The Jews Of Austria: A Historical Presence

The history of the Jewish community in Austria is a long and tumultuous one, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, Austrian Jews have experienced periods of prosperity and equality, as well as eras of persecution, deportations, and antisemitism. The Jewish population in Austria reached a peak in the early 1930s, comprising about 10% of Vienna's total population, or about 200,000 people. However, the Holocaust drastically reduced this number, with only 8,140 Jews remaining in Austria according to the 2001 census. Today, the Jewish community in Austria is small but growing, with a population of around 10,000–15,000, mainly in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg.

Jewish life in Austria dates back to the time of the Roman Empire

During the 12th century, the existence of a Jewish community in Austria was confirmed with the presence of two synagogues. In the 13th century, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II declared Jews to be a separate ethnic and religious group, granting them certain rights and encouraging their immigration to the area. This bill of rights allowed Jews to work in money lending and granted them protection and autonomous rights, such as the right to judge themselves and collect taxes.

The Jewish community in Austria thrived during this period, with the construction of synagogues, the establishment of schools, and the development of religious freedom. However, tensions with the Christian population and hostility from the Catholic Church led to increased antisemitism and violence against Jews.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the situation worsened for Austrian Jews, with accusations of involvement in the anti-Catholic movement of Jan Hus in Bohemia and instances of false accusations, imprisonment, and mass killings. Despite brief periods of peace under rulers like Frederick III, who was known for his fairness and strong relationship with the Jewish community, persecution and expulsion continued.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw a shift towards tolerance and integration for Austrian Jews. Emperor Joseph II issued an 'Edict of Tolerance' in 1781, which eventually led to the emancipation of Jews and the establishment of an autonomous Jewish religious community. In the mid-19th century, Emperor Franz Joseph granted equal rights to Jews, stating that civil rights were not contingent on religion.

By the early 20th century, the Jewish community in Austria was strong and vibrant, with a significant presence in various professions, arts, and academia. However, the rise of Nazism and the German annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the Anschluss, marked a devastating turn for Austrian Jews. They were subjected to extreme intimidation, violence, expropriation of property, and deportation to concentration camps. The Jewish population in Austria decreased significantly during this period due to emigration and the Holocaust.

Despite the challenges and persecution faced by the Jewish community in Austria throughout history, they have persevered and contributed significantly to the country's culture, economics, and intellectual life. Today, Austria's Jewish population is estimated to be around 10,000-15,000, with the majority living in Vienna. The community continues to thrive and preserve its cultural and religious traditions.

The Jewish population in Austria is growing

Jewish life in Austria dates back to the time of the Roman Empire, with the earliest surviving evidence of a Jewish presence in what is now Austria being a third-century CE amulet discovered in the grave of a Jewish infant in Halbturn. The community peaked in the early 1930s, comprising 10% of Vienna's total population, or around 200,000 Jews. However, the Holocaust drastically reduced this number, with only 8,140 Jews remaining in Austria according to the 2001 census.

Today, the Jewish population in Austria is estimated to be around 10,000, with some sources citing a range of 12,000-15,000. This is the highest number of Jews observed in Austria since the 1960s. The growth is driven by high birth rates in the strictly Orthodox population and migration, including the recent offer of citizenship to descendants of Jews who fled the Nazis. About 86% of Austrian Jews reside in Vienna, with smaller communities in cities such as Baden, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, and Salzburg.

The Jewish community in Austria is diverse, with denominations ranging from Haredi to Reform Jews. It is also active and well-organized, with various cultural and educational institutions, synagogues, kosher restaurants and supermarkets, sports clubs, youth movements, and media outlets. The community is primarily composed of Holocaust survivors and their children, returning Austrian expatriates, and refugees from Iran, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe.

While antisemitism and neo-Nazism remain issues in some parts of Austria, the country has taken steps towards reconciliation and restitution. In 1991, the Austrian government acknowledged its role in the crimes of the Third Reich, and in 1993, they lifted all obstacles for former refugees to reclaim Austrian citizenship. More recently, in 2019, Austria amended its citizenship law to allow direct descendants of victims of National Socialism to regain citizenship.

Antisemitism in Austria

History

Jewish life in Austria dates back to the time of the Roman Empire, with the first Jewish communities in the geographical area of modern-day Austria traced back to the 12th century. In 1848, Jews were granted civil rights and the right to establish an autonomous religious community, and in 1867, they were granted full citizenship rights. This led to a period of economic, religious, and social freedom, and the Jewish population grew from 6,000 in 1860 to almost 185,000 in 1938.

However, in March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, leading to thousands of Austrians and Austrian Jews who opposed Nazi rule being sent to concentration camps. Of the 65,000 Viennese Jews deported, only about 2,000 survived, and around 800 survived by hiding. During World War II, most Austrians enthusiastically welcomed the annexation and actively participated in the Nazi regime and the death camp apparatus. Between 65,000 and 70,000 Austrian Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, and the Jewish population declined dramatically.

Post-World War II Antisemitism

Antisemitism persisted in Austria after World War II, continuing to play a role in the country's political life and culture, particularly in political parties and the media. While open expressions of antisemitism were publicly forbidden and tabooed, coded and ambiguous language was used to circumvent these restrictions. This type of antisemitism was termed "antisemitism without Jews" by Austrian sociologist Bernd Marin, as Jews constituted only 0.1% of the Austrian population at the time.

Contemporary Antisemitism

Today, the Jewish community in Austria consists of about 8,000 to 15,000 people, with the majority residing in Vienna. Antisemitism remains an issue, with a focus on diffused and traditional stereotypes rather than physical aggression. It is a significant component of the ideology of extreme right-wing and neo-Nazi groups in the country. Since 2000, these groups have intensified their activities, and there has been a rise in public debates related to the National Socialist past, such as controversies surrounding a Holocaust memorial and discussions about restitution.

