A Day to Celebrate the Role of Television in Connecting and Informing the World On 21st November, we commemorate World Television Day, a UN-designated day recognising television’s critical role in... Read more
Why we must continue to remember
On 9 November 1938, the November pogroms in Austria and Germany marked a terrible turning point in the history of anti-Semitism and the systematic persecution of Jewish people. That night and in the days that followed, the synagogues in Vienna and in many other cities burned – not only the buildings were destroyed, but also the heart and the religious and cultural life of the Jewish communities. Hundreds of Jewish people were murdered or driven to suicide, tens of thousands were deported to concentration camps. This coordinated act of violence was presented by the National Socialist rulers as ‘spontaneous popular anger’, but it was carefully organised and served as a clear message: the Jewish population should no longer have a place in Germany and Austria.
At that time, Vienna was home to more than 90 synagogues and prayer houses, places of worship and assembly. During the night of 9-10 November 1938, almost all of them were burnt down or destroyed. The fires were not extinguished, and many Viennese watched in silence or even with approval. This destruction was not only a material loss, but a targeted annihilation of a significant part of Jewish culture and history, which continues to have an impact to this day.
These crimes should not be seen only as historical events, but as a warning. Because anti-Semitism, racism and exclusion are still deeply rooted problems in our society today. A worldwide fight against anti-Semitism is therefore also of fundamental importance today. It challenges us to recognise and actively oppose all forms of discrimination and intolerance. This historical commemoration calls on us to take responsibility, to confront the past and to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
Remembering the victims of the November pogroms of 1938 means listening to the voices of the persecuted and murdered and ensuring that they are never silenced. It also means being vigilant and resolute in our times, confronting hatred and prejudice – whether in the form of clear laws, in education, in public discourse or in our private lives. Only in this way can we create and strengthen an awareness that is not just remembrance, but also active responsibility and action.
