This Saturday marks the 86th anniversary of the November pogroms, a historical event that violently targeted the Jewish community. A memorial event will be held by the Jewish Cultural Community, with notable political figures attending, although the Freedom Party has been excluded. Concurrently, a smaller wreath-laying ceremony will occur, led by National Council President Walter Rosenkranz. A memorial march titled ‘Light of Hope’ will also take place, emphasizing the collective responsibility to combat anti-Semitism.
86th Commemoration of the November Pogroms
This Saturday marks the 86th anniversary of the November pogroms, a tragic event in history that targeted the Jewish community. The Jewish Cultural Community (IKG) has extended an invitation to government representatives and members of the National Council for a memorial event at the Shoah Name Wall located in Ostarrichi Park on Friday. However, members of the Freedom Party will not be in attendance. Despite this, National Council President Walter Rosenkranz from the FPÖ plans to honor the victims by laying a wreath at the memorial for Austrian Jews at Judenplatz.
A Dark Chapter of History
On the fateful night of November 9 to 10, 1938, a wave of violence swept through the ‘German Reich.’ Synagogues were set ablaze, Jewish businesses were vandalized, and numerous individuals faced brutal treatment. In Austria alone, over 30 Jews lost their lives, while 7,800 were arrested, and approximately 4,000 were deported from Vienna to Dachau concentration camp. Given that this year’s anniversary falls on a Saturday, the Jewish day of rest, memorial events have been scheduled for November 8.
Representatives from the ÖVP and SPÖ will be present at the IKG event, including several ministers, the second National Council President Peter Haubner, and Green Party leader Werner Kogler. The SPÖ’s managing club chairman Philip Kucher and NEOS party leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger are also expected to attend. The IKG has chosen not to invite the FPÖ due to its history of anti-Semitic incidents.
The wreath-laying ceremony organized by Rosenkranz will be a smaller event compared to the IKG commemoration. Alongside him will be Parliament Director Harald Dossi and the National Fund managing directors, Hannah Lessing and Judith Pfeffer. Although Haubner and SPÖ’s Doris Bures were informed about the event, they will not be attending.
While representatives from the IKG were also invited to the wreath-laying, their participation is uncertain. IKG President Oskar Deutsch has previously expressed concerns about Rosenkranz’s affiliation with the German-national fraternity Libertas, highlighting his controversial views on Nazi history.
Today, at 6:30 PM, the Jewish youth of Vienna will host a memorial march titled ‘Light of Hope’ to honor the November pogroms. This event aims to combat anti-Semitism and hatred, commencing at Heldenplatz and culminating at Judenplatz. The organizers stress that the act of remembrance is not solely a Jewish obligation but a collective responsibility of society.
Willi Mernyi, Federal Secretary of the ÖGB and Chairman of the Mauthausen Committee, underscored the importance of vigilance in the face of rising extremism. He pointed out that verbal violence can lay the groundwork for horrific acts, urging society to resist the normalization of right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism. Both he and Judith Pühringer, leader of the Vienna Greens, have emphasized that the commemoration must be accompanied by proactive measures to address the increasing threats to Jewish communities and institutions in Vienna.