Die Sprachen der Vergangenheiten

Analyzes discourse on the Nazi past in Austria's "year of commemoration", 1988 - the 50th anniversary of the Anschluss and of the "Kristallnacht" pogrom. Points out that this discourse began in 1986 with the debate on Waldheim, which was reawakened in February 1988 when the historians' commission delivered its report. In general, Waldheim's opponents supported the commemorations; his defenders opposed them, and their arguments contained hints of antisemitism. These differences appeared in debates in Parliament and in the media on commemoration of the Anschluss, on the monument "Against War and Fascism" by the sculptor Alfred Hrdlicka, and on Thomas Bernhard's play "Heldenplatz". On the "Kristallnacht" pogrom, however, there was consensus. Analyzes pronouncements by Waldheim and Vranitzky, articles in the press, and television programs, all denouncing the persecution of the Jews, although in most cases attributing it to the Nazis alone and ignoring the participation of the Austrian population. also analyzes Jenninger's unfortunate Bundestag speech and criticism of it by politicians and in the press, whereas many ordinary Germans acclaimed it as at last telling the truth about the past and vindicating the German people.