Lexi Webster
Austria's Jewish community has a long history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, the community's political status has fluctuated, with periods of prosperity and equality, as well as eras of persecution, deportations, and antisemitism. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish population in Austria, and the country has since implemented various programs to support Holocaust education and combat antisemitism. Today, there are approximately 12,000-15,000 Jews living in Austria, with the majority residing in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg.
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What You'll Learn
History of Jews in Austria
The history of Jews in Austria dates back to the 3rd century CE, with the exodus of Jews from Judea under Roman occupation. Over the centuries, the political status of Austrian Jews has fluctuated between periods of equality and prosperity, and eras of persecution, deportations, and antisemitism.
During the Hussite Wars, Jews were accused of collaborating with the Hussites, leading to expulsions, murders, and even instances of collective suicide. This persecution continued until 1469, when Frederick III, also known as the "King of the Jews," allowed Jews to settle in Styria and Carinthia, granting them a brief period of peace. However, in 1496, Maximilian I issued a decree expelling Jews from Styria, and in 1509, he passed the "Imperial Confiscation Mandate," ordering the destruction of Jewish books, except for the Bible.
In the 19th century, Austrian Jews experienced varying levels of discrimination, with a brief period of equality under the "Pillersdorf constitution." It wasn't until the Enlightenment era and the Edict of Tolerance in 1782 that civil rights were granted to Jews, and in 1867, they were finally recognized as equal citizens. The Jewish community grew rapidly, reaching 147,000 by 1900. During World War I, about 300,000 Jewish men served in the Austrian military, displaying strong loyalty to the empire.
However, antisemitism intensified in the 1930s with the rise of Nazi Germany. In 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria, leading to the persecution and deportation of Austrian Jews. Between 1938 and 1945, more than 50,000 Austrian Jews were deported, and over 65,000 were killed during the Holocaust. The Jewish community in Austria was devastated, and only a small fraction returned after the war.
Since the Holocaust, the Jewish community in Austria has slowly rebuilt, with immigration waves from the Soviet Union and its former countries contributing to its growth. Today, Austria has a Jewish population of around 10,300–15,000, with most living in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. The country has implemented various programs to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust education.
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The Holocaust and its aftermath
The Holocaust in Austria saw the persecution, plunder, and murder of Jews by German and Austrian Nazis from 1938 to 1945. The Jewish community in Austria, which thrived in the 1930s, was subjected to violence and persecution following the country's annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938. This resulted in the murder of an estimated 70,000 Jews and caused 125,000 to flee as refugees. The deportation of Jews to death camps began in February 1941, with the Viennese community being officially liquidated on November 1, 1942. The Mauthausen concentration camp and its sub-camps became the destination for many Austrian Jews. The camp, located near a stone quarry along the Danube River, was known for its harsh conditions, including forced labour.
The Holocaust had a devastating impact on Austria's Jewish community, with only a small number surviving until the liberation of Vienna in April 1945. By 1950, the Jewish community in Austria numbered around 13,396 people, a significant decrease from the pre-war population. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, Austria instituted restitution programs, but they were widely considered insufficient. It was not until the 1980s, sparked by the 1986 presidential elections and the scandal surrounding Kurt Waldheim's Nazi past, that critical study of the Holocaust entered the mainstream in Austria.
In the following decades, Austria took steps towards acknowledging its role in the Holocaust and providing restitution and compensation to victims. In 1991, Chancellor Franz Vranitzky acknowledged the country's co-responsibility for the suffering inflicted on the Jewish community. This led to a reassessment of post-war restitution programs, and in 2000, the Reconciliation Fund for Compensation of Nazi-Era Forced and Slave Laborers was established to provide payments to survivors. Additionally, the National Fund for Victims of National Socialism, set up in 1995, provided lump-sum payments and extra benefits to Holocaust survivors.
Austria has also taken measures to support Holocaust education and combat antisemitism. The country is a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and has implemented agreements with the United States to provide nursing care payments, access to archival documents, and support for Holocaust remembrance projects. In 2021, the Austrian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Act was passed as a key element in the National Strategy against Antisemitism. Today, the Jewish community in Austria continues to rebuild, with an estimated population of 10,300-15,000, including Holocaust survivors and immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
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Jewish life in Vienna
In the Middle Ages, Vienna's Jewish cultural and religious life was centred around the areas of Seitenstettengasse and Judenplatz. However, in the 15th century, the Vienna Gesera saw the annihilation of the city's Jews through murder, expulsion, and collective suicide. This pattern of persecution persisted, and in the 16th century, only 12 Jewish families lived in Vienna.
In the 19th century, under Emperor Franz Joseph I, Jews gained equal recognition under the law, and the Jewish community in Vienna grew rapidly. By the early 20th century, there were nearly 150,000 Jews in the city, with the 2nd district, Leopoldstadt, becoming the centre of Jewish life. This period saw many Jewish geniuses, such as Sigmund Freud and Gustav Mahler, contribute greatly to the cultural life of Vienna.
