Anti-semitism in Austria Denounced by Chancellor and Archbishop

Chancellor Klaus deplored deeply in a radio address the death of Ernst Kirchweger, a Nazi concentration camp survivor, who was killed by a neo-Nazi student in one of a series of student clashes over a former Nazi who is now on the faculty of the Austrian College of World Trade. More than 10,000 Austrians joined last weekend in a continuing protest over the former Nazi professor, Taras Borodajkewiez, by participating in funeral rites for Kirchweger.

The Chancellor called anti-Semitism one of the most “horrible” manifestations of modern times and he added that the generation who knew Nazism from personal experience had a duty to tell the facts to a younger generation which knew about it only by hearsay. Declaring that Austria could not allow a relapse into the barbarism of the Hitler years, the Chancellor sharply condemned all statements which could create racial and religious prejudice among Austrian young people.

Firm denunciation of anti-Seinitism was also expressed by Cardinal Franz Koenig, Austrian Archbishop, in a meeting with Chief Rabbi Akiba Eisenberg. The Archbishop promised Rabbi Eisenberg that he would order all Austrian parishes to condemn anti-Semitism from the pulpits as a grave offense against religion and law. Both religious dignitaries are expected to meet again later this spring.

Although Prof. Borodajkewicz denies he is still a Nazi, his lectures contain anti-Jewish innuendoes. Jewish groups and resistance organizations have demanded his dismissal and student friends and foes of the professor have met in violent clashes over the issue. Kirchweger was slain in one of those clashes and police have arrested Gunter Kumel, who admitted he struck the 67-year-old victim.