A memorial plaque to the victims of Nazi military justice was unveiled at the Ministry of Social Affairs on Monday. From 1938 to 1945, the building was the central control center for the judiciary of the Wehrmacht.
“The plaque is a visible sign for everyone to rethink how we treat deserters,” said Robert Kogler of the “Justice for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice” committee, which works to rehabilitate Wehrmacht deserters and conscientious objectors.
Ministry was once the center of Nazi military justice
The government building at Stubenring 1, which today houses the ministries of labor and economy, social affairs and health, as well as agriculture and forestry, was initially the seat of the war ministry of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, after which it was used by the Austrian army. From 1938 it became the center of National Socialist military justice in Vienna. After the so-called “annexation”, the integration of the army into the Wehrmacht was organized there. The Nazi military justice handed down more than 30,000 death sentences during World War II.
“To date, nothing about this house reminds us of this past,” said Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens), who commissioned the plaque. The plaque makes it possible to observe this history and reminds us how important it is to work for the rule of law and democracy. Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens), Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) and Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) also participated in the unveiling, emphasizing the importance of the culture of remembrance and commemoration.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
