Words of Warning at "Festival of Joy" in Vienna

After the ceremony at the Federal Chancellery at noon, the 13th "Festival of Joy" commemorated Austria's liberation from National Socialism on Thursday evening. This year's theme of the memorial event organized by the Mauthausen Committee Austria (MKÖ) was "For a Never Again and Peace in Europe." Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, who could not attend in person this time, warned via video message about the dangers to liberal democracies and pluralism.

Video Message from Van der Bellen

With the beginning of the Second Republic, Austria once again oriented itself towards so-called "Western values." The rule of law and liberal democracy became the foundations of society, and tolerance and pluralism were practiced. Austria also embarked on a path that culminated 30 years ago in joining the European Union. "All of this, which has shaped the last 80 years and made Europe one of the safest and most prosperous regions in the world, is all in danger today," warned the Head of State, referring to the global and European threat situation.

However, it would be wrong to lose perspective in the face of these challenges. "Because by doing so, we would have already thrown one of the principles of our open society overboard," said Van der Bellen. "Rather, I am convinced that we must stand together and determinedly - and possibly more clearly than before - for the values that have shaped our country since 1945: respect, peaceful coexistence, and of course, the culture of remembrance, as it shapes this evening at Vienna's Heldenplatz."

"Festival of Joy" with Lendvai

This year, the 95-year-old publicist Paul Lendvai spoke as an eyewitness. At the end of 1944, as a 15-year-old, he was driven towards Austria in the infamous death march with tens of thousands of other Jews after the Hungarian Nazis seized power, but he was able to escape by luck. After the suppression of the Hungarian uprising in 1957 by the Soviet army, he came to Vienna as a political refugee.

He used his contribution as a plea for human and minority rights. "The history of the path to the Second World War and the Holocaust teaches us that we all, regardless of religion, descent, and nationality (...) must stand up everywhere and in a timely manner against xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism, for our European values, for tolerance and humanity, for liberal democracy, and if necessary, fight for them."

He criticized the neo-Nazi "so-called isolated cases." Newspapers or politicians who trivialized or concealed these incidents "have learned nothing, absolutely nothing from history." German-nationalist dueling fraternities are not partners in the fight against extremes, but themselves "parts of the evil," Lendvai said, likely alluding to National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ), who has repeatedly faced criticism due to his membership in a fraternity.

Lendvai also condemned the "unbridled hate campaign" against Israel "even under the guise of an anti-imperialist, anti-Zionist, leftist ideology." "However, it must be openly stated that the indescribable acts of terror by Hamas and Islamist attacks must not be a free pass for the senseless destruction of Gaza, for the oppression of the Palestinians, and for raids by illegal settlers in the West Bank," emphasized Lendvai.

"It is up to all of us"

Oskar Deutsch, President of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG), had previously described the anniversary on May 8 in a video message as a "reason for unreserved joy," because the Nazi regime was defeated, the gas chambers were shut down. However, the world was not freed from anti-Semitism and racism. In social media, the worst hate messages about Jews are spread, even extermination anti-Semitism continues to live in some basements in Austria. This ideology is even more openly continued by Islamists like the regime in Iran or the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad, for example in the massacre of Jews on October 7, 2023.

"80 years after the liberation of the extermination camps, we must therefore realize that the ideology that led to Mauthausen, Auschwitz, and the many other sites of the Shoah has not been defeated," emphasized Deutsch. "It is up to all of us - including you - not to give up the fight against ideologies of hate - for a world in which every person, regardless of their religion, gender, and sexual orientation, can live in peace and dignity."

As special guests, MKÖ Chairman Willi Mernyi welcomed Hana Berger-Moran, Eva Clarke, and Mark Olsky this year. All three were liberated as babies in Mauthausen in May 1945, and today they live in the USA and the UK. "Never again should a mother have to hide her pregnancy to survive. Never again should a child have to be born in captivity in a concentration camp. Never again!" urged Mernyi.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.