Austria's Jewish History And Presence: Exploring The Legacy

Austria has a long history of Jewish presence, with evidence of a Jewish community in the area dating back to the 3rd century CE. The country's Jewish population has fluctuated over the centuries, with periods of prosperity and equality as well as eras of persecution, deportations, and antisemitism. Before the Holocaust, Austria had a significant Jewish population, mostly concentrated in Vienna. During World War II, the Jewish community in Austria was subjected to persecution, violence, and deportations, with many fleeing the country and over 65,000 killed during the Holocaust. Today, the Jewish community in Austria is rebuilding, with a current population of around 10,300–15,000, mainly in Vienna.

History of Jews in Austria

The history of Jews in Austria dates back to the 3rd century CE, following the exodus of Jews from Judea under Roman occupation. Over the centuries, the Jewish community in Austria has risen and fallen, both prospering and suffering pogroms, deportations, and mass murder.

In the 12th century, two synagogues existed in Vienna, and the Jewish settlement increased with the arrival of settlers from Bavaria and the Rhineland. The 13th century saw the Jewish community begin to flourish, with Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II declaring Jews a separate ethnic and religious group and publishing a bill of rights for Jews. This period of relative prosperity ended in the late 15th century, with the establishment of the anti-Catholic movement of Jan Hus in Bohemia, which led to the worsening of conditions for Jews due to unfounded accusations of association.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Jewish community in Austria experienced varying levels of tolerance and persecution under different rulers. While some rulers opposed the persecution of Jews, excessive taxes were levied, and they were ordered to wear a mark of disgrace. The rise of religious fanaticism among the Society of Jesus further worsened the situation for Jews.

In the 18th century, under Empress Maria Theresa, a period of relative tolerance began, which reached its peak under Emperor Franz Joseph I. During this time, Jews were granted equal rights and encouraged to integrate into Austrian society. They excelled in various fields, including law, journalism, literature, medicine, business, and art.

However, anti-Semitism persisted, and the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 marked a devastating turning point. The Jewish population in Austria, which was about 192,000 in 1938, was reduced to around 7,000 by November 1942 due to emigration and the Holocaust. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, and only 8,140 Jews remained according to the 2001 census.

Following World War II, the Jewish community in Austria began to rebuild, and today, the country has a Jewish population of around 10,300, with a total of 33,000 when including Austrians with at least one Jewish grandparent.

Jewish population in Austria

Austria has a long history of Jewish settlement, with evidence of a Jewish presence in the country as far back as the 3rd century CE. Over the centuries, the Jewish community in Austria has risen and fallen, enjoying periods of prosperity and equality, as well as suffering pogroms, deportations, and mass murder during darker times.

Pre-World War II

Before World War II, Jews played a significant role in Austria's economic and cultural life, particularly in Vienna, which was an important center of Jewish culture, Zionism, and education. In 1938, there were about 192,000 Jews in Austria, making up almost 4% of the total population. However, by December 1939, their numbers had decreased to around 57,000 due to emigration.

World War II and the Holocaust

The German annexation of Austria in 1938 marked a turning point for the Jewish community. They were subjected to persecution, violence, and anti-Jewish legislation. The Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938 were particularly brutal, with synagogues destroyed and Jewish businesses vandalized. Between 1938 and 1940, approximately 117,000 Jews fled the country. During the war, thousands of Jews were deported to concentration camps and occupied Poland, with many ultimately losing their lives in the Holocaust. By the end of the war in 1945, only about 5,000 Jews remained in Austria.

Post-World War II

In the aftermath of World War II, the Jewish community in Austria began to rebuild. However, the process was slow, and many Jews faced challenges in reclaiming their properties and receiving compensation for their losses. In the 1950s, immigration from the Soviet Union brought Russian Jews to the country. Today, the Jewish population in Austria is estimated to be around 10,300, with a total of 33,000 when including those with at least one Jewish grandparent. The community is primarily made up of Holocaust survivors and their families, returning Austrian expatriates, refugees from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and Iranian Jews.

