Image: ÖNB
Director Monika Sommer will lead on September 7th and 14th under the title “(Not) a Hitler balcony. To an open wound of contemporary history” to the balcony of the New Castle. This one was last too in a video of the Freedom Youth been shown, which had caused severe criticism. It’s that one “balcony”, from which Adolf Hitler held his follow-up speech in 1938. At the event, insights into its history will be given and the topic of dealing with this disturbing place, which is symbolic of the long lack of discussion of Austria’s Nazi past, said a hdgö broadcast.
Since its opening, the House of History has encouraged a new approach. The “Hitler balcony” is still – as seen from Heldenplatz – neither contextualized nor accessible for active commemorative and educational work. “As a result, the republic has not yet succeeded in reinterpreting it symbolically in a democratic and constitutional manner”, one emphasizes. The gazebo is closed to the public. The museum uses the area that leads directly to the area, but is not responsible for it itself.
“As a contemporary history museum, we are constantly doing everything we can to address and educate about the history of this place. It is the main task of the hdgö to actively take up the time of National Socialism and how it was dealt with in Austria. (…) Due to the current situation, it is my personal concern to schedule two special tours to the balcony at short notice”Sommer explained.
It would be more than desirable for the republic to set a democratic, rule-of-law sign in this very place by the 80th anniversary of its founding and thus counteract a highly problematic appropriation, she stated. be international “active memory work” at many such “Perpetrator Locations” usual. The museum is already asking visitors in front of the exit to the balcony whether the place should be open to the public or not. So far, an overwhelming majority has voted in favour.
Source: Nachrichten
