The House of Austrian History presents a detailed examination of the 1961 Borodajkewycz Scandal. This exhibition explores a critical juncture in post-war Austria, where public outrage over NS continuities led to widespread demonstrations. Discover the controversial career of historian Taras Borodajkewycz and the events that culminated in a tragic confrontation during mass protests. This period highlighted Austria's challenging process of confronting its Nazi past.
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This entry details the 'Borodajkewycz Scandal' of 1961, a period of mass protests in Austria triggered by NS continuities. It examines the controversial history of historian Taras Borodajkewycz, his past Nazi affiliations, and the events that led to public demonstrations and a fatal confrontation.
The '1961: Borodajkewycz Scandal' entry from the House of Austrian History delves into a pivotal moment where NS continuities in Austria sparked widespread public outcry and mass protests. It centers on the career and controversial statements of historian Taras Borodajkewycz, who, despite a history with the illegal NSDAP, continued his academic career in the Second Republic. His antisemitic and right-wing extremist remarks during lectures at the Hochschule für Welthandel in Vienna eventually led to public scrutiny, legal actions, and significant demonstrations. The entry highlights how Ferdinand Lacina, later Finance Minister, documented Borodajkewycz's statements, which were then published by Heinz Fischer, a future Bundespresident. The situation escalated following a press conference and culminated in a large demonstration on March 31, 1965, where Ernst Kirchweger, a former resistance fighter, was fatally injured during clashes with counter-demonstrators. Borodajkewycz was eventually retired in 1971 with full pay, reflecting the lingering societal and political complexities surrounding the post-war reckoning with Nazism in Austria. The historical context provided details Borodajkewycz's early academic life, his membership in the illegal NSDAP in 1934, and his subsequent exclusion from the ÖCV. After teaching in Prague during the Nazi era, he managed to secure a professorship for economic history in Vienna in 1955. The article chronicles how his problematic views persisted and became public knowledge, igniting a significant societal debate. The event marked a critical juncture, showing how unresolved historical issues could lead to large-scale public activism and highlight the challenges Austria faced in confronting its Nazi past.
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