Damon Mcknight
Austrian Jews have a long history in the country, dating back to the times of the Roman Empire. The community has experienced both prosperity and equality, as well as intense discrimination, deportations, and antisemitism. Before World War II, Jews played a crucial role in Austria's economic and cultural life, with many prominent figures in various fields. However, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 led to a significant decline in the Jewish population, as many fled the country or were killed during the Holocaust. Today, Austria's Jewish community continues to strive for restitution and compensation while rebuilding their presence in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Jewish population in Austria | 9,000-10,300 |
| Total population in Austria with at least one Jewish grandparent | 33,000 |
| Jewish population in Austria before the Holocaust | 192,000 |
| Percentage of Jews in the total Austrian population before the Holocaust | 4% |
| Jewish population in Vienna before the Holocaust | 57,000 |
| Percentage of Jews in Vienna before the Holocaust | 9% |
| Year Austria became a center of Jewish learning | 13th century |
| Year of the establishment of the Jewish Community (Kultusgemeinde) | 1890 |
| Year of the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany | 1938 |
| Number of Jewish homes in Vienna that were not returned to their owners after the Holocaust | 2,600 |
| Year of the Vienna Gesera | 1421 |
| Year of the Edict of Expulsion | 1669 |
| Year of the "Edict of Tolerance" | 1781 |
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What You'll Learn
History of Austrian Jews
The history of Austrian Jews dates back to the 3rd century CE, when Jews first arrived in the country following the exodus from Judea under Roman occupation. Over the centuries, the political status of Austrian Jews has fluctuated, with periods of prosperity and equality interspersed with times of persecution, deportation, and mass murder.
During the Hussite Wars, Jews were accused of collaborating with the Hussites, leading to their expulsion and the confiscation of their property by Albert II. This event, known as the Vienna Gesera, resulted in the murder, expulsion, and even collective suicide of Jews in Vienna. In 1469, Frederick III cancelled the deportation order, allowing Jews to settle in Styria and Carinthia and granting them a brief period of peace. However, in 1496, Maximilian I issued a decree expelling all Jews from Styria once more.
In the 18th century, following the annexation of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (Galicia) to the Austrian Empire, Empress Maria Theresa enacted laws regulating the rights of Jews and cancelling their autonomy. Despite her known hatred for Jews, several Jews worked for her at her court, and she mandated their attendance at general elementary schools while permitting them to join universities. After her death in 1780, her son Joseph II continued her efforts towards the integration of Jews into Austrian society.
The 19th century witnessed the opening of a Jewish Sunday school in Vienna in 1812, alongside the imposition of limitations on Jews, such as the requirement to study in Christian schools and pray in German. From 1848 to 1938, under the reign of Franz Joseph I, Austrian Jews experienced a period of prosperity and equal rights. They contributed significantly to various fields, including law, journalism, literature, business, and art. Vienna became a cultural hub for Jews, known for its education, culture, and Zionism.
However, the prosperity of Austrian Jews was short-lived. With the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany in 1938, Jews faced extreme violence, intimidation, and expropriation of their property. The Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938 resulted in the destruction of synagogues, the vandalisation of Jewish businesses, and the arrest and deportation of thousands of Jews to concentration camps. By December 1939, the Jewish population in Vienna had decreased from 9% to just 57,000 due to emigration. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, and according to the 2001 census, only 8,140 Jews remained.
Today, Austria's Jewish population is slowly rebuilding. As of 2020, there are 10,300 Jews in the country, and this number expands to 33,000 when including Austrians with at least one Jewish grandparent.
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The Holocaust
As World War II began in 1939, Nazi Germany's territorial expansion brought millions more Jewish people under their control. The Nazis established ghettos to segregate Jews and began using mass shootings and poison gas in extermination camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Belzec, Sobibor, and Chełmno in occupied Poland. By early 1942, the Nazis decided to murder all Jews in Europe, and the killing continued until the end of the war in 1945.
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Jewish life in Austria today
Jewish life in Austria has a long history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. The community has experienced varying levels of prosperity and equality, as well as periods of pogroms, deportations, and antisemitism. Today, there are approximately 15,000 Jews living in Austria, with the majority residing in Vienna. The Jewish community in Vienna is regarded as one of the most dynamic in the German-speaking world.
The present-day Jewish community in Austria is represented by various organizations, including the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities (Bundesverband der Israelitischen Kultusgemeinden Österreichs) and the Jewish Religious Association (Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft). The community enjoys a rich cultural and educational landscape, with synagogues, kosher restaurants, schools offering Jewish education, and youth movements. The Zionist Federation is also active in the country, and there are several Jewish sports clubs, including S.C. Hakoah, which has a long tradition in Austria.
In recent years, Austria has welcomed Jewish refugees from Iran and the former Soviet Union, including a significant number of Bukharan and Georgian Jews. These newcomers have established their own religious and cultural centres, contributing to the diversity of the Jewish community in Austria.
However, Austria's history with its Jewish community has not always been positive. During the Nazi era, Austria was annexed to Germany, and the country witnessed the implementation of anti-Jewish measures, including the destruction of synagogues during Kristallnacht and the confiscation of Jewish businesses. While restitution and compensation efforts have been made, antisemitism and neo-Nazism have not been completely eradicated from contemporary Austrian society.
