Linz and Its History

30.12.2009

Linz’s recent past has played an important role in Linz09’s programme. For residents of a place that once bore the epithet “City of the Führer,” dealing with the Nazi era is a duty.

The darkest chapters of a city’s history are precisely what invariably get swept under the rug. Rarely are such events brought to light for all to see. But an essential part of Linz09’s mission has been to produce a wide array of projects that shed light—in the true sense of the word—on multifarious aspects of the city’s Nazi past. IN SITU, for example, made use of stencils and spray paint to mark the pavement in front of 65 sites of Nazi terror in Linz. Each brief text reveals the fates of real human beings that were played out behind the walls of factories, office buildings and private dwellings.
The Brückenkopfgebäude, monumental edifices linking the Nibelungen Bridge to the Main Square, were built by slave laborers from the Mauthausen concentration camp. On the façade of one of them, portions of the stucco were chiseled away to literally bring forth the history of these structures. This architectural intervention was carried out in conjunction with AMIDST US. The façade will be returned to its original state in Spring 2010.

Mauthausen and several of its subsidiary camps were located on the outskirts of Linz. One of them was in the town of Gusen, where a development of single-family homes has since been built on the former camp’s grounds. Now, a long-term project offers a tour of this historical setting. THE INVISIBLE CAMP completely dispenses with signage; instead, visitors outfitted with MP3 players hear original recordings including interviews with contemporary eyewitnesses to history as well as current residents of a place in which today’s idyll constitutes a jarring contrast to the heinous events of the past.

A Linz09 publication entitled “Das Geschichtebuch” (The History Book) takes an intensive approach to dealing with the Nazi past. We’re giving away five copies. To win one, send an e-mail with “Geschichtebuch” in the subject line and containing your name and address to gewinnspiel@linz09.at. Entry deadline is January 5, 2010. Winners will be notified by e-mail.

IN SITU
Until March 31, 2010
Details at www.linz09.at/in-situ and www.insitu-linz09.at.
For an overview of the 65 locations, log on to www.insitu-linz09.at/orte.
Free admission

AMIDST US
The chiseled-out façade remains on display until Spring 2010
Details at www.linz09.at/unter-uns
Free admission

THE INVISIBLE CAMP
Until March 31: Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
April through September: Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Closed from December 24, 2009 to January 6, 2010
Pick up an audio device and begin the tour at: Gusen Memorial Visitors’ Center (Georgestr. 6, 4222 Langenstein), Gasthaus Pree (across the street from the Gusen Memorial), and Gasthaus Böhm (Linzer Str. 2, 4222 St. Georgen an der Gusen)
Details at www.linz09.at/das-unsichtbare-lager and www.audioweg.gusen.org
Free admission