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public space Graz, 2006
In cooperation with Wolfram Kastner

European Jewish Press/24/Oct/2006:

Controversy around Nazi grave in Austria

VIENNA (EJP)--- A Nazi grave featuring a swastika and an inscription that pays homage to "SA Storm Unit Leader" Tita Probst is causing controversy in Austria.

The inscription on the gravestone says: "He died in the fight for Greater Germany."

Tita Probst was a member of the Nazi party when it was still illegal in Austria and a so-called brown-shirt. He was shot while part of the group that tried to take Austria in the putsch of 1934.

In 1938, during the Anschluss euphoria in Austria the grave was redesigned, the swastika and the inscription were added to the grave in Graz Central Cemetary and never removed.

A number of attempts to remove the controversial epitaph have always failed. In 1988, at former Graz city council Ernst Kaltenegger’s insistence, the swastika was pasted over, but unknown people chipped away the cement shortly afterwards.

And four years ago law historian, and vice dean of Graz University, Martin Polaschek called for the gravestone to be altered. He said: "This is a definite offence against the insignia law and probably against paragraph three of the Austrian Federal Law on the prohibition of National Socialist activities."


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	public space Transcription (Überschreibung) public space Graz, 2006 In cooperation with Wolfram Kastner European Jewish Press/24/Oct/2006: Controversy around Nazi grave in Austria VIENNA (EJP)--- A Nazi grave featuring a swastika and an inscription that pays homage to "SA Storm Unit Leader" Tita Probst is causing controversy in Austria. The inscription on the gravestone says: "He died in the fight for Greater Germany." Tita Probst was a member of the Nazi party when it was still illegal in Austria and a so-called brown-shirt. He was shot while part of the group that tried to take Austria in the putsch of 1934. In 1938, during the Anschluss euphoria in Austria the grave was redesigned, the swastika and the inscription were added to the grave in Graz Central Cemetary and never removed. A number of attempts to remove the controversial epitaph have always failed. In 1988, at former Graz city council Ernst Kaltenegger’s insistence, the swastika was pasted over, but unknown people chipped away the cement shortly afterwards. And four years ago law historian, and vice dean of Graz University, Martin Polaschek called for the gravestone to be altered. He said: "This is a definite offence against the insignia law and probably against paragraph three of the Austrian Federal Law on the prohibition of National Socialist activities."