2023-05-04 19:28:04
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner took part in the commemoration ceremony in the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps on May 4, 2023 – meeting with the Polish Gusen survivor Stanisław Zalewski Interior Minister Gerhard Karner took part in the commemoration ceremony in the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps on May 4, 2023 – meeting with the Polish Gusen survivor Stanisław Zalewski
Vienna (OTS) – On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps on May 4, 2023, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner visited the memorial sites in Upper Austria together with Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka, other members of the Federal Government and Governor Thomas Stelzer and commemorated the more than 90,000 people who lost their lives in the concentration camps on Austrian soil.
“Today’s commemoration is part of the active culture of remembrance of the victims of the concentration camps. In recent years, the memorial work in the former Mauthausen concentration camp and its subcamps has been continuously developed. From the construction of a visitor center 20 years ago to the redesign of the exhibition 10 years ago to the ongoing development of the former Gusen concentration camp. My thanks go in particular to Director Dr. Barbara Glück and her dedicated team,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner at the commemoration ceremony.
Subtitle: Meeting with the Polish Holocaust survivor Stanislaw Zalewski in Gusen
Shortly before the start of the commemoration in Gusen, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met the Polish survivor Stanislaw Zalewski. Zalewski was abused as a forced laborer under horrible conditions for more than 500 days in the Mauthausen concentration camp and in the Gusen subcamp. In January of this year, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner met Stanislaw Zalewski in Warsaw as part of a working visit.
“I am deeply impressed by the personality of Stanislaw Zalewski. This person was abused and enslaved and, at the age of 97, impresses with his positive will, openness and joie de vivre,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Subtitle: Redesign of the Gusen Memorial
In September 2022, a participatory process to redesign the Gusen concentration camp started with the involvement of regional, national and international interest groups, memorial initiatives, scientists and residents. Central areas of the former Mauthausen subcamp were purchased by the Republic of Austria in 2022, including the former roll call area, the gravel crusher and two SS administration buildings.
“The ongoing redesign of the Gusen memorial is intended to provide a place of remembrance and encounter for future generations. This is of particular relevance, as the voices of contemporary witnesses are slowly becoming silent. It is our responsibility to ensure that their voices are carried further. Broad involvement should ensure the greatest possible acceptance of this new common memorial site,” said Karner.
At the end of the event, the names of the victims murdered in the Mauthausen concentration camp system were projected as part of a light and sound installation and their names were read out.
Picture gallery for the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps
Picture gallery
Questions & contact:
federal Ministry of Internal Affairs
Ministerialrat Markus Haindl, BA MA
Press Spokesman of the Federal Minister
+43 (0) 1-531 26 – 90 1021
markus.haindl@bmi.gv.at
www.bmi.gv.at
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