Salzburg’s urban policy is being reconsidered after years: the Heinrich-Damisch-Straße in Parsch will be given a new name this year. Helene Taussig is considered the favorite to succeed the name.
It is quiet in Heinrich-Damisch-Straße. The front gardens are well cared for, the rubbish bins are neatly placed on the edge of the sidewalk. In the small side street in Salzburg-Parsch there are only single- and multi-family houses. The only stain on the street: your name. Damisch was an anti-Semite and a National Socialist.
13 streets selected by committee
In 2021, a specially convened committee of historians presented the results. She had researched the biographies of about sixty Nazi personalities, after whom names and places in the city were named. The committee recommended renaming 13 streets, including Karajan Square, Thorak Street and Damisch Street.
Born in Vienna, Damisch was a co-founder of the Salzburg Festival and a journalist. He made clear anti-Semitic statements several times and joined the NSDAP in 1932. However, the historian’s report ended up in the drawer. The city council has decided not to make any changes.
Broad approval in the city council
When the new city council took office under Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ), the subject was discussed again. “An official report must be presented this year,” the city boss said. Above all, the Green Citizens List and KPÖ Plus are putting pressure on them. “This step is extremely important and long overdue,” said Citizens List Club chairman Ingeborg Haller. City deputy Kay-Michael Dankl (KPÖ Plus) also wants to change the name quickly. “Anyone who was involved in the Nazi terror regime cannot be a role model.”
Auinger wants to turn the name change into a pilot project. Residents on the street must be informed. They would have to deal with a lot of bureaucratic effort and costs. The city wants to support them. By the way, Helene Taussig is mentioned as Damisch’s replacement. The artist died in 1942 in the Izbica ghetto and is favored by historians. “As nice as the first name change is, it can only be the beginning,” says Haller.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
