Senior Government officials, prominent personalities in civic and cultural life and leaders of the Austrian Jewish community were among those taking part here in observances commemorating the 25th anniversary of Crystal Night, when the Nazis set fire to 191 synagogues throughout Germany and Austria, destroying 76 of them.
Speakers at the commemoration ceremonies included former Chancellor Leopold Figl, a former concentration camp inmate, who represented the Austrian Peoples Party; Vienna Mayor Franz Jonas, representing the Socialist Party; and Dr. Ernst Feldsberg, president of the Austrian Jewish community. The speakers emphasized that the memory of the victims of Nazi persecution still burned in the hearts of all democratic Austrians.
Also commemorating the anniversary were Austrian Catholic youth organizations, including groups of Catholic high school and university students. Speakers at the youth meeting included Dr. Kurt Schuber, well-known author of books about Israel, who told the gathering that Catholics must realize that they failed and are laden with guilt.
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