Austrian authors want overhaul of anthems penned by Nazis
Austrian authors demanded that a region change its anthem Wednesday after its composer was revealed to be an active Nazi, rekindling a row that now involves more than half its provinces.
The anthems were all written by composers or writers who actively supported the Nazi regime, according to the group representing Austrian writers. In an open letter, it said the composer of Burgenland's anthem, written in 1936, was a Nazi party member.
The writers said "it would be a great, exemplary signal" if a new anthem could be written that "reflects the spirit and work of today's generations and artists who were born and grew up in Burgenland."
Historian Herbert Brettl said the lyrics were not problematic, just its composer's association with the Nazi regime.
READ ALSO: Just how widespread is anti-Semitism in Austria?
"Burgenland should deal with the history," he told AFP. The anthems of Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg provinces have also been found to be problematic.
So far none have been changed.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which currently tops polls ahead of next year's elections, and which was founded by former Nazis, has opposed any change.
"Our anthem is an asset of our province's culture that is worth protecting and contributes to maintaining our proud history," said Erwin Angerer, its leader in Carinthia.
The German Third Reich annexed Austria, the birth place of Adolf Hitler, in 1938.
READ ALSO: Why is support for Austria's far-right FPÖ rising?
Austria long cast itself as a victim after being annexed. Only in the past three decades has the country begun to seriously examine its role in the Holocaust.
More than 65,000 of Austria's pre-war Jewish population of 200,000 were murdered in the Holocaust, in which some six million Jews perished.
Comments
See Also
The anthems were all written by composers or writers who actively supported the Nazi regime, according to the group representing Austrian writers. In an open letter, it said the composer of Burgenland's anthem, written in 1936, was a Nazi party member.
The writers said "it would be a great, exemplary signal" if a new anthem could be written that "reflects the spirit and work of today's generations and artists who were born and grew up in Burgenland."
Historian Herbert Brettl said the lyrics were not problematic, just its composer's association with the Nazi regime.
READ ALSO: Just how widespread is anti-Semitism in Austria?
"Burgenland should deal with the history," he told AFP. The anthems of Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg provinces have also been found to be problematic.
So far none have been changed.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which currently tops polls ahead of next year's elections, and which was founded by former Nazis, has opposed any change.
"Our anthem is an asset of our province's culture that is worth protecting and contributes to maintaining our proud history," said Erwin Angerer, its leader in Carinthia.
The German Third Reich annexed Austria, the birth place of Adolf Hitler, in 1938.
READ ALSO: Why is support for Austria's far-right FPÖ rising?
Austria long cast itself as a victim after being annexed. Only in the past three decades has the country begun to seriously examine its role in the Holocaust.
More than 65,000 of Austria's pre-war Jewish population of 200,000 were murdered in the Holocaust, in which some six million Jews perished.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.