Despite these challenges, the Jewish community in Austria continues to flourish and contribute to the country's cultural, intellectual, and artistic life, as evidenced by the dynamic nature of the community in Vienna. The community's resilience and perseverance are testament to its strength and commitment to ensuring a vibrant Jewish presence in Austria.
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Anti-semitism and restitution
Austria has a long history of Jewish settlement, with Jews present in the country since the 3rd century CE. Over the centuries, the Jewish community in Austria has experienced both prosperity and persecution. Beginning in the late 1930s, the Jewish community in Austria was decimated by the Holocaust, with most Jews being killed or forced to emigrate.
In the postwar period, the Austrian Jewish community faced difficulties in obtaining restitution and compensation for their losses. Large-scale restitution of Jewish property has been slow to be enacted, and in the late 1940s, high-ranking Austrian politicians made anti-Semitic statements, creating a culture of unwillingness to negotiate compensation for victims. The Austrian government relied on the 1943 Moscow Declaration, which claimed Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression and thus without legal obligation to make reparations.
However, it is important to note that some small pieces of property have been reclaimed, and there have been efforts to provide furniture and other support to needy Jews in Austria. Additionally, the Chinese consul to Austria, Ho Feng-Shan, helped thousands of Jews escape the Nazis by rapidly approving their visa applications.
In recent years, there have been efforts to advance the cause of restitution for Jewish property confiscated in the late 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in Poland. This has become a central issue in Polish politics, with far-right parties using it to gain relevance and popularity. Unfortunately, this has also fueled anti-Semitic sentiment and dialogue in the country, with anti-Semitic imagery and rhetoric being used in political campaigns.
The World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO), which advocates for restitution in Eastern European countries, has expressed sadness that the issue of fairness in restitution is being used to foment anti-Semitism. Despite these challenges, there is ongoing work to secure justice and compensation for Jewish communities affected by persecution and confiscation of property.
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Notable Austrian Jews
Jewish life in Austria dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. In the 13th century, Austria became a center of Jewish learning, but increasing antisemitism led to the expulsion of Jews in 1669. Following their readmission in 1848, a sizable Jewish community developed once again, and by the 1930s, about 300,000 Jews lived in Austria, with most of them residing in Vienna.
Over time, Austrian Jews have made significant contributions across various fields, including science, culture, economics, and politics. Many notable figures have left their mark on the country's history and have gained recognition worldwide. Here are some of the most prominent Austrian Jews:
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud, the renowned psychologist and founder of psychoanalysis, was an Austrian Jew. He revolutionized our understanding of the human mind and made significant contributions to the field of psychology.
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl was a journalist and the father of Zionism. He studied at the University of Vienna and played a crucial role in shaping the Zionist movement, advocating for a Jewish state.
Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schoenberg
Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schoenberg were influential composers and conductors who made significant contributions to the world of music. They were part of a vibrant Jewish community in Vienna that included other notable musicians and composers.
Arthur Schnitzler and Stefan Zweig
Arthur Schnitzler and Stefan Zweig were acclaimed authors and playwrights who gained international recognition for their literary works. They were active in the cultural scene in Vienna and left a lasting impact on Austrian literature.
Bruno Kreisky
Bruno Kreisky served as Chancellor of Austria from 1970 to 1983. He was the first Jewish chancellor of the country and played an important role in shaping Austria's post-World War II identity.
Simon Wiesenthal
Simon Wiesenthal was a Holocaust survivor and a notable "Nazi hunter." He worked with the United States Army to locate and bring to justice Nazi war criminals after World War II.
Elfriede Jelinek
Elfriede Jelinek is a Nobel Prize-winning novelist and playwright. Her works often explore social and political issues, and she has gained international acclaim for her contributions to literature.
These individuals represent only a fraction of the notable Austrian Jews who have left their mark on the country's history and culture. The Jewish community in Austria has endured periods of prosperity and equality, as well as eras of discrimination and antisemitism. Despite the challenges, Austrian Jews have made and continue to make invaluable contributions to their homeland and the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Jews have been in Austria since the 3rd century CE, with the country becoming a centre of Jewish learning during the 13th century. The status of the Jewish community has fluctuated over the centuries, with periods of prosperity and equality, as well as eras of pogroms, deportations, and antisemitism. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, with many Austrian Jews emigrating or being killed.
The current Jewish population of Austria is estimated to be around 10,300 as of 2020. This is a significant decrease from the pre-Holocaust era, where in 1938, there were about 192,000 Jews in Austria, making up almost 4% of the total population.
The Austrian government has been criticised for its slow progress in providing restitution and compensation to the Jewish community. In the postwar years, dire living circumstances and anti-Semitic statements from high-ranking politicians created an environment where the leadership of the Austrian Jewish community did not encourage former Vienna Jews to return.
Notable individuals of the Austrian Jewish community, both past and present, include:
- Theodor Herzl
- Sigmund Freud
- Alfred Adler
- Arthur Schnitzler
- Stefan Zweig
- Bruno Kreisky
- Eric Kandel
- Elfriede Jelinek
