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{{Multiple issues|
The '''Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service''' (German: "Österreichischer Gedenkdienst") is an alternative to ]'s compulsory national military service. Its participants serve at major ] memorial institutions.
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{| class="infobox" style="width: 25em; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size: small;" | '''Gedenkdienst'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |
|-
! Purpose
| ] remembrance
|-
! Foundation
| 1992
|-
! Website
| https://gedenkdienst.at/
{{URL|www.auslandsdienst.at/en/}}
|}


'''''Gedenkdienst''''' is a concept in Austria aimed at young people to face and take responsibility for the darkest chapters of the country's history while being financially supported by Austrian government.
The Gedenkdienst was ] by ], a political scientist from ] (], ]) who adopted the idea from the German Action for Reconciliation (Aktion Suehnezeichen). Maislinger himself had worked as a volunteer at the ] museum, where the idea of the Gedenkdienst program was born.


Founded in Austria in 1992 by ], the ''Gedenkdienst'' is an alternative to ]'s compulsory national military service as well as a volunteering platform for Austrians to work in Holocaust and Jewish culture-related institutions around the world with governmental financial support.
In ] the required legislation was enacted by the Austrian Government and Andreas Maislinger began organizing what became known as the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service, an independent, though largely government-funded foundation. The intent of the Gedenkdienst is to recognize Austria's part of the collective responsibility for ] and the responsibility of each one of us to ensure that it "never again" happens (quote from the speech of the former Austrian chancellor ], ], June 1993).


The Austrian Gedenkdienst seeks to serve the remembrance of the crimes of ], commemorates its victims and supports Jewish cultural future. The program is rooted in the acknowledgment of responsibility by the Austrian government for the crimes committed by ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verein – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/verein/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de-DE}}</ref>
The Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service is a unique international network that provides assistance to Holocaust-related archives and museums. Since ] there have been about 150 Gedenkdienst interns, mostly in their 20s, working to study and preserve Holocaust history in lieu of military service back home.


== History ==
The ] is the main body of the organization and authorized by the ] to send Gedenkdienst interns to partner organizations worldwide.
] on ], 1992|299x299px]]

=== Origin ===

The historian, political scientist and scientific director of the ] Andreas Maislinger promoted the idea of an alternative to the compulsory military service dedicated to the research, understanding and remembrance of the Holocaust as well as the commemoration of its victims since the late 1970s.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=How Austria's Youth Are Building Bridges to the Global Jewish Community |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-austrias-youth-are-building-bridges-to-the-global-jewish-community/ |publisher=Times of Israel}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-03 |title=Gedenkdienst: Maislinger Ehrenritter |url=https://salzburg.orf.at/v2/news/stories/2552931/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=salzburg.orf.at |language=de}}</ref>

In 1991 Austrian chancellor ] was the first chancellor of Austria to admit to and acknowledge the Austrian people's share of responsibility for the crimes committed by National Socialism during WWII.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jta.org/1991/07/10/archive/austrian-acknowledgement-of-guilt-for-holocaust-welcomed-by-survivors |title=Austrian Acknowledgement of Guilt for Holocaust Welcomed by Survivors |date=10 July 1991 | publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}</ref> The new approach rejected the then established myth of Austria merely being ]. This signaled a new approach within the Austrian political establishment regarding its stance and treatment of Austria's and Austrians' roles during the time of ].

Following these events, the Austrian government vouched to finance a ''Gedenkdienst'' with the first Austrian Holocaust Memorial Servant starting in 1992.<ref name=":0" />

After amendments to Austrian law in 2014, women or men who are not required to perform civilian service have also been able to perform memorial service and receive the same state funding since 2014.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Gedenkdienst leisten – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/gedenkdienst-leisten/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de-DE}}</ref> Moreover, a new amendment, which came into force in September 2023, increased the financial resources for those performing memorial service and opened up the possibility of continuing memorial service in Austria in the event of disasters such as the ]. In addition, there is now a centralised record of completed memorial service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neues Freiwilligengesetz |url=https://www.freiwillig-engagiert.at/wissen/detail/freiwilligengesetz-neu |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=freiwillig-engagiert |language=de}}</ref>

