Memorial Plaque for the Thalgau Book Burning on December 21, 1938

The burning of books at the Salzburg Residenzplatz is generally regarded today as the most well-known book destruction action after the "Anschluss" on Austrian soil. However, it is often overlooked that National Socialists were also actively trying to destroy intellectual property in public at other locations. Although on a smaller scale, these actions were no less precisely organized, as evidenced by similar public burnings in Villach, Lofer, Linz, Steyr, and Attnang-Puchheim. In the Flachgau community of Thalgau, National Socialists organized a book burning at the initiative of a local teacher. On December 21, 1938, members of the Thalgauer NSDAP, their affiliated groups, and parts of the local population gathered during the "Winter Solstice Celebration" at the centrally located Schörghubbühel. On a previously erected pyre, various works were burned that were located in the Thalgauer school and community library and opposed NS ideology. According to a witness report, a church banner was also burned. Since 2013, a memorial plaque and a sculpture have commemorated the Thalgauer book burning. Currently, these are located in the community archive, but according to the office leadership, they are intended to find a place in the local museum and thus be made accessible to the public.