Title: Poland should note Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz's speech Source:
Jerusalem Post URL Source:http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Polan ... s-Sebastian-Kurz-speech-545149 Published:Mar 15, 2018 Author:Herb Keinon Post Date:2018-03-16 06:01:51 by A Pole Keywords:Poland, Holocaust, war Views:156 Comments:1
When it comes to Holocaust remembrance, Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz looks like the Anti-Poland.
Whereas Poland has hunkered down behind a new Holocaust law saying the country was a victim of the Nazis, not a Holocaust perpetrator, Kurz said in an extraordinary speech on Monday that, yes, Austria was a victim, but it was equally a perpetrator.
The speech in Vienna came to mark the 80th anniversary of the Anschluss, when the Nazis rolled their tanks into Austria, met by adoring, saluting and cheering Austrians.
“The film clips of the time show us enthusiastic women and men who welcomed the Nazi regime out of inner conviction,” Kurz said, with his vice chancellor, Heinz-Christian Strache – the head of the far-right Freedom Party, begun in the 1950s by former Nazis – looking on.
“Austria used to see itself as the first victim of National Socialism. That is certainly true for all those who fought in the resistance, whom we cannot thank enough, and who will always be shining examples,” Kurz said.
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Kurz acknowledged it has taken Austria a long time to be “open and honest” about its past.
“We have realized that Austria was not only a victim but also a perpetrator, and we have followed up on this realization with concrete actions. But Austria has looked away for too long and has fulfilled its historical responsibility too late.”
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While Germany has made clear that it feels a special responsibility toward Israel because of the Holocaust, Austria has never gone down that path – until now.
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The speech is also important in light of what is going on in Poland, where Polish legislators enacted a law making it illegal and a punishable crime to say that Poland was complicit in the Holocaust.
A similar refrain was heard in Austria 30 years ago, when the world was aghast that Waldheim, the former secretary-general of the UN, won election as chancellor even though his Nazi past came to light.
The refrain in Austria at the time, as the public rallied around Waldheim, who was banned from visiting the US, was that Waldheim and Austrians should not be blamed; that Austria was a victim of the Nazis; and that the Germans – and not the Austrians – were solely culpable.
That refrain sounds strikingly similar to what is being heard today in Poland.
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Judging by the Austrian model, there is hope for Poland. That’s the good news. The bad news is that with the Austrian model as a gauge, it could take some 30 years before Poland comes around full circle.
Important things to remember. Even if all Poles had dared to hide the Jews and somehow avoided detection , it would have limited impact as only part of the Jews dodged the system and went of the grid.
Large number of the Jews moved to the ghettos where they were under control of subservient Jewish administration and police. Poles did not have any control what was happening in there. Actually they had little say anywhere as Poles lost war in September 1939 and got under brutal German/Austrian occupation.
Some comments supporting the article (starting from the oldest):
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Well spoken Mr Kurz, however, words should be followed by deeds to prove their sincerity.
The Poles , however, have no hope in removing their moral stain on humanity, they remain antisemites and no amount of history whitewashing will remove their war crimes in collaborating with the Nazis and committing crimes of their own instigation.
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Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz very well summarized the historical facts that Austria was a victim, but it was equally a perpetrator during the dark past.
The honest words of Chancellor Kurz are in contrast with the Polish lies. Hopefully the Austrian people will support the honest policies of Chancellor Kurz and will break away from the dark past. Chancellor Kurz deserves support from the Jewish community.
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Congratulations to the Chancellor of Austria for standing up for Truth and Justice.
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Poland is a hopeless basket case. It will remain in denial forever.