== Acknowledgmen ==
{{Blockquote|text=I follow the works of the Gedenkdienst with great interest and the organization has my full support.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=I often claimed there is no Austrian association which sends young people to Israel, like the German organization “Aktion Sühnezeichen”. It touched me to read there is now, thanks to the possibility to perform the Austrian civilian service within the framework of the Gedenkdienst.|author=]}}
:
{{Blockquote|text=As a former Polish political prisoner of a fascist Concentration Camp and historian of World War II, I want to take the honoring opportunity to speak in front of the high house. I want to thank all the young Austrians, which work so hard for the remembrance of the past. Here I specially think of the people of the documentation archive of the Austrian resistance under the leadership of Prof. Wolfgang Neugebauer, the Austrian Camp Community Mauthausen, the Gedenkdienst, and also the local initiatives of the communities Gusen, Langenstein und St. Georgen in Oberösterreich, the working circle for homeland, memorial and history care.|author=]}}
:
{{Blockquote|text=I thank you for the information about the positive result from your accomplished Gedenkdienst.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=The Gedenkdienst is a very impressive initiative.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=I feel very close to this organization and I have great respect for the servants, because what they achieve is the right way for Austria – to look the past directly into the eyes and to do something against it. Not to say, we were the first victims.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=I like to support and recommend the Gedenkdienst initiative. It is a real service which can be and should be provided by young people.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=Many people have no idea what those young Austrians achieve for themselves, that they straighten up their backbones, so they can walk straight again, also myself, who belongs to this generation.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=I consider the project Gedenkdienst as an important and valuable initiative in the service of peace and the peoples' communication.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=Gedenkdienst is remembrance work, which is also a bridge between “Yesterday's World” and the modern and democratic Austria. It also is a reminder that today's values like a sense of responsibility and moral courage did not lose their importance.|author=]}}{{Blockquote|text=Each Generation has to be aware of the horror of the past, to be able to build a new world of peace and respect for human rights. The project Gedenkdienst serves this important challenge of sensitizing for the meaning of the words “Never forget.|author=]}}

== Supporting associations ==

=== Association Never Forget from 1994 to 2017 ===
The association provided positions in 19 memorial sites in Germany and Poland. The association "Never Forget" took an active part in youth work against forgetting. The association stopped operations and became defunct in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unsichere Zukunft für Gedenkdienste |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000053759179/unsichere-zukunft-fuer-gedenkdienste |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}</ref>

=== Austrian Service Abroad since 1998 (Österreichischer Auslandsdienst) ===

] and ] founded the organization "]" in 1998.

The organization is the largest in Austria and sends Auslandsdiener to six continents of the world to accomplish Holocaust commemoration work, social services and peace services. The Austrian Service Abroad is characterized by offering three types of service: the Gedenkdienst, the ] and the ]. In May 2023, Maislinger stepped down as chairman after ] for alleged abuse of power.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ennemoser |first=Magdalena |date=2023-05-12 |title=Vorsitzender Andreas Maislinger verlässt Auslandsdienst |url=https://www.tt.com/artikel/30854334/vorsitzender-andreas-maislinger-verlaesst-auslandsdienst |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Tiroler Tageszeitung Online |language=de}}</ref>

=== The Gedenkdienst since 1992 ===

The Gedenkdienst association was founded in 1992 by Walter Guggenberger (SPÖ), Andreas Hörtnagl (ÖVP) and Andreas Maislinger (non-party) to raise awareness about the Holocaust, its causes and consequences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wir über uns – Selbstverständnis – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/verein/selbstverstaendnis/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de-DE}}</ref> In 2008, female volunteers were supported for the first time by the newly created Geschwister Mezei Fund. This was set up with the aim of offering women the opportunity to perform memorial service under the same conditions as those doing alternative civilian service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gedenkdienst - nun auch für Frauen: erste Auswahl 21.-23. 12. 2007 |url=https://www.erinnern.at/themen/e_bibliothek/miscellen/gedenkdienst-nun-auch-fur-frauen-erste-auswahl-21-23-12-2007 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=ERINNERN: NATIONALSOZIALISMUS UND HOLOCAUST |language=de}}</ref> This was made possible for all sponsoring organisations with the amendment to the Volunteer Act in 2014.<ref name=":1" /> This organisation received the Leon Zelman Prize in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presse-Service |date=2013-06-13 |title=Archivmeldung: Erster Leon Zelman-Preis geht an "Verein GEDENKDIENST" |url=https://presse.wien.gv.at/presse/2013/06/13/erster-leon-zelman-preis-geht-an-verein-gedenkdienst |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Presseservice der Stadt Wien |language=de}}</ref>

