In a landmark decision made during a "secret vote" on Wednesday, the local council of Braunau am Inn, Adolf Hitler's birthplace, announced plans to rename two streets that have long drawn criticism for commemorating members of the Nazi party. The streets are named after composer Josef Reiter and entertainer Franz Resl, both of whom were affiliated with the Nazi regime.
The motion followed a report ordered by the local government, which concluded that retaining the original names was unconstitutional. This marks a noteworthy acknowledgment of Austria's complex legacy during World War II, where the government has been scrutinized for portraying itself more as a victim than an active participant in the era's atrocities.
With these changes, approximately 200 households will receive new addresses. The Mauthausen Committee, which advocates for remembrance of the victims of Nazi crimes, praised the decision for its "symbolic significance." Their chairman, Willi Mernyi, expressed gratitude to supporters who contributed to this outcome, emphasizing the importance of reflection on Austria's history.
In light of the historic context, members of the Mauthausen Committee proposed honoring remarkable Austrians who resisted the Nazis instead. They suggested replacing the names with tributes to former deputy mayor Lea Olczak—whose father was a victim of Mauthausen—and Maria Stromberger, who fought against Nazi ideologies while serving as a nurse at Auschwitz.
Although some streets in Austria have previously been renamed due to their connections to Nazi figures, many still exist 80 years after the war's conclusion. During the Holocaust, approximately 65,000 Austrian Jews were tragically murdered, as the Nazi regime sought to exterminate Jews and other minority groups across Europe.
