Shocking finds: Human ash discovered in Hartheim Castle!

Shocking finds: Human ash discovered in Hartheim Castle!

In the Hartheim Castle in Upper Austria, shocking finds were discovered: in geophysical studies in December 2024, a far -reaching ash field with human remains was identified on the north side of the former euthanasia institution. These investigations carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior confirmed the suspicion at the beginning of March 2025 that a layer of human ash and bone remains was discovered several centimeters thick at a depth of about 80 to 150 centimeters. The affected area extends over 458.5 square meters and indicates that the atrocities of the Nazi era in this area have not yet been fully documented, as Florian Schwanninger, the head of the memorial.

a dark legacy

The investigation is testified by the cruel chapter of euthanasia, in which almost 30,000 people - including people with disabilities and mental illness - were murdered between 1940 and 1944. Already in 2001, extensive pits with human remains were found on the east side of the castle, but the new discoveries on the north side show that the crimes are far from fully processed. Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) emphasize the need to document these historical facts in order to protect the sacrifices. "To completely process the atrocities of the Nazi regime, is not just our duty, but our endeavor," said Stelzer.

In addition, presentations of around 8,000 objects will take place on March 21, 2025, which were found between 2001 and 2002 as part of courses at the University of Vienna. These objects, including religious objects and personal memorabilia, are likely to come from the murdered people and offer deeper insights into the fate of the victims, the extent and cruelty of which must be further researched decades after the end of National Socialism, as the courier reports.