In addition to its volunteer activities, the Gedenkdienst also offers events and projects in the field of historical and political education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projekte – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/projekte/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Veranstaltungen – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/veranstaltungen-2/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de-DE}}</ref>

== Partner organizations ==
]]]
]]]
]]]
]]]
]]]
] in ]]]
]]]
] in ]]]
]]]
] in ]]]
] in Detroit]]{{Update|date=May 2023}}
*<blockquote></blockquote>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Country
!City
!Site
|-
|{{ARG}}
|]
|Asociación Filantrópica Israelita (AFI) – Hogar Adolfo Hirsch (San Miguel)<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Buenos Aires, Argentinien – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/buenos-aires-argentinien/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|{{AUS}}
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen">{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Dienststellen |url=https://www.auslandsdienst.at/dienststellen/ |website=Österreichischer Auslandsdienst}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{BEL}}
| rowspan="2" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|European Union of Jewish Students<ref name=":0">{{cite web |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=de-DE |title=Einsatzstellen |url=https://www.auslandsdienst.at/einsatzstellen/ |website=Österreichischer Auslandsdienst}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{BRA}}
|]
|Jüdisches Museum von São Paulo<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|{{CHN|2=China}}
|]
|]<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="10" |{{DEU}}
|]
|]<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="4" |]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Berlin – AFZ, Deutschland – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/berlin/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Berlin – GDW, Deutschland – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/berlin-gedenkstaette-deutscher-widerstand-deutschland/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Stiftung Neue Synagoge Berlin<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Oranienburg, Deutschland – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/oranienburg-deutschland/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]
|]<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="4" |{{FRA}}
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Bibliothèque et archives d'alliance Israélite Universelle<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{GRC}}
|]
|Jewish Museum of Greece<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Chania, Griechenland – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/chania-griechenland/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="7" |{{ISR}}
|]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Akko, Israel – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/akko/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Jerusalem – LBI, Israel – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/jerusalem-leo-baeck-institut-israel/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" /><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Jerusalem – YV, Israel – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/jerusalem-yad-vashem-israel/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" |]
|] Elternheim<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Tel Aviv, Israel – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/tel-aviv-israel/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|The Liebling Haus - White City Center<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Zikaron BaSalon<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="7" |{{ITA}}
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|Scuola Di Pace Di Monte Sole<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Monte Sole, Italien – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/monte-sole/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|Comune di Predappio<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Jüdisches Museum Rom<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|Jüdische Gemeinde Triest<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Tokyo Holocaust Education and Resource Center<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="5" |{{CAN}}
| rowspan="2" |]
|]<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Montreal Holocaust Museum<ref name=":3">{{cite web |access-date=2024-07-04 |language=de |title=Gedenkdienst - Nationalfonds der Republik Österreich für Opfer des Nationalsozialismus |url=https://www.nationalfonds.org/gedenkdienst}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |]
|The Azrieli Foundation<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Toronto Holocaust Museum<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|The Vancouver Holocaust Centre<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Jasenovac Memorial Site<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{LAT}}
| rowspan="3" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Museum of the Occupation of Latvia<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Žanis Lipke Memorial<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=de-DE |title=Vilnius, Litauen – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/vilnius-litauen/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]
|Senneville Riviere des Anguilles
|Island Hebrew Congregation Senneville Riviere des Anguilles<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Holocaust Centre of New Zealand<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{NLD}}
| rowspan="3" |]
|]<ref name=":2">{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Amsterdam, Niederlande – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/amsterdam/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|Niederländisches Widerstandsmuseum<ref name=":3" />
|-
|Stiftung Jüdisch Historisches Museum - Jewish Cultural Quarter<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="5" |{{POL}}
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Lublin, Polen – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/lublin-polen/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=Oświęcim, Polen – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/auschwitz-birkenau-polen/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]
|Holocaust Museum of Oporto<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|Nusfalau
|Holocaust Museum in Nordtransilvanien<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{RUS}}
| rowspan="2" |]
|Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|{{SRB}}
|]
|Verband der jüdischen Gemeinden Serbiens – Jüdisches historisches Museum<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{SWE}}
|]
|Schwedisches Holocaustmuseum<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]
|Hugo Mendel Stiftung<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|The Jews of Singapore Museum<ref name=":0" />
|-
|{{SLO}}
|]
|Nationalmuseum der Zeitgeschichte<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |]
|]
|Durban Holocaust & Genocide Education Centre<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Education Centre<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]
|]
|Jeffrey D. Schwartz & Na Tang Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |{{CZE}}
| rowspan="2" |]
|Institut Theresienstädter Initiative<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Jüdische Gemeinde Prag<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{HUN}}
| rowspan="2" |]
|Jewish Community Center Budapest<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Tom Lantos Institut<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="11" |{{USA|2=USA}}
|]
|Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="4" |]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]e<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=de-DE |title=New York, USA – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/new-york-usa/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|]
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |]
|Capital Jewish Museum<ref name=":0" />
|-
|]<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2024-05-25 |language=de-DE |title=Washington, D.C., USA – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/washington-d-c-usa/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" |]
| rowspan="5" |]
|Nightingale Hammerson - Hammerson House<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Nightingale Hammerson - Nightingale House<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Jewish Care - Holocaust Survivors' Center<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|-
|JW3 Jewish Community Centre Holocaust Memorial Day Trust<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2019-05-09 |language=de |title=London, Großbritannien – GEDENKDIENST |url=https://gedenkdienst.at/london-grossbritannien/}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
|-
|]<ref name="Dienststellen" />
|}

