Time to act in the spirit of Austria’s historic responsibility

Press release 29 Sept. 2017

Mauthausen Committee is shocked about handling of memorial and remembrance work in Graz-Liebenau: time to act in the spirit of Austria’s historic responsibility

For months Dr. Rainer Possert, head of the Socio-Medical Center (SMZ) in Graz-Liebenau, has been striving for the preservation of the remains of the Nazi forced labor and transit camp exposed due to an archeological excavation contracted by the city of Graz. Since January Possert has been working with Mauthausen Committee Austria (MKÖ) on memorial and remembrance work at the site of the former Nazi forced labor and transit camp for Hungarian Jews in Graz-Liebenau. On 21 August 2017 MKÖ wrote letters to competent politicians, authorities and experts to request assistance in preserving the remnants of the camp and in establishing a worthy memorial to the victims.

"We suggested to Mayor Siegfried Nagl that he soon arrange an open table with all experts," said MKÖ Chairman Willi Mernyi. "The failure to arrange this round table and the current status at the site of the former forced labor and transit camp make it clear that it is high time that Mayor Nagl urgently act in the spirit of Austria’s historic responsibility!"

On 21 September 2017 in a session of the Graz city council, a motion was denied for a pause for reflection and for conducting research work before the start of building. The next day, construction work began.

MKÖ Chairman Mernyi stated: "Due to the origins of those detained here, such a memorial would be not only of local interest, but of great international interest as well. We all owe this to the victims and their families. It is irreverent to build on a site where experts anticipate that they will find additional human remains of victims."

Mauthausen Committee Austria reacted with shock that apparently the victims of the Nazi forced labor and transit camp for Hungarian Jews were not considered in the plans of the responsible councilman and assistant mayor Mario Eustacchio. Simultaneously SMZ Liebenau was informed that funding required until the end of the year had been cut.