Vienna 1945-1955: A book about reconstruction and new hope!

Vienna 1945-1955: A book about reconstruction and new hope!

The rebirth of Vienna in the post-war period is not only an exciting chapter in the city's history, but also the subject of a new publication: "Vienna 1945–1955: Insights into the exhibitions on the day of the Vienna District Museums", which was presented today in the Mariahilf District Museum. Published by the ARGE Vienna District Museums and headed by Brigitte Neichl, the district museum director in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, the book illuminates the challenges and hopes that shaped the city in the years after the Second World War. As meinkreis.at reports, Marcus Bruckmann, the Mariahilf museum director, opened the event with an outlook on the diverse topics, which are covered in the book.

The publication brings together personal stories from contemporary witnesses, including the memories of Hilde Schneider and Hermine Cerha, who impressively describe how everyday life was shaped in the post-war period. Brigitte Neichl highlighted the extensive effort involved in creating this work, which presents reviews of Vienna's unique cultural and social development. The 160 pages are peppered with illustrations and illuminate the individual stories of the districts during reconstruction.

Cultural awakening and infrastructure

In the years 1945 to 1955, when Vienna was rebuilt under the eyes of the four occupying powers, the city experienced considerable change. Before the reconstruction work, immense amounts of rubble and garbage that resulted from the devastating bombings of the Second World War had to be removed. According to bezirksmuseum.at, the Inner City and the districts of Leopoldstadt and Wieden were particularly badly affected, with around 41% of Vienna's buildings suffering war damage. Over 50,000 homes were completely destroyed.

The removal of rubble began immediately after the war, and by the end of 1945 670,000 cubic meters of rubble had already been removed. Tram traffic also resumed on April 29, 1945 with five lines so that the Viennese population could be mobilized. Full operation of the tram network was not to be restored until 1950. All of this shows how quickly the city was brought back to life to meet the challenges of everyday life.

Reconstruction monuments

The reconstruction of Vienna included not only infrastructure, but also symbolically important buildings such as St. Stephen's Cathedral and the State Opera. These outstanding buildings symbolized the new beginning of the city. After intensive renovation work, St. Stephen's Cathedral was reopened on April 26, 1952, while the Vienna State Opera ceremoniously opened to the public on November 5, 1955. According to geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at, the reconstruction was also characterized by a lack of raw materials and workers, which delayed the first major construction projects several times.

An equally exciting topic found space in the book: Viennese stained glass, which Alicia Waldstein, director of the glass museum, spoke about. Art and history are combined here, and it becomes clear how cultural expressions formed an important part of the social awakening during this time.

The publication is available for a recommended donation of 10 euros, both at office@kreismuseum.at as well as in all Vienna district and special museums. The path from destruction to new beginnings comes to life in this book and invites you to examine the history of our city. In this sense, the publication is more than just a book - it is an invitation to help shape the past and to take a look at a complex, historical time.