Commemoration ceremony by the religious community, Roma representatives and politics as well as visible remembrance in public space
Vienna (OTS) – On January 26th, the Friday before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, representatives of the Israelite Community, Roma representatives, the head of state and representatives of the democratic opposition commemorated the persecuted and murdered at the Shoah Name Wall Memorial in Vienna’s Ostarrichipark. The memorial ceremony was accompanied by music by musician Ferry Janoska with the song “Oblivion” and a funeral prayer by senior cantor Shmuel Barzilai.
Oskar German: “The memory of the Shoah gives rise to a mandate for our common future. Today we see how anti-Semitism and racism are threatening to spill from the margins into the center, especially after the terrorist massacre by Hamas on October 7 last year and the rise of extremist parties in Austria and Germany who are making deportation plans. This is precisely why we must stand up all the more vehemently for an open and democratic society, and this is precisely why commemoration is needed. Because the Shoah, the Holocaust, did not fall from heaven either. It started with the word.”
The commemoration took place as part of the World Jewish Congress’ international Holocaust commemoration under the title #WeRemember. To mark this occasion, visible signs of remembrance were set in public spaces. The Austrian Parliament has designed an extensive program around International Holocaust Remembrance Day with projections on the outside wall, an exhibition as well as information measures in the house and photo campaigns with parliamentarians. This year, companies also took part in the activities in order to create a visible sign of remembrance and responsibility for today.
Strong partners for remembering in public spaces
For the first time on January 26th and 27th, the INFOSCREEN will provide information about the #WeRemember initiative on 4,001 screens in and around public transport in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Wels, Bregenz and Eisenstadt. The UNIQA Tower in Vienna becomes the namesake tower on Remembrance Day. This shows the names of 68 murdered Jews. The Wiener Linien will also have the inscription #WeRemember at the tram stops near Parliament. Oskar German: “I would like to thank Infoscreen, UNIQA and Wiener Linien for this gesture – especially in these difficult times, it is particularly important to remind a large number of people of the memory of the Shoah through this support in order to preserve our democratic and diverse future “.
Youth remember together
This year too, the Youth Commission of the IKG Vienna is supporting the #WeRemember campaign of the World Jewish Congress. Over the past few weeks, as part of the LIKRAT dialogue program, Jewish young people have informed school classes and other educational institutions about the campaign and encouraged them to take part on site. The Jewish youth organizations also took part in the campaign via social media in order to keep alive the constant memory of the unique crimes of the Shoah in the spirit of the generation chain.
Statements from government and politics on today’s Remembrance Day
Andreas Sarközi, Managing Director, Cultural Association of Austrian Roma
“The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is the symbol of the industrial mass murder of Jews, Roma and Sinti as well as the extermination of human lives who opposed the barbaric Nazi rule. On January 27th we commemorate the liberation of the prisoners of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945 by Allied troops. However, on this January 27th we should also think of all those women, men and children who were murdered in the extermination camps such as Belczek, Sobibor, Treblinka and Kulmhof. Politicians and civil society are called upon to be vigilant against any kind of anti-democratic and anti-human tendencies. Auschwitz must never happen again.”
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen
“This day reminds us of our ongoing responsibility to stand strictly and decisively and with deep conviction against any form of anti-Semitism. But we can’t just leave it at this one day. Our common “Never again!” obliges us to be vigilant, every day. Especially now, when enemies of our open society, enemies of liberal democracy, are gaining more and more momentum, we must not remain indifferent to anti-Semitism, hate speech and hatred – we must oppose it resolutely. If Austria is serious about saying “Never again,” it has to show it. Every day anew.”
National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka
“On January 27, 1945, the survivors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp were liberated. It is our shared responsibility to always keep in our consciousness this day, which has been celebrated since 2005 on the initiative of the United Nations to commemorate the victims of National Socialist anti-Semitism and racism worldwide. We all owe it to the murdered Jews to preserve their memory. It is our heritage and our duty to speak out on behalf of the victims. Anti-Semitism is not only a threat to Jews, but to democracy and open society as a whole. Therefore, it is of central importance to me to make Jewish life, culture and history more visible in order to reduce fears of contact.”
Chancellor Karl Nehammer
“Austria has a special historical responsibility and therefore remembers the victims of the unimaginable atrocities of the Nazi regime, especially today. We remember the millions of children, women and men who were brutally murdered in the Shoah and will never forget these darkest chapters of our history. With full moral conviction, we fight decisively against every form of anti-Semitism – in Austria, within the EU and wherever anti-Semitism endangers peaceful coexistence. This is our responsibility to society as a whole.”
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler
“As we celebrate the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27th and remember the victims of the Holocaust, one thing needs to be said clearly and clearly: We must stand up against hatred and incitement, against anti-Semitism and racism. National Socialism did not gain the upper hand on its own. The brown sediment that grew in the 1920s and 1930s ultimately led to the abyss of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Ravensbrück and Mauthausen – to the industrial extermination of 6 million Jews. A clear stance and a common and unreserved commitment to democracy and human rights are therefore the imperative of the hour, because “Never again is now”.”
Ambassador David Roet
“As the son of a Holocaust survivor, this memorable day is of poignant significance for me as Ambassador of Israel. Today I remember my family, who fell victim to the world’s worst genocide because they were Jews. I am proud that Austria and its government are actively working to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated, and I am grateful for the strong and proud Jewish community. Following the Hamas massacre on October 7, we have witnessed a resurgence of anti-Semitism manifesting itself on the streets of European cities and even in prestigious academic institutions. Just as my ancestors were saved by the courage of individuals during the Holocaust, today we must once again stand up and speak out. As free people, our unity is of the utmost importance.”
SPÖ club chairman Philip Kucher
“’Never again’ is now. ‘Perish the Beginnings’ is today. Even today, and perhaps more than ever in the face of reawakening mass deportation fantasies, it is our task to deal with the crimes of National Socialism and thus our own history and to draw the right conclusions for our everyday actions. We must take our historical responsibility into account. Today we remember the millions of victims of National Socialism. Many survivors have made it their mission for decades to work against forgetting and to tell their stories. Unfortunately, these voices are becoming fewer and fewer. So we are also called upon to continue telling their stories.”
NEOS club chairwoman Beate Meinl-Reisinger
“We must not give way to intolerance and extremism in our humanity and the foundations of our democracy such as freedom, self-determination, an open society and plurality! Our own past teaches us a fundamental responsibility to stand up for the safety and freedom of Jews worldwide. Never again is today!”
Questions & Contact:
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