The contemporary Jewish community in Austria is represented by various organizations, such as the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities and the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (IKG) in Vienna. While anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism have not been completely eradicated, Austria has taken steps toward acknowledging its role in the Holocaust and promoting Holocaust education and the fight against anti-Semitism.

The Holocaust in Austria

Before World War II, Jews played a significant role in Austria's economic and cultural life, with many prominent figures in fields such as politics, science, and the arts. Vienna, the capital, was an important centre of Jewish culture, Zionism, and education. In 1938, Austria had a Jewish population of about 192,000, with over 176,000 living in Vienna alone.

Following the Anschluss, the Nazis quickly extended anti-Jewish legislation to Austria. Jews were expelled from all aspects of public life, removed from their jobs, and subjected to brutal treatment. During the Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938, most synagogues in Vienna were destroyed, Jewish homes and businesses were looted and vandalised, and thousands of Jews were arrested and deported to concentration camps.

The Central Office for Jewish Emigration, led by Adolf Eichmann, was set up in Vienna to organise the persecution and deportation of Austrian Jews. Obtaining immigration visas was difficult, as most countries were reluctant to accept Jewish refugees. The Nazis also robbed Jews of their possessions before allowing them to leave. By the end of 1939, over 120,000 Jews had left Austria.

The deportation of Austrian Jews to concentration camps began in October 1939. They were sent to camps such as Dachau, Buchenwald, Theresienstadt, and Mauthausen, the main Nazi camp in Austria. During the war, thousands of prisoners were worked to death at Mauthausen and its subcamps.

By 1942, almost all Austrian Jews had been forced to emigrate or had been deported to concentration camps. It is estimated that 65,000 Austrian Jews did not survive the Holocaust.

In the post-war period, the remaining Jewish community in Austria struggled to rebuild. Today, there are approximately 10,300 Jews in Austria, with most living in Vienna. Efforts have been made to promote Holocaust education and combat antisemitism in the country.

Antisemitism in Austria

Antisemitism has been a feature of life in Austria for centuries, with the country's Jewish community suffering through pogroms, deportations, and mass murder.

Historical Antisemitism in Austria

During the Middle Ages, Jews in Austria were subjected to persecution and massacres. In 1420, all Austrian Jews were arrested, with 270 burned at the stake and the rest expelled and their property confiscated. In the 16th century, Jews were forced to wear a mark of disgrace and were subject to excessive taxes. In the 18th century, Jews were expelled from Styria and Carinthia at the request of local guilds.

In the 19th century, Jews were granted civil rights and the right to establish an autonomous religious community, but full citizenship rights were only given in 1867. In the lead-up to World War II, Jews played an important role in Austria's economic and cultural life, particularly in Vienna, where they made up around 9% of the city's population.

The Holocaust

In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, and thousands of Austrians and Austrian Jews who opposed Nazi rule were sent to concentration camps. The Jewish community was subjected to persecution and mob violence, with synagogues destroyed, Jewish homes and businesses looted, and thousands arrested and sent to concentration camps. Between 1938 and 1940, 117,000 Jews left Austria, and by December 1939, the Jewish population had been reduced to 57,000, primarily due to emigration.

During World War II, German policy shifted from one of expropriation and Jewish emigration to one of forced deportation. Thousands of Jews were deported from Austria to occupied Poland and elsewhere in occupied eastern Europe. By November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria, mostly those married to non-Jews. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, and only 8,140 Jews remained in the country according to the 2001 census.

Contemporary Antisemitism in Austria

Antisemitism did not disappear in the aftermath of World War II and continued to be a part of Austrian political life and culture, particularly in political parties and the media. Today, the Jewish community in Austria consists of about 8,000 people, and while physical aggression is rare, antisemitism still exists, focusing on diffused and traditional stereotypes. Extreme right-wing and neo-Nazi groups have intensified their activities since 2000, and there has been a recent increase in antisemitic incidents, particularly following the Israel-Hamas war. These incidents have included antisemitic graffiti, the desecration of Jewish graves, vandalism, and physical attacks.

