The historian Georg Hoffmann becomes the new director of the Museum of Military History (HGM) in Vienna. The Ministry of Defense spokesman confirmed a similar media report. There have recently been allegations of bullying against the previous museum director Christian Ortner, he was not reappointed after 17 years in office.
A director must also “connect and balance”, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) justified the move to Ö3 on Wednesday morning. In doing so, she indirectly referenced allegations of bullying made against Ortner by several museum employees while re-advertising the post. The previous HGM executive denied the allegations.
The criticism piled up
In recent years, there have been many criticisms of the museum’s handling of Austria’s military past and accusations of openness to right-wing extremism. After a critical report from the Court of Auditors, several evaluation committees were appointed in 2020 to evaluate the shop, the history room 1918-1945 and the entire building.
Two years ago, the Department of Defense announced a major reform of the HGM, including the re-tendering of the directorate. Ortner has remained in office ever since, although his contract expired long ago.
Proximity to the Ministry of Defense criticized
The feature was only advertised in June 2022. According to reports, Hoffmann, Ortner and Dominik Kimmel of the Romano-Germanic Central Museum in Mainz were then in a three-person proposal. Museologists and scientists then demanded that the management position be advertised again. In an open letter they criticize an opaque appointment process and the selection of people close to the Ministry of Defense. As a result, three other candidates were invited for interviews with a personnel consultancy.
Source: Krone
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