Latent antisemitism is particularly prevalent in several rural areas, with incidents of racial profiling and discrimination in holiday resorts and hotels. There has also been a wave of recent antisemitic attacks, including graffiti, vandalism of Jewish graves and memorials, and physical assaults. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has contributed to a surge in both online and offline antisemitism, with a fivefold increase in anti-Jewish incidents since October 7, 2023. The Austrian government has recognized the issue and announced measures to combat antisemitism, including intensifying cooperation with social media providers and developing AI systems to identify and address hate speech online.

Austrian citizenship for descendants of Jews who fled the Nazis

Austria has offered citizenship to the descendants of Jews who fled the country during the Nazi era. This law, which came into effect on 1 September 2020, is an important step in acknowledging the country's responsibility for its role in the heinous acts committed during the Nazi regime. It also serves as a gesture of reconciliation and respect towards Holocaust survivors and their descendants, who suffered greatly as a result of Nazi persecution.

Under the Austrian Citizenship Law, victims of the Holocaust and their direct descendants are eligible to apply for Austrian citizenship. This includes individuals who can prove that their ancestors fled Austria before 1955 due to persecution or fear of persecution by the Nazis. The law covers a wide range of victims, including physically or mentally disabled individuals, Sinti and Roma peoples, and non-heterosexual individuals. Notably, the law also grants citizenship to descendants of Austrian mothers, addressing a historical injustice.

The process of acquiring Austrian citizenship through this route typically takes four to six months. Applicants must submit a declaration, known as an "Anzeige", along with supporting documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and proof of their ancestor's persecution and residence in Austria. The Austrian government has waived all government citizenship application fees for this programme, and successful applicants will enjoy full citizenship for life, with the ability to pass it on to future generations.

It is important to note that while this law provides a measure of historic justice, it cannot undo the atrocities of the Holocaust. Furthermore, the rise of the far right in Austria and the increasing instances of antisemitism have caused concern among Jewish communities in the country. Nonetheless, the citizenship programme is a step towards acknowledging the past and encouraging descendants of Jewish refugees to have a say in shaping Austria's future direction.

Austria's decision to offer citizenship to the descendants of Jewish refugees is a significant gesture, not only in terms of historical recognition but also in providing opportunities for the future. By obtaining Austrian citizenship, individuals gain access to one of the top citizenships in the world, offering a high quality of life and visa-free travel to numerous destinations.

The Holocaust in Austria

On March 13, 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, and the lives of Austrian Jews changed drastically. By 1942, almost all Austrian Jews had either been forced to emigrate or deported to concentration camps. 65,000 Austrian Jews did not survive the Holocaust.

In the week following the annexation, Jews were subjected to brutal attacks, violence, and looting of their assets. Jewish women were forced to scrub political slogans from the sidewalks with their bare hands or toothbrushes, and Jewish children were made to write "Jud" on their fathers' shop windows. Orthodox Jews were humiliated by being pulled around by their beards, and Jews at the Prater Stern were forced to lie down and eat grass.

By mid-June, Jews had been removed from public life, and tens of thousands of Jewish employees had lost their jobs. Hundreds of Jews committed suicide. The 'Kristallnacht' in November 1938 completed the destruction of the Jewish community. Nazi violence resumed in early October, with thousands of Jewish families evicted from their homes on the eve of Yom Kippur.

Anti-Jewish laws were swiftly implemented after the annexation. Jewish students were excluded from universities, and Jewish pupils were moved to segregated classes and later transferred to Jewish schools. The "Nuremberg Laws" were introduced, and 34,500 people were declared "racial Jews". Jews were banned from public parks and prohibited from having non-Jewish customers or using public transportation. They were also subjected to curfews and banned from listening to the radio.

The Central Office for Jewish Emigration, led by Adolf Eichmann, organized the persecution and deportation of Austrian Jews with such efficiency that their methods were copied in Germany. A special body was responsible for transferring Jewish property to "Aryans". Obtaining an immigration visa was difficult, and before leaving Austria, Jews were robbed of their possessions by the Nazis.

The deportation of Austrian Jews to concentration camps began in October 1939. Nearly 1,000 Jews were exiled to Nisko on the San River, and in November 1939, Eichmann told the Jewish Community of Austria (IKG) that all Jews who did not emigrate within a year would be deported to occupied Poland. Between 1941 and 1942, thousands of Austrian Jews were deported to ghettos and concentration camps in the Lublin district, the Lodz Ghetto, and Riga, Minsk, and Kovno.

During the last months of World War II, Austria became the destination of evacuated concentration camp inmates, with Hungarian Jews being sent to Mauthausen or its satellite camps, Ebensee and Gunskirchen. Death marches and massacres continued until Austria was liberated from National Socialism in May 1945.

In addition to the approximately 50,912 Jews deported from Austria, another 17,050 were arrested in other European countries after the German occupation. Only 1,747 Jews returned to Austria after the war, with the largest group of 1,293 surviving in Theresienstadt.

Austrians played a significant role in the planning and administration of the deportation and extermination of European Jews. Eichmann, Globocnik, Kaltenbrunner, Brunner, and Hitler himself were Austrians, and Austrians made up a substantial percentage of the staff in death camps and the SS. The Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria was one of the largest and harshest within the Third Reich.

Despite these facts, there is a lack of awareness and knowledge about the Holocaust in Austria. A 2019 survey found that most Austrian adults did not know that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and many saw Austria as a victim rather than a perpetrator or contributor. However, there is a strong commitment to Holocaust education among Austrians, especially the younger generation.

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