A dark past
Time travel through the history of a barracks
In the "Krone" history podcast, we take you to Klagenfurt's Khevenhüller barracks, which has undergone a special transformation in 80 years. What fate did the prisoners who were interned there suffer? Is there really still a swastika under the parade ground? Watch or listen.
Together with historian Philipp Jernej, who works as an information officer at the Carinthian military command, we enter the Khevenhüller barracks in the Lendorf district of Klagenfurt. In the "Krone" history podcast, we take you into this military property, which on the one hand bears witness to a particularly dark chapter in Austrian history, but on the other hand impressively shows how Austria's path to democracy unfolded.
From subjugation to peace and freedom
Today, the facility is home to Jäger Battalion 25, military music, military chaplaincy and other units of the Austrian Armed Forces, which not only protects Austria, but also promotes security and peace abroad. However, this was not always the case at the barracks, as its construction history began when the National Socialists came to power in 1938 and built an Waffen SS barracks there, which even included a satellite camp of the Mauthausen concentration camp with up to 130 prisoners.
Prisoners of war and political prisoners
"The inmates were mainly prisoners of war and political prisoners who were used for repair work, the construction of air raid shelters and for clearing up after bombing raids on Klagenfurt from January 1944," says historian Jernej, pointing in the direction of today's sports field, where the prisoners' barracks were located until 1945.
Barracks were torn down
Today, only two watchtowers remain. "To cover up traces, the last commander of the facility had the entire barracks torn down shortly before the end of the war." Nevertheless, there are many reminders of this dark time in the barracks that have deliberately not been destroyed - even today.
"That would also have been an unreflected solution," says Jernej, referring to the four frescoes in the dining hall, which today refer to the Nazi era through a cautionary, artistic installation: "This enables a critical examination of the pictorial content, Austria's National Socialist past and reference to democracy, which is protected by the armed forces."
Inscription on the fresco glazing
"THIS PICTURE REFLECTS THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST REGIME. ITS DEFEAT BROUGHT DEMOCRACY TO AUSTRIA. IT IS THE MISSION OF THE AUSTRIAN ARMY TO PROTECT IT"
But you can also still recognize names on the outer wall that were carved there by prisoners of war an incredible 80 years ago. Jernej: "It was mainly French soldiers who were used as prisoners for the expansion of the barracks."
All the background in the video podcast
You can find out all the background information, lots of historical pictures and the complete story about the Khevenhüller barracks in our video podcast "On historical paths", which takes you on a journey through time through the barracks. Simply watch the video above.
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