COMMEMORATION 2026

On Saturday, May 9, 2025, more than 300 people gathered to commemorate the liberation of the victims of Gunskirchen concentration camp 81 years ago — relatives of survivors from Hungary and Israel, people from the region, and representatives of antifascist organizations and political parties.

As in previous years, the memorial ceremony began with the laying of wreaths at the memorial, accompanied musically by young talents from the Gunskirchen Music School.

Afterwards, all participants joined the “Walk of Solidarity” into the forest, with a stop at the former camp entrance, at the so-called “American Memorial”. Following a minute of silence for the victims of the camp, everyone proceeded to the memorial site in the forest.

The Mayor of Gunskirchen, Christian Schöffmann, welcomed all those present and emphasized that there are truly no words for the horror that took place at this site.

Vice Chancellor and Minister for Culture Andreas Babler spoke about how important it is — and always will be — to preserve and uphold the memory of the victims of National Socialism, of those persecuted and murdered for racist and religious reasons. We must confront this responsibility arising from our country’s history and oppose similar currents in the present with all our strength.

Speech by Andreas Babler (PDF)

Video Andreas Babler

Students of Gunskirchen Middle School presented the book Marie: A Jewish Girl from Linz, which they had studied in class. The book by Verena Wagner tells the story of Marie Spitz, who narrowly managed to flee National Socialism in time.

The students shared their reflections from visiting the Mauthausen Memorial and concluded their contribution by presenting a white rose as a symbol of resistance.

Cornelius Obonya, actor and president of the “Campaign Against Antisemitism in Austria,” referred in his speech to a small poster that had been attached a few weeks earlier to the memorial plaque at the old elementary school in Gunskirchen. The poster called for no memorial ceremonies to be held as long as Israel continued its war.

In a highly knowledgeable and pointed manner, Mr. Obonya explained the incoherence of this line of thinking and analyzed the various forms of antisemitism.

Speech by Cornelius Obonya

Video Cornelius Obonya

The choirs of Edt and Gunskirchen accompanied the program with beautiful songs.

György Frisch, representative of the Hungarian Jews, commemorated the victims of his people and powerfully reminded participants that they were standing in a cemetery at this very place.

László Fekete, chief cantor of the Great Synagogue in Budapest, reinforced this with his mourning chant.

Willi Mernyi, chairman of the Mauthausen Committee Austria, thanked the students for their important engagement with the subject. He referred to the Gunskirchen memorial site currently under development and invited everyone to its opening on October 6.

Werner Retzl, chairman of the Wels Initiative Against Fascism, quoted Karl Kraus, who had prophetically foreseen the consequences both of silence and of enthusiastic support for the fantasies of the National Socialists. In light of the drastic rise in right-wing extremist and antisemitic incidents, he emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant, not allowing oneself to be deceived by seemingly harmless party loyalists, but also not allowing hate-filled agitators to spread fear. He called for abandoning a falsely understood tolerance and for taking a clear stand whenever our democracy is endangered.

Speech by Werner Retzl (PDF)

For the first time, Roma and Sinti from Hungary accompanied the Jewish visitors to the memorial ceremony. They drew attention to the fate of their people and sang the anthem of the Roma and Sinti.

The event concluded with the traditional song Die Gedanken sind frei  (“Thoughts Are Free”).

Our heartfelt thanks go to all participants and visitors for these strengthening hours spent together.