Students polish stones of remembrance: Commemoration in Margareten

Students polish stones of remembrance: Commemoration in Margareten

In a moving initiative, students from the HTL Spengergasse in Margareten polished around 60 “stones of remembrance”. These brass plates are not only pretty to look at, but also remind us of the tragic fates of Jews who were expelled from their hometowns, deported and murdered during National Socialism. The action took place in several districts of Vienna and coincided with the commemoration of the November pogroms of 1938.

Professor Christoph Lindner, who launched the initiative, emphasized the essential importance of memory and the lessons of history: “Never again”. He made it clear that the fight against genocide, war, anti-Semitism and racism must never end. During the conversation, student Ilva said that the stones are often invisible - until you actively work with them. Student Elem pointed out that many passers-by ignore the memorial stones in everyday life and emphasized the need to pay more attention to these memorabilia.

Haunting memory work

Student Valentina added that through the polishing campaign they increased passers-by's awareness of the history of the stones. “It's sad to know how many people lived here and were killed,” remarked Kirsten, another student. These conversations and the joint work reflect the young people's pride in their city and their commitment to coming to terms with the past.

On November 9, 2025, the day of the pogrom night, commemorative events took place across the country. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave a powerful speech in Bellevue Palace and addressed the issue of protecting a robust democracy. These various historical events, including the proclamation of the Republic in 1918 and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, are honored on this date in Germany and beyond. November 9th is seen as a reminder of the horrors of violence and anti-Semitism.

October 2025 marks the centenary of that terrible night. On the occasion of this commemoration, celebrities appeared and the names of 55,696 murdered Jews were read out in front of the Jewish Community Center in Berlin. These actions underline the importance of remembering the victims and of solidarity with the survivors of the Shoah and make it clear that the fight against anti-Semitism and racism is still of great importance today.

Culture of remembrance in Austria

Every year on January 27th, the victims of National Socialism are remembered. This is associated with many events that commemorate the murder of millions of Jews and other minorities by the Nazis. Among other things, the stumbling blocks by the artist Gunter Demnig are used to commemorate the Nazi victims. The polishing campaign by the students of the HTL Spengergasse fits successfully into this important context and shows that young people in Vienna are actively dealing with history.

Overall, the combination of practical engagement and deep understanding of the past represents a glimmer of hope - not only for the current generation, but also for those to come. Only through constant remembering and learning can we ensure that such dark chapters of our history are not forgotten.