Vienna's Memorial to Nazi Military Justice Victims: Unveiling Historical Injustice

This entry details the Memorial to the Persecuted of Nazi Military Justice, inaugurated on Vienna's Ballhausplatz in 2014. Conceived by artist Olaf Nicolai and erected by the City of Vienna, the memorial addresses the historical injustice faced by soldiers and civilians condemned by Wehrmacht courts during World War II.

The Memorial to the Persecuted of Nazi Military Justice, located on Vienna's Ballhausplatz, was inaugurated on October 24, 2014. Conceived by artist Olaf Nicolai, the memorial was erected by the City of Vienna and opened by Mayor Michael Häupl and Federal President Heinz Fischer. The initiative originated from the committee 'Justice for the Victims of Nazi Military Justice'. During World War II, Wehrmacht courts issued over 30,000 death sentences against soldiers and civilians. Primarily, deserters and those accused of undermining morale faced execution for defying the principle of command and obedience. This also affected individuals across Europe resisting Wehrmacht occupation. For decades, German and Austrian soldiers convicted of desertion or cowardice carried the stigma of 'treason'. It was not until 2009 that the Austrian National Council officially rehabilitated them and acknowledged their actions. The memorial's design features a base shaped like a lying, stepped 'X'. Climbing the third step reveals the inscription 'all – alone', which artist Olaf Nicolai uses to illustrate the tension individuals face when opposing societal structures of order and power.