The report on the investigation of the namesake of the streets of Linz has been online since Tuesday. As reported, the Commission has identified 64 problem cases, four of these personalities are considered to be particularly badly affected. In addition to composer Hans Pfitzner, car designer Ferdinand Porsche and entertainer Franz Resl, bishop Johannes Maria Gföllner can also be found in category one.
The decision as to whether there will be renaming is made in the city senate, and thus with the votes of the SPÖ, ÖVP, Greens and FPÖ. Mayor Klaus Luger (SP) announced when the report was presented that he assumed that there would be discussions about renaming streets in category one. A decision should be made this year.
The Greens have now clearly spoken out in favor of renaming the four streets in question. People who actively supported the Nazi regime and loudly advocated anti-Semitism shouldn’t have a place in public space in Linz, says club chairman Helge Langer. Measures should also be considered for those who gave their name to category two, including the former Mayor of Linz Franz Dinghofer and the former Governor Heinrich Gleißner.
Renaming in favor of women
The KPÖ and the Neos are also in favor of renaming the four street names that are particularly affected. The KPÖ demands this in favor of deserving women, such as the human rights activist Ute Böck. The Neos are also in favor of renaming them after women and people of peace, but at the same time there is a need for signs explaining the history of these streets, they say.
In any case, the report did not cause any joy in the state ÖVP, whose party headquarters is located in the Heinrich-Gleißner-Haus. “After the Second World War, Heinrich Gleißner stood like no other for cooperation across party lines,” said state manager Florian Hiegelsberger on Tuesday when asked by OÖN. The former governor was also a victim of National Socialism, Gleißner was sent to a concentration camp twice. The Commission justifies its decision with its role in Austrofascism and its anti-democratic activities at the time.
Source: Nachrichten