== See also ==
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*]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
* http://www.gedenkdienst.org *
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ushmm.org/confront-antisemitism/antisemitism-podcast/harald-edinger |title=Harald Edinger |work=Voices on Antisemitism |date=1 January 2009 |publisher=]}}
* http://www.gedenkdienst.net
* http://www.gedenkdienst.info


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Gedenkdienst
Purpose Holocaust remembrance
Foundation 1992
Website https://gedenkdienst.at/

www.auslandsdienst.at/en/

Gedenkdienst is a concept in Austria aimed at young people to face and take responsibility for the darkest chapters of the country's history while being financially supported by Austrian government.

Founded in Austria in 1992 by Andreas Maislinger, the Gedenkdienst is an alternative to Austria's compulsory national military service as well as a volunteering platform for Austrians to work in Holocaust and Jewish culture-related institutions around the world with governmental financial support.

The Austrian Gedenkdienst seeks to serve the remembrance of the crimes of Nazism, commemorates its victims and supports Jewish cultural future. The program is rooted in the acknowledgment of responsibility by the Austrian government for the crimes committed by the Nazis.

History

First young Austrian started in Auschwitz on September 1, 1992

Origin

The historian, political scientist and scientific director of the Braunau Contemporary History Days Andreas Maislinger promoted the idea of an alternative to the compulsory military service dedicated to the research, understanding and remembrance of the Holocaust as well as the commemoration of its victims since the late 1970s.

In 1991 Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky was the first chancellor of Austria to admit to and acknowledge the Austrian people's share of responsibility for the crimes committed by National Socialism during WWII. The new approach rejected the then established myth of Austria merely being the first victim of Nazism. This signaled a new approach within the Austrian political establishment regarding its stance and treatment of Austria's and Austrians' roles during the time of National Socialism.

Following these events, the Austrian government vouched to finance a Gedenkdienst with the first Austrian Holocaust Memorial Servant starting in 1992.

After amendments to Austrian law in 2014, women or men who are not required to perform civilian service have also been able to perform memorial service and receive the same state funding since 2014. Moreover, a new amendment, which came into force in September 2023, increased the financial resources for those performing memorial service and opened up the possibility of continuing memorial service in Austria in the event of disasters such as the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, there is now a centralised record of completed memorial service.

Acknowledgmen

I follow the works of the Gedenkdienst with great interest and the organization has my full support.

— Simon Wiesenthal

I often claimed there is no Austrian association which sends young people to Israel, like the German organization “Aktion Sühnezeichen”. It touched me to read there is now, thanks to the possibility to perform the Austrian civilian service within the framework of the Gedenkdienst.

