The leaders of the republic traveled to Upper Austria, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (VP), Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP) and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens). For Upper Austria LH-Stv. Christine Haberlander (VP) took part. Representatives from the countries and groups of victims, from survivor organizations and memorial initiatives were also present.
After a commemoration in the Mauthausen concentration camp, which was liberated together with Gusen on May 5, 1945, the participants drove to the satellite camp. There, the few remnants of the camp were removed, and those present laid flowers at the former roll call area. Speeches commemorated the suffering of the 70,000 prisoners and the 35,000 victims of Gusen. Finally, the names of the victims of Mauthausen and Gusen were projected onto a wall at a memorial.
“explain connections”
In a statement, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP) recalled the long process leading to a modern culture of remembrance: “It took more than 40 years for official Austria to recognize that it was not only a victim but also a perpetrator of National Socialism.” The former concentration camps would play an important role in the commemoration: “Today they are not just memorials, but important memorials. Because as the Republic of Austria, we not only have a responsibility towards the victims and their descendants, but also towards ourselves, to ourselves the atrocities of the National Socialists and to ensure that we never forget them.”
Christine Haberlander also reminded us of this duty: “It is up to us to ensure that we, later generations, assume the responsibility that emanates from places like this and the crimes that happened here. We must accept this responsibility and young people in particular the connections keep explaining.” (vaba)
Source: Nachrichten
