Thousands of participants: On May 8, 2025, the invitation of the Mauthausen Committee Austria (MKÖ) accepted the joy of the Vienna Heldenplatz. In the commemorative year “80 years of liberation” the evening was under the motto: “For a never again and peace in Europe”. The highlight of the event was the speech of contemporary witness Paul Lendvai, accompanied by the Austrian premiere of the “Requiem A” work by Sven Helbig by the Viennese symphonists, the Dresden Kreuzchor and the new Viennese voices. ORF III transferred the ceremony live, and the event was also made accessible internationally and multilingual via stream. The three Mauthausen Babies Hana Berger-Moran, Mark Olsky and Eva Clarke, who were born in the Mauthausen concentration camp in the last few days of the war, were also present at the festival.
Vienna, May 8, 2025-80 years after the end of the Nazi terrorist regime, thousands of people set a strong sign of forgetting and for a peaceful, democratic future. Together with survivors and guests of honor, thousands of visitors celebrated: May 8th at Heldenplatz – the day of liberation from National Socialism. Under this year’s focus topic “” 80 years of liberation from National Socialism – for never again and peace in Europe “, the MKÖ was already organizing the feast of the joy of Vienna Heldenplatz for the 13th time.
Traditionally, Federal President Dr. Alexander van der Bellen and Willi Mernyi, MKÖ chairman, the joy festival. In his speech, Mernyi emphasized the importance of the festival: “At a time when anti -Semitism, racism and agitation gain ground again, our message has to be louder than ever: for a never again – and for peace in Europe.” He also adds: “The fact that the three” Babies of Mauthausen “are personally present today makes this festival of joy a special event.”
The event was enriched musically with a concert by the Viennese symphonists. The Austrian premiere of Sven Helbig’s “Requiem A” work was the artistic highlight of the evening. The Viennese symphonists, under the direction of Martin Lehmann, organized an impressive sound of classic choral music and modern electronics together with René Pape (bass), the Dresden Kreuzchor and the new Viennese.
Contemporary witness Paul Lendvai warns against forgetting
Paul Lendvai impressed with a very personal speech. The 95-year-old journalist strongly reminded of the fragility of freedom and the need to actively work for democracy and enlightenment. His life story – flight from Hungary, exile in Austria, decades of commitment to freedom of the press – illustrated how tight personal biographies are interwoven with the history of Europe.
The festival of joy is up www.festderfreude.at and the YouTube channel of the Mauthausen Committee of Austria. The special broadcast, the ceremony and the concert are under the ORF after the TV broadcast as video-on-demand http://tvthek.orf.at/ available.
Further information:
OTS original text press release with the exclusive in terms of content of the sender – www.ots.at | MHK