Memorial Plaque for Kleßheim Castle (Lieferinger Cultural Walking Trail)

Kleßheim Castle was built between 1700 and 1732 and was initially in the possession of the archbishopric and from the 19th century belonged to the Habsburg imperial family. After the “Anschluss”, the National Socialists took possession of the castle and transformed it into the “Führer's Guesthouse”. For the transformation, regular employed workers were recruited on one hand, but also foreign forced laborers and prisoners of war were used here. The NS regime used the castle as a representative venue; international politicians such as Benito Mussolini or Ante Pavelić were received here. The memory of this as well as the fact that during the expansion under the NS regime people were exploited is scarcely present in collective memory today. Also the plaque, which was installed in 2002 and renewed in 2021, only inadequately refers to the NS period – particularly to the use of forced laborers –, especially since it is located outside the castle grounds.