However, with the rise of Nazism in the 1930s, the Jewish community in Vienna faced renewed persecution and violence. More than 65,000 Austrian Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, and by 1946, only 4,000 Jews remained in Vienna. Since then, the community has slowly rebuilt, with immigration from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union bolstering numbers.
Today, Vienna's Jewish population is estimated to be between 6,988 and 15,000. Leopoldstadt remains a centre of Jewish life, with a high proportion of Jewish residents, synagogues, Jewish educational institutions, and kosher businesses. The city also boasts several museums and memorials dedicated to Jewish heritage, including the Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna, the Judenplatz Museum, and the Shoah Memorial.
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Antisemitism in Austria
Austria has a long history of Jewish settlement, with evidence of Jewish communities in the region dating back to the 12th century. Austrian Jews have experienced varying levels of acceptance and persecution over the centuries, from enjoying civil rights and equality to facing pogroms, deportations, and antisemitism.
During the Hussite Wars, Jews were accused of collaborating with the Hussites, leading to their expulsion and even executions. In the 19th century, Austrian Jews experienced a period of relative prosperity and were known for their loyalty to the empire during World War I. However, antisemitism began to grow, influenced by figures like Karl Lueger, who served as mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910 and openly expressed antisemitic views.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 marked a dark chapter for Austrian Jews, with thousands being deported to concentration camps and murdered during the Holocaust. This era saw the Jewish population in Austria drastically reduced, and many Austrian Jews fled the country.
While modern Austria has taken steps to address antisemitism, it still persists in various forms. Since the end of World War II, Austria has struggled with antisemitism in its political life and culture, particularly within political parties and the media. This has included coded expressions of antisemitism and ambivalence towards the country's past involvement with Nazi Germany.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of antisemitic incidents in Austria, often coinciding with conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Israel-Hamas war. These incidents have included vandalism, graffiti, and physical attacks targeting Jewish individuals and properties. The rise of extreme right-wing and neo-Nazi groups has also contributed to the increasing antisemitism in the country.
To combat this issue, Austria has implemented various programs and incentives to promote Holocaust education and counter antisemitism. Efforts to address contemporary antisemitism include the Austrian-Jewish Cultural Heritage Act of 2021, which is a key element of the National Strategy against Antisemitism.
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Notable Austrian Jews
Jewish life in Austria dates back to the times of the Roman Empire, and the country has been a center of Jewish learning since the 13th century. While the status of Austrian Jews has historically fluctuated between periods of equality and prosperity, and eras of pogroms, deportations, and antisemitism, many notable figures have contributed greatly to Austrian culture.
Vienna, the capital, was an important center of Jewish culture, Zionism, and education, with Jews comprising about 9% of the city's population in 1938. The Jewish community in Vienna was disproportionately represented in professions such as textiles, pharmacy, the arts, and academia.
- Theodor Herzl - Journalist and author, known as the father of Zionism. He studied at the University of Vienna and was an editor at the influential newspaper, Neue Freie Presse.
- Sigmund Freud - A renowned psychologist and psychoanalyst, he is known for his groundbreaking theories on the unconscious mind and human sexuality.
- Stefan Zweig - Author of novels, plays, and short stories, he achieved immense popularity with his sophisticated and sensitive style.
- Gustav Mahler - One of the leading composers and conductors of the late Romantic and early modern eras, known for his emotionally intense music.
- Bruno Kreisky - Chancellor of Austria from 1970 to 1983, he was the first Austrian-born chancellor of the Second Republic.
- Simon Wiesenthal - A Holocaust survivor, he dedicated his life to tracking down Nazi war criminals after World War II.
- Eric Kandel - A neuroscientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000 for his research on the neural basis of memory.
- Viktor Frankl - A psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, he developed logotherapy, a form of existential psychotherapy.
- Elfriede Jelinek - A Nobel Prize-winning novelist and playwright known for her critical and controversial works exploring social and political issues.
- Richard Bergmann - A world-renowned table tennis player, he won seven world championships and was inducted into the ITTF Hall of Fame.
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Frequently asked questions
Jews have lived in Austria since the 3rd century CE. Their political status has fluctuated over the centuries, with periods of equality and prosperity, and eras of pogroms, deportations, and
Austrian Jews suffered greatly during World War II. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, the Jewish community faced persecution, violence, and expropriation of their property. More than 65,000 Austrian Jews were deported and murdered during the Holocaust, with 62,000 of them known by name.
In 1994, Austrian President Thomas Klestil publicly condemned the country's involvement with the Nazi Party in the Holocaust, marking a shift away from the "Austrian Victim Myth." Today, Austria has various programs to combat antisemitism and promote Holocaust education, such as the "Austrian Service Abroad." However, antisemitism still persists, particularly among young people, who are more likely to support antisemitic statements.
The current Jewish community in Austria is much smaller than before World War II, but it has rebuilt itself. Vienna remains the centre of Jewish life in Austria, with numerous religious establishments, publications, and kosher restaurants and supermarkets. Smaller communities are also found in cities like Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, and Salzburg.
