A series of events entitled “Austria 1933/34”, which starts in February in Graz, deals with the threats to democracy and human rights “then and now”. The reason for the focus was the “sad anniversary” of the February battles in 1934, i.e. the armed battles in Austrian industrial towns from February 12th to 15th, 1934, which led to hundreds of deaths, explained the chairman of the KCatholic workers’ movement in Styria (KAB), Martin Hochegger, in a broadcast on Thursday. They were the result of a simmering conflict between the Home Guard and the Schutzbund. The federal army and police took action against the insurgents and bloodily suppressed the uprising.
The series, which is supported not only by the KAB but also by the Protestant Church, the Catholic educational organization, the “Culture” Center of Religions and other organizations, is also intended to focus on the “problematic role of the Catholic Church through its support of the regime “The relationship between the church and the workforce has been strained for decades,” emphasized Hochegger. The KAB feels obliged to face this historical responsibility and to make a contribution to coming to terms with history.
At the same time, the organizers would like to point out dangerous developments in the present. It wasn’t just back then that there was a struggle for democracy and human rights. Currently, more and more people want a “strong man” at the head of the state while at the same time eroding democracy, said Hochegger. Authoritarian forms of government such as those in Hungary, Poland or Russia would be popular with the population, while democratic forms of government would be questioned.
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The program highlights some facets of these worrying developments with well-known personalities and experts and asks about the responsibility of political parties, the media and civil society. Under the title “The authoritarian turnaround or has the political establishment failed in Austria?” on March 1st a panel discussion in Graz Universal Museum Joanneum instead (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). The discussion will include Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP), the mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr (KPÖ), the former President of the Supreme Court Irmgard Griss and the political scientist Peter Filzmaier.
A scientific symposium on the topic will take place on February 7th (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Museum of History, Graz). The Viennese contemporary historian Florian Wenninger, the Graz philosopher Karin Maria Schmidlechner and the Graz historian Dieter-Anton Binder will have their say.
At a panel discussion on February 9th in Graz’s Kalvarienberg parish from 7 p.m. on the topic of “Austria 1933/1934 – threats to democracy then and now” the Graz church historian Michaela Sohn-Kronthaler and the former mayor of Graz Alfred Stingl (SPÖ) and the 98-year-old priest and contemporary witness Leopold Städtler had their say.
On March 7th, the former Protestant Bishop Michael Bünker will give a lecture on the role of the Protestant Church between 1933 and 1945 (2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Private Augustinum University of Education). Also planned are walks in historical places, readings and art events in the Styrian capital, emphasized Hochegger. (Information and program: https://kab.graz-seckau.at)
Those: kathpress
2024-01-18 18:16:32
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