On May 10, 2025, the Memorial celebration on the 80th anniversary of the liberation instead of which an international memorial community gathered. Around 2,500 participants formed a large circle-a silent symbol for the continuity in the memory and expression of the growing together of the various groups and institutions through the joint experience of the participation process to expand the Gusen concentration camp memorial.
Visitors were already received with flowers when entering the site. Accompanied by music, the event began with the greeting by the moderators Bernhard Mühleder and Julia Mayr and speeches by Barbara Glück (director of the Mauthausen concentration camp) and Reinhard Kaspar (chairman of the Gusen memorial service)). The importance of cooperation for sustainable commemorative and educational work was emphasized. Christian Aufiter spoke as a representative of the Mauthausen – Gusen -St. Georgen about the responsibility of the region in dealing with the history and the importance of this place for the present.
In the further course came Representatives of the Comité International de Mauthausen and various victim groups Site, including the Israelite cultural community, the cultural association of the Roma, the Hosi, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. They all brought different perspectives for their communities to the importance of commemoration.
The following Speeches of the victims– including representatives from Poland, France, Spain and other countries – once again showed how strongly Gusen is anchored as an international place of remembrance. The descendant of a liberator, Paul Kosiek, also found moving words; He quoted his father with „Boys, you are free!“.
Representatives of the partner communities – Among others from Sesto San Giovanni, Langenstein and St. Georgen – followed the thoughts and emphasized the importance of local responsibility for remembering.
The speeches followed a common Flower laying In the center of the district, accompanied by music. Afterwards the entire memorial community voted a version of the well -known partisan song reclaimed to Gusen Hello beautiful an.
After that, all participants formed a common one Train to Memorial de Gusenaccompanied by the St. Georgen market music band. There, the celebration with a wreath and flower resolution found its ceremonial end.
We, the Mauthausen concentration camp memorial and the Gusen memorial service committee, thank everyone who keeps reminiscent through their participation, their voices and their presence.
Already in the morning found in the KZ memorial Ebensee The commemoration on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the inventor. There, too, the victim of National Socialism was intended with a moving event, in which offspring in particular made central contributions. The writer Robert Schindel held the memorial. The celebration was part of the comprehensive commemoration program around the 80th anniversary and once again illustrated how important lively culture of memory is for our present and future.