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Originally Posted by E. Cartman
All very interesting. It brings to mind my one and only trip to Austria in the 1970's. Although I travelled all the way through the country from the German border to what was then Yugoslavia, I spent most of my time in Salzburg. I toured the medieval castle, Schloss Hohensalzburg, that dominates the town. And I recall well the fellow who led the tour (normally I don't do tours--I just wander on my own, but you were only allowed inside the castle as part of a group). He proudly described the use of the place as a military HQ and prison during the war and seemed quite proud of Austria's role as a partner with Germany. I was really struck by it at the time. And it contrasted strongly to the attitude of Germans in Munich and, especially, Dachau. When I went to the latter, I took a cab from the train station and the driver wouldn't even look me in the eye. Also, in Munich itself, at the site of the main pre-War synagogue, which had been burned by the Nazis, as stood and read a plaque about what had happened, people passing on the sidewalk cast down their eyes or looked away as if not to notice me.
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Hohensalzberg was a military HQ in WWII? I did not know that.
The Seventies were ambivalent times in Austria. You are right, there was never a umbelievable strong confrontation with the own crimes in such a fast way like it took place in Germany.
If you wanna know, I can tell you that even in the late 60's there were Professors on the university that hailed Hitlers work. The Burschenschafter (right extreme student network) were back was the ruling force at the universities. This took place until the Antifa movement grew stronger and stronger in the way of the 69' "revolution". The whole thing escalated with Burschenschafter shooting a peacefull demonstrating communist student.
I guess this was at least in the academic area the turning point. The Burschenschafter got into the defense and lost rapidly ground. Today they still exist are however viewed with very high suspicion by the other students and also by the Austrians in general. There are not many left, but still far too many as there still exist some.
I would generally say, the time of working up the past did not really beginn before the 80's in Austria. But in the last quarter of a century happened very much. You cant compare the Austria of the 70's with the modern Austria on this issue.
But anyway, its disgusting that in the 70's there still were people not too uncommon that behaved in the way you describe. And its even more if you find an asshole like this even today. Allthough I hope it has gotten difficult nowadays.
PS:
Could it be that you are talking about the eagles nest at Berchtesgarden? Thats quite near to Salzburg and was a Nazi HQ. It would be however German not Austrian.