Mauthausen: 55th Anniversary of the Liberation

     Scholarly WAIS Vice-Chairman, David Pike, went to Mauthausen in Austria for the ceremonies marking the 55th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps there, the last of the camps to be closed. It had a special interest for David, because it "housed" Spanish Republicans. He has written a book on the subject, which we will review as soon as it appears. It was to have appeared in time for the ceremony, but unfortunately was delayed.
     The event received no attention in the American media which I follow, just one more of many sins of omission. On the other hand, Spanish TV mentioned it because of the role of Spaniards. David sends us this report:
     "On my return to Paris from Austria, friends in Washington tell me that the 55th anniversary celebrations of the liberation of Mauthausen passed unnoticed in the US media. The International Herald Tribune, on the other hand, carried a photo on May 8 of the legendary Spaniard who, year after year, carries the tricolor banner of the Spanish Republic, and an article on May 10 covered the concert. [David. Was that the Spaniard who serves as guide to the camp, whom both you and I know? RH].
     First, the traditional parade, held this year on May 7. As the ranks of the survivors dwindle, their numbers are made good by their family members who attend. The strongest contingent this year was the Italian, who paraded by city-delegations, behind their city flags. The slowest contingent was the Serb, who happened to follow the Italians. It was one thing for the Serbs to show a clear division between themselves and the Italian city-delegations in front of them. It was something else to leave the largest imaginable dividing space between a national delegation and the next, and to march forward at a crawl, as if the Serb presence was the very purpose of the day's event. It made a very poor impression.
     While Russia, the US, the UK, and Canada were all there among the scores of nations represented, the Spaniards were particularly applauded, despite a division among them that has rankled for many years. This year the Catalan contingent marched first, separate from the Spanish Republican contingent. The Catalans have even disputed the right of the other Spaniards to appear in front of the Spanish memorial. There is much more to add on this question.
     Among the changes in the procession was the appearance this year of the Gypsies (who bore the Brown triangle in the SS marking), and at the end of the procession others who had nothing whatever to do with Mauthausen. Every unhappy minority I can think of turned up, with the exception of the Ulster Catholics. Since this was also a great opportunity for Austria's minorities, counter-demonstrators from the lunatic right appeared at the main gate with their mouths taped shut, indicating that there was no freedom of speech in Austria.
     As for the concert, it may well be the last. Apparently the plans for a concert began as early as 1966, in order to herald the 21st century. It ran into strong opposition, even from survivors who were professional musicians, on the basis that Mauthausen is not a place for music but simply for silence and tears. With the Haider question, the International Committee took the decision, only two days ahead of the concert, to disinvite the Prime Minister of Austria and all members of his Cabinet. As a result, only the President, Dr Thomas Glestil, and his staff, attended. President Glestil gave a short speech and it was the only speech applauded, perhaps because it was short. The rest of the speeches left everyone in agony, and not least the "introductions" presented by a famous Austrian actress from the Vienna stage.
     It was merciful release when Sir Simon Rattle could finally appear and conduct the Vienna Philarmonic in a rendering of Beethoven's Ninth. All this in the vast floodlit amphitheater of Mauthausen's infamous quarry, before an audience of 7,000, and at the end of the Ode to Joy, at Rattle's request, there was no applause, only silence. And for those who remember Aristotle's injunction that the audience must be allowed to return slowly to the world they live in, the audience had no choice but to exit by the same way they came, but this time upward: the 186 Steps to the top of the quarry, with the important difference that instead of SS and Kapos lining the steps, this was the Red Cross and other aid organizations that served to help or carry the weaker members of the audience."

Ronald Hilton - 5/11/00