— Teddy Kollek

As a former Polish political prisoner of a fascist Concentration Camp and historian of World War II, I want to take the honoring opportunity to speak in front of the high house. I want to thank all the young Austrians, which work so hard for the remembrance of the past. Here I specially think of the people of the documentation archive of the Austrian resistance under the leadership of Prof. Wolfgang Neugebauer, the Austrian Camp Community Mauthausen, the Gedenkdienst, and also the local initiatives of the communities Gusen, Langenstein und St. Georgen in Oberösterreich, the working circle for homeland, memorial and history care.

— Wladyslaw Bartoszewski

I thank you for the information about the positive result from your accomplished Gedenkdienst.

— Rudolf Kirchschläger

The Gedenkdienst is a very impressive initiative.

— Thomas Klestil

I feel very close to this organization and I have great respect for the servants, because what they achieve is the right way for Austria – to look the past directly into the eyes and to do something against it. Not to say, we were the first victims.

— Walter Kohn

I like to support and recommend the Gedenkdienst initiative. It is a real service which can be and should be provided by young people.

— Christoph Kardinal Schönborn

Many people have no idea what those young Austrians achieve for themselves, that they straighten up their backbones, so they can walk straight again, also myself, who belongs to this generation.

— Dietmar Schönherr

I consider the project Gedenkdienst as an important and valuable initiative in the service of peace and the peoples' communication.

— Wolfgang Schüssel

Gedenkdienst is remembrance work, which is also a bridge between “Yesterday's World” and the modern and democratic Austria. It also is a reminder that today's values like a sense of responsibility and moral courage did not lose their importance.

— Michael Spindelegger

Each Generation has to be aware of the horror of the past, to be able to build a new world of peace and respect for human rights. The project Gedenkdienst serves this important challenge of sensitizing for the meaning of the words “Never forget.

— Franz Vranitzky

Supporting associations

Association Never Forget from 1994 to 2017

The association provided positions in 19 memorial sites in Germany and Poland. The association "Never Forget" took an active part in youth work against forgetting. The association stopped operations and became defunct in 2017.

Austrian Service Abroad since 1998 (Österreichischer Auslandsdienst)

Andreas Hörtnagl and Andreas Maislinger founded the organization "Austrian Service Abroad" in 1998.

The organization is the largest in Austria and sends Auslandsdiener to six continents of the world to accomplish Holocaust commemoration work, social services and peace services. The Austrian Service Abroad is characterized by offering three types of service: the Gedenkdienst, the Austrian Social Service and the Austrian Peace Service. In May 2023, Maislinger stepped down as chairman after public criticism for alleged abuse of power.

The Gedenkdienst since 1992

The Gedenkdienst association was founded in 1992 by Walter Guggenberger (SPÖ), Andreas Hörtnagl (ÖVP) and Andreas Maislinger (non-party) to raise awareness about the Holocaust, its causes and consequences. In 2008, female volunteers were supported for the first time by the newly created Geschwister Mezei Fund. This was set up with the aim of offering women the opportunity to perform memorial service under the same conditions as those doing alternative civilian service. This was made possible for all sponsoring organisations with the amendment to the Volunteer Act in 2014. This organisation received the Leon Zelman Prize in 2013.

In addition to its volunteer activities, the Gedenkdienst also offers events and projects in the field of historical and political education.

