Memorial for Victims of Persecution of Homosexuals in the Nazi Era

On 5 June 2023, a memorial was unveiled in the Resselpark at Karlsplatz. It commemorates the victims of the persecution of homosexuals during the Nazi era. Homosexuality among adults was punishable in Austria from 1852 until 1971. After the "Anschluss" of Austria to the German Reich in March 1938, the number of men and women persecuted as homosexuals increased significantly. The penalties became much harsher. The Nazi authorities criminalized the accused. They were sent to prison, to a mental institution, the operating room, or to concentration camps. More than 100 men from Vienna alone were deported to concentration camps, less than a third of the persecuted survived. After Austria's liberation, none of them were recognized as victims of National Socialism. Following a community participation process, an open competition for a "Memorial for men and women who were victims of the persecution of homosexuals during the Nazi era" took place in 2021. Sarah Ortmeyer and Karl Kolbitz won with their design ARCUS - Shadow of a Rainbow.