The decision to rename streets in Hitler's birthplace comes after a report deems their current names unconstitutional.
Austrian Town to Rename Streets Linked to Nazi Affiliates
Austrian Town to Rename Streets Linked to Nazi Affiliates
Braunau am Inn moves to change street names reflecting its controversial past with Nazis.
In a significant move reflecting a commitment to confront its historical ties to Nazism, the town council of Braunau am Inn, Austria, has decided to rename two streets that are associated with notable Nazi affiliates. The decision was reached following a "secret vote" and comes after persistent complaints from local citizens and historians about the inappropriate recognition of these figures.
The streets in question are named after composer Josef Reiter and entertainment figure Franz Resl, both of whom were known members of the Nazi party. Approximately 200 homes will be assigned new addresses following the change, underscoring a shift in local governance towards acknowledging and rectifying past injustices.
This decision has been met with approval from the Mauthausen Committee, which emphasizes the symbolic importance of the change. The committee has long advocated for measures that honor the memory of the victims of the Nazi regime, particularly the 90,000 prisoners who perished in the Mauthausen concentration camp between 1938 and 1945.
Willi Mernyi, the chairman of the committee, expressed gratitude to those who supported the naming initiative, while Robert Eiter, another committee member, proposed that the renamed streets should honor local resistance figures. Suggestions included Lea Olczak, a former deputy mayor with familial ties to Mauthausen, and Maria Stromberger, a prominent resistance member at Auschwitz.
Although many streets in Austria have already been renamed due to their Nazi affiliations, this decision illustrates the ongoing efforts to confront and reconcile with the past. Eight decades after the war's end, the country grapples with the legacy of the Holocaust, which saw the systematic extermination of around 65,000 Austrian Jews among millions across Europe.
The streets in question are named after composer Josef Reiter and entertainment figure Franz Resl, both of whom were known members of the Nazi party. Approximately 200 homes will be assigned new addresses following the change, underscoring a shift in local governance towards acknowledging and rectifying past injustices.
This decision has been met with approval from the Mauthausen Committee, which emphasizes the symbolic importance of the change. The committee has long advocated for measures that honor the memory of the victims of the Nazi regime, particularly the 90,000 prisoners who perished in the Mauthausen concentration camp between 1938 and 1945.
Willi Mernyi, the chairman of the committee, expressed gratitude to those who supported the naming initiative, while Robert Eiter, another committee member, proposed that the renamed streets should honor local resistance figures. Suggestions included Lea Olczak, a former deputy mayor with familial ties to Mauthausen, and Maria Stromberger, a prominent resistance member at Auschwitz.
Although many streets in Austria have already been renamed due to their Nazi affiliations, this decision illustrates the ongoing efforts to confront and reconcile with the past. Eight decades after the war's end, the country grapples with the legacy of the Holocaust, which saw the systematic extermination of around 65,000 Austrian Jews among millions across Europe.
