2014: Memorial for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice

Since October 24, 2014, Vienna’s Ballhausplatz has been the location of the Memorial for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice. Designed by artist Olaf Nicolai, it was built by the city of Vienna, and inaugurated by Mayor Michael Häupl and Federal President Heinz Fischer. The memorial was initiated by the Committee for Justice for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice.

During the Second World War, Wehrmacht courts handed out over 30,000 death sentences to soldiers and civilians. Those primarily executed were deserters and “subverters of the war effort” – people who violated the principle of command and obedience, and weakened Germany’s military clout. Also affected were men and women throughout Europe who resisted the occupation of their countries by the Wehrmacht.

In Germany and Austria, the stigma of “betrayal” and “cowardice” hung over Wehrmacht deserters for decades. It was only in 2009 that the Austrian National Council decided to rehabilitate them and to recognise their actions.

The memorial is composed of a pedestal in the form of a recumbent, step-shaped X. Upon the third step there is an inscription: all – alone. Olaf Nicolai thus staged the tension that individuals are exposed to when opposing social order and dominant power relations.

External Resources (in German):

Denkmal für die Verfolgten der NS-Militärjustiz, Personenkomitee Gerechtigkeit für die Opfer der NS-Militärjustiz, http://deserteursdenkmal.at/

Denkmal für die Verfolgten der NS-Militärjustiz, Wien Geschichte Wiki, https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Denkmal_f%C3%BCr_die_Verfolgten_der_NS-Milit%C3%A4rjustiz