destruction of their property and cities. Historians such as Raphael Gross emphasized that these pogroms represent the "first catastrophe before the catastrophe" because they have preceded the systematic persecution of the Jews.
riots in Klagenfurt and Villach
In the cities of Klagenfurt and Villach, the pogroms resulted in severe riots. The Jewish bed house in Platzgasse in Klagenfurt was devastated, and the holy text of the Tora, a central component of the Jewish religion, was burned on the street. Nadja Danglmaier explains that the local population found a platform in these times to live out their enemy emotions against Jews.
In Villach, the traces of this violent past are visible in the form of a monument that counts the names of the more than 300 Nazi victims. Tragically, however, this monument was recently demolished for the 15th time. The reasons are still unclear whether it is vandalism or unfortunate circumstances. The destruction of this memorial shows how disrespectful people deal with memory work.
A term that is often called in the context of the pogroms is "pogrom". He describes violent riots against people who belong to a certain social or religious group. This shows how permeable the limits for discrimination and violence have been over the years. The name "Reichskristallnacht" used by the Nazis is a cynical trivialization of the youthful acts of violence that took place that terrible night.
association are reminiscent of Villach: need to catch up with sensitization
The association is reminiscent of Villach, which stands behind the monument, the great deficit in investigating young people about the events of the anti -Semitic past criticizes. Alexandra Schmidt, a representative of the association, reports on a total of 14 documented incidents in which young people could be held responsible for the damage to the monument. "This is worrying," says Schmidt.
historian and filmmaker Burgl Czeitschner attributes the lack of empathy, which consists of the persecution and discrimination against Jews and other marginal groups. Despite the fact that political education is part of the curriculum, there is a lack of a deep understanding of the past. Understanding and empathy should be encouraged so as not to repeat the mistakes of history.
The current situation makes it clear that a lot of work is necessary to raise awareness of the atrocities of National Socialism. The National Council President Walter Rosenkranz was also faced with resistance on Friday when he wanted to put down a wreath when memory of the November pogroms at Judenplatz in Vienna. Jewish demonstrators formed a chain of people around the monument and illustrated that respectful memory is essential. "Whoever honors Nazis, whose word is worth nothing!" was the clear message to the rosary, which described the incident as "violence".
whether in Klagenfurt, Villach or Vienna: The memory of the past remains essential to preserve the teachings from history and to strengthen the values of tolerance and respect in the future. These topics must be increasingly anchored in education and social discourse to prevent the repetition of such tragedies. The memory signs and monuments are not only silent memorials, but also living memories that have to be reinterpreted and discussed again and again. For more information, See the current reporting on kaernten.orf.at .