Partner organizations

Casa Stefan Zweig
Jasenovac concentration camp
Centre de la mémoire d'Oradour
Amicale de Mauthausen
Jewish Museum Berlin
Yad Vashem in Israel
Synagogue next to Auschwitz Jewish Center
Centre For Jewish Culture in Kraków
Simon Wiesenthal Center
Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond
Holocaust Memorial Center in Detroit
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2023)
Country City Site
 Argentina Buenos Aires Asociación Filantrópica Israelita (AFI) – Hogar Adolfo Hirsch (San Miguel)
 Australia Melbourne Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre
 Belgium Brüssel CegeSoma - Centre d'Ètude Guerre et Sociéte
European Union of Jewish Students
 Brazil São Paulo Jüdisches Museum von São Paulo
Petrópolis Casa Stefan Zweig
 China Shanghai Center of Jewish Studies
 Germany Augsburg Jüdisches Museum Augsburg Schwaben
Berchtesgaden Dokumentation Obersalzberg
Berlin Anne Frank Zentrum
Gedenkstätte Deutscher Widerstand
Jüdisches Museum Berlin
Stiftung Neue Synagoge Berlin
Fürstenberg/Havel Mahn- und Gedenkstätte Ravensbrück
München Jüdisches Museum München
Oranienburg Gedenkstätte Sachsenhausen
Wolfenbüttel Stiftung niedersächsische Gedenkstätten - Gedenkstätte in der JVA Wolfenbüttel
Estonia Tallinn Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom
 France Oradour-sur-Glane Centre de la Mémoire d’Oradour
Paris Amicale de Mauthausen
Bibliothèque et archives d'alliance Israélite Universelle
Fondation pour la Mémoire de la Déportation
 Greece Athen Jewish Museum of Greece
Chania Etz Hayyim Synagogue
 Israel Akkon Ghetto Fighter’s House Museum
Jerusalem Leo Baeck Institut
Yad Vashem
Tel Aviv Anitta Müller-Cohen Elternheim
The Liebling Haus - White City Center
Wiener Library for the Study of the Nazi Era and the Holocaust - Elias Sourasky Central Library
Zikaron BaSalon
 Italy Mailand Centro Di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea
Marzabotto Scuola Di Pace Di Monte Sole
Prato Museo della Deportazione
Predappio Comune di Predappio
Rom Fondazione Museo della Shoah
Jüdisches Museum Rom
Triest Jüdische Gemeinde Triest
Japan Tokio Tokyo Holocaust Education and Resource Center
 Canada Montreal Holocaust Education and Genocide Prevention Foundation
Montreal Holocaust Museum
Toronto The Azrieli Foundation
Toronto Holocaust Museum
Vancouver The Vancouver Holocaust Centre
Croatia Jasenovac Jasenovac Memorial Site
 Latvia Riga Museum „Juden in Lettland“
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
Žanis Lipke Memorial
Lithuania Vilnius Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History
Mauritius Senneville Riviere des Anguilles Island Hebrew Congregation Senneville Riviere des Anguilles
New Zealand Wellington Holocaust Centre of New Zealand
 Netherlands Amsterdam Anne Frank Stichting
Niederländisches Widerstandsmuseum
Stiftung Jüdisch Historisches Museum - Jewish Cultural Quarter
 Poland Krakau Galicia Jewish Museum
Lublin KZ-Gedenkstätte Majdanek
Oświęcim Auschwitz Jewish Center
Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau
Warschau Museum der Geschichte der polnischen Juden
Portugal Porto Holocaust Museum of Oporto
Romania Nusfalau Holocaust Museum in Nordtransilvanien
 Russia Moskau Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center
Russisches Forschungs- und Bildungszentrum „Holocaust“
 Serbia Belgrad Verband der jüdischen Gemeinden Serbiens – Jüdisches historisches Museum
 Sweden Stockholm Schwedisches Holocaustmuseum
Uppsala The Uppsala Programme for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Switzerland Zürich Hugo Mendel Stiftung
Singapore Singapur The Jews of Singapore Museum
 Slovenia Laibach Nationalmuseum der Zeitgeschichte
South Africa Durban Durban Holocaust & Genocide Education Centre
Kapstadt Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre
Johannesburg Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Education Centre
Taiwan Taipeh Jeffrey D. Schwartz & Na Tang Jewish Taiwan Cultural Association
 Czech Republic Prag Institut Theresienstädter Initiative
Jüdische Gemeinde Prag
Theresienstadt Jugendbegegnungsstätte Theresienstadt
 Hungary Budapest Jewish Community Center Budapest
Tom Lantos Institut
 United States Dallas Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies
Los Angeles Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Simon Wiesenthal Center
USC Shoah Foundation for Visual History and Education
New York American Jewish Committee
Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation
Leo Baeck Institute
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Richmond Virginia Holocaust Museum
Washington, D.C. Capital Jewish Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United Kingdom London Nightingale Hammerson - Hammerson House
Nightingale Hammerson - Nightingale House
Jewish Care - Holocaust Survivors' Center
JW3 Jewish Community Centre Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust & Genocide

See also

References

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