Jewish life and culture in Austria

History

The presence of Jews in Austria has been traced back to the 3rd century CE, with the discovery of a third-century amulet in the form of a gold scroll with the words of the Jewish prayer Shema Yisrael in the grave of a Jewish infant in Halbturn. It is believed that the first Jews immigrated to Austria following the Roman legions after the Roman occupation of Israel.

During the first millennium CE, there is fragmentary documentation of a Jewish presence in Austria, including the “Raffelstettener Zollordnung,” a listing of customs and tax rules from 906–908 CE that recorded the presence of Jews in Austria during the 10th century. In 1238, Vienna’s Jews were granted a Charter of Privileges by Emperor Frederick II, who put them under his protection as "chamber serfs". In 1244, the "Charter of the Jews" was issued by Duke Frederick II, which set out terms for their protection and settled legal questions.

In the 14th century, a fixed Jewish tax was imposed, followed by persecution and massacres. In 1420, all Austrian Jews were arrested, with 270 burned at the stake and the rest expelled and their property confiscated. However, in 1440, King Friedrich III allowed Jews to settle in the cities of Styria and Carinthia.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Jewish community in Austria faced religious fanaticism and persecution, with excessive taxes and marks of disgrace imposed upon them. In 1496, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I expelled all Jews from Styria, and in 1509, he passed the "Imperial Confiscation Mandate," which ordered the destruction of all Jewish books except the Bible.

In the 18th century, Emperor Joseph II issued an "Edict of Tolerance" in 1782, granting civil rights to Jews and allowing them to establish factories, hire Christian servants, and study at higher education institutions. In 1781, more than 1,500,000 Jews lived within the borders of the Habsburg Empire.

In the 19th century, the Jewish community in Austria continued to grow and prosper. The Jewish Act of 1890 established a legal basis for the relationship between religious associations and the state, and by 1900, the Jewish population in Vienna had grown to 147,000.

World War II and the Holocaust

Before World War II, Austria had a significant Jewish population, with about 192,000 Jews living in the country when it was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. During this time, the Jewish community in Austria faced severe persecution, violence, and deportation. Between 1938 and 1940, approximately 117,000 Jews fled Austria, and by November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in the country. It is estimated that approximately 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

Post-World War II to Present

After World War II, the Jewish community in Austria rebuilt itself, although it is much smaller today than it was before the war. In the 1950s, a wave of immigration from the Soviet Union brought Russian Jews to Austria, and since the fall of the Iron Curtain, there has been a renewed influx of Jewish people from the former Soviet Union. Today, the Austrian Jewish population is estimated to be around 10,300–15,000, with most living in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg.

The Jewish community in Austria today is diverse, with many different denominations, including Haredi, Reform, Ashkenazi, and Sephardi groupings. There are several Jewish communities in Austria, with the largest being in Vienna, followed by smaller communities in Linz, Salzburg, Tirol & Vorarlberg, and Graz.

Jewish culture and education are thriving in Austria, with four Jewish kindergartens and day schools offering Jewish primary and secondary education. The Vienna University has an institute for Jewish studies, and there are also branches of leading Jewish organizations, such as B'nai B'rith and WIZO. The Zionist Federation is the principal outlet for Zionist activity, and there are active youth movements, including B'nai Akiva, Hashomer Hatzair, and the Austrian Jewish Student Union.

The Jewish Museum of Vienna, located at two sites in the city, showcases the history of Jews in Austria through various exhibitions and cultural events. The city also offers a tourist brochure, "Jewish Vienna," which provides information on the history and culture of the Jewish community.

While antisemitism remains an issue in Austria, the country has taken steps to address its role in the Holocaust and promote Holocaust education and awareness.

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