Austria confronts its Nazi past by sending youth abroad
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Austria established the Austrian Service Abroad program in 1998 as an alternative to military service.
- Young Austrians work with Holocaust memory organizations worldwide for 10 months.
- The program helps Austria confront its Nazi past and make amends for its role as perpetrators.
Austria is confronting its Nazi past through a unique program that sends young citizens abroad to engage with Holocaust memory. Established in 1998, the Austrian Service Abroad program offers an alternative to mandatory military service. For 10 months, participants work with nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and its victims.
It has been a big boon to our work and allows us to greatly expand our Holocaust educational offerings.
This initiative allows young Austrians to actively participate in acknowledging their country's complex history. Many Austrians once emphasized their victimhood under Nazi Germany, but a shift occurred in the 1980s and '90s, leading to a formal recognition of Austrians' roles as perpetrators and supporters of Nazi crimes. The program is seen as a way for Austria to 'make amends' for its actions during World War II.
There are things we can now do having this extra hand that we were not able to do before.
Organizations like the Sousa Mendes Foundation on Long Island have benefited greatly from the program. Olivia Mattis, the foundation's president and CEO, noted that the Austrian participants have significantly expanded their Holocaust educational offerings. Robin Bigga-Piskernig, a 19-year-old participant, is currently assisting the foundation with various projects, including the production of educational materials and research on historical figures like Freud.
It has been a big boon to our work and allows us to greatly expand our Holocaust educational offerings.
Jean Lou Cloos, managing director of Austrian Service Abroad, stated that the program directly stems from Austria's challenging process of confronting National Socialism. Since its inception, approximately 1,323 Austrians have participated, serving in 66 countries globally. The program fosters a deeper understanding of history and promotes reconciliation.
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DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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