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Austria, the Jews, and Anti-Semitism: Ambivalence and Ambiguity

December 1, 2003 | Karl Pfeifer

Austria has made a major effort to suppress the memories of its institutional and popular behavior during the war. Unlike Germany, there is until today no feeling of shame for what the Austrians did to the Jews. In its hypocritical atmosphere it is the role of the Jewish functionary to say 'here everything is normal.' Anti-Semitism remains part and parcel of Austrian culture with its strongest hold in politics and the media. It can be found both on the right and the left.