MISSION
STATEMENT
OF THE VIENNA WIESENTHAL INSTITUTE
FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES (VWI)
RESEARCH – DOCUMENTATION – INFORMATION
The
establishment of a center of research and documentation of anti-Semitism,
racism and the Holocaust in Vienna is important by itself because
of the specific past as well as for the future of Vienna itself.
Vienna was an important center for Jewish life and workings in old
Europe. Here, the Jews made decisive cultural contributions, in particular
to modern culture. On the other hand Vienna during the Monarchy was
already clearly involved in the formation and spreading of anti-Semitism.
After Austria’s “Anschluss“ to the Third Reich,
the persecution of the Jews by the National Socialists intensified,
starting it’s way in Vienna and working its way out. Furthermore
from Austria came a noticeably high recruitment of National Socialist
personnel to carry out the Holocaust in Europe.
In Vienna there is an inestimable supply of archival holdings and collections of sources that are of utmost importance to Austria and the international community. These sources are important for the investigation and presentation of what lead up to the Holocaust, the Holocaust itself and the aftermath. Because WWII and the Holocaust were the pivotal experiences for a uniting Europe, the establishment of such a center in Vienna has a European dimension as well. The Holocaust is regarded universally as legally und morally the epitome of crimes against humanity.
The center devotes itself to the exploration of the causes, the carrying out of and the consequences the genocide of the European Jews has brought. Other crimes committed by the Nazi Regime and its accomplices against alleged racial and biological enemies are addressed as well. The center conducts research on the origins of the Holocaust in its Viennese and Austrian contexts and the variations that lie with in. By researching in this manner, the center will play an important role in making the public aware of this issue. In addition it will contribute to the struggle against indifference when crimes against humanity are committed.
Holocaust research in Austria has been, until now, lacking a responsible institutional body, financial resources and cooperation. The center offers both nationally und internationally the opportunity to network already existing organisations, projects and ideas. This network will allow them to advise each other and plan new initiatives. Furthermore the center will strive to provide its facilities as a platform for an international exchange of researchers. The center will also provide an environment to support the development of young researchers.
Historical knowledge is both in its scientific and in its ordinary forms a substantial component of the personal and political self-perception of individuals and groups. Historical awareness will, above all for the younger generation, shape their political and moral awareness later on in life. An enlightened, didactic and mature information about the history of the Holocaust, the dehumanisation of the victims, the indifference of the bystanders and the inhumanness of perpetrators, can strengthen and promote the understanding of human dignity, the responsibility for one’s own political community, as well as personal moral courage.
The center will display its insight for public discussion. These insights will be presented in the forms of teaching/learning forums, publications and varying exhibits. For this to be possible, cooperation between responsible ministries, various state and local government offices will be necessary. The cooperation between, concentration camp memorials, institutions of adult education and art/cultural organisations will all be sought after as well. The center will cooperate with similar institutions like Yad Vashem and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The
center will bear Simon Wiesenthal’s name:
“Vienna Wiesenthal Institute for Holocaust Studies (VWI)
Research – Documentation – Information“
